Grand reception awaits if Tarique visits India

A grand reception awaits Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in India if he decides to visit, and such a meeting could help resolve any bilateral issue, the Indian high commissioner to Bangladesh said yesterday.

Dinesh Trivedi, who paid a courtesy call on the prime minister on August 8, said the two sovereign states have their own challenges, differences and disagreements but stressed that these could be addressed through dialogue.

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“After meeting the prime minister here, I went straight to Delhi and had a great meeting with our prime minister. He [Indian PM Narendra Modi] just mentioned one thing: we need to meet,” he said while addressing a reception in honour of leading Bangladeshi business leaders and a delegation of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) at a Dhaka hotel.

Quoting Modi, he said, “You can tell them on my behalf that you have the prime minister of India’s assurance that when the prime minister of Bangladesh visits India, he will have such an honourable reception as he deserves.”

Trivedi said the visit would be “a memorable visit”, with its benefits ultimately reaching people and businesses on both sides.

He acknowledged that the two countries had gone through “hiccups” in their relationship but said such difficulties should not undermine their longstanding bonds.

“I can tell you I fully understand there are issues, but these issues can definitely be sorted out once the prime minister of Bangladesh and our prime minister Narendra Modi meet,” he said.

“We need to get ourselves together… I’m not telling you to forget the past. Keep it, but sort out the differences. And move on. Don’t get stagnant,” he said.

Highlighting the importance of economic and people-to-people ties, the high commissioner said the private sector has a crucial role in bridging differences between the two countries.

“No government in the world can provide everything. It always needs the private sector,” he said, expressing gratitude to business communities on both sides.

He identified people-to-people relations, employment, education and health as key areas where Bangladesh and India can deepen cooperation.

Trivedi said India’s “Neighbourhood First” policy reflects the importance New Delhi attaches to its relationship with Bangladesh.

“We have all gone through hiccups here and then. I think that’s quite natural; that also happens in a family. But that doesn’t mean that we move away,” he said.

“We have shared history, we have shared culture, and this is where we need to foster,” Trivedi added.

He said recent high-level engagements, including visits by India’s external affairs minister and speaker, as well as his own posting in Dhaka, reflected India’s eagerness to strengthen ties.

Trivedi said differences are natural in a vibrant democracy.

“If issues are not there, then it’s not democracy; it’s something other than democracy,” he said.

He said Indian officials have been working closely with Bangladesh’s ministers in recent weeks to address differences and understand the concerns of the Bangladeshi people.

“We deeply understand the concerns of brothers and sisters of Bangladesh,” he said, stressing that the relationship should be viewed as “a partnership of equals”.

He expressed hope that Bangladesh-India relations would enter a new phase.

“This would be a golden chapter in the history of the relationship between India and Bangladesh, because we have a lot to share with you,” he said.

“Let’s have this melody of relationship.”

Meanwhile, India’s Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, during a regular briefing yesterday, said India wants a constructive and forward-looking relationship with Bangladesh.Asked on the extradition of Sheikh Hasina, Jaiswal said such requests are examined as part of their established processes.Asked if Tarique will visit India anytime soon or attend the BRICS summit scheduled for September 12-13, Jaiswal said he will share an update when one is available.