‘BD to decide its tie with India’
Staff Reporter :
India’s Minister of External Affairs, S. Jaishankar, has stated that Bangladesh must determine the nature of its relationship with its neighbour, India.
Speaking at the Delhi University Literature Festival on Saturday, Jaishankar acknowledged the complexities of the bilateral relationship, noting that while both nations may have agreements and disagreements on various issues, they remain neighbours and must coexist peacefully.
He pointed out inconsistencies in the messaging from certain voices within Bangladesh’s interim government, who, on one hand, criticise India while simultaneously expressing a desire for stronger ties.
Expressing frustration over these contradictions, he remarked, “They have their own politics. We can agree or disagree, but at the end of the day, we are neighbours. They must decide what kind of
relationship they want with us.”
He further criticised elements within the interim government for blaming India for various issues, some of which he described as “absolutely ridiculous” based on available reports.
Regarding bilateral relations, Jaishankar elaborated, “You cannot, on one hand, express a wish for good relations while, on the other, blame India for everything that goes wrong.
It is a decision they must make about the kind of relationship they want.”
He reaffirmed India’s position, stating, “We have sent a very clear signal-we want things to stabilise, we want trade and communication to continue.
However, we do not appreciate a narrative that is consistently hostile towards India.”
Reflecting on the long-standing ties between the two South Asian nations, Jaishankar emphasised that India remains committed to a peaceful and cooperative relationship with Bangladesh, built on trade, communication, and mutual respect.
Addressing concerns about minority communities in Bangladesh, he said, “We have a deep and historic relationship with Bangladesh, dating back to 1971. We are all aware of the events that unfolded there last year.”
He added, “What is particularly troubling for us is the spate of attacks on minorities in Bangladesh.
This is an issue that influences our perspective, and we have spoken up about it, as we must.”