Bangladesh- India Ties: High-stakes FOC in Dhaka to focus on key bilateral concerns
Diplomatic Correspondent :
A crucial Foreign Office Consultation (FOC) between Bangladesh and India is set to take place in Dhaka on Monday, aiming to address a wide range of issues vital to the bilateral relationship.
Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri will lead the Indian delegation during this important round of talks, emphasising the significance of maintaining strong diplomatic ties amidst current challenges.
The high-level discussions will focus on several key topics, including political cooperation, visa issues, borderkillings, water-sharing agreements, and trade barriers.
This consultation comes at a time of heightened tensions between the two nations, sparked by recent controversies surrounding the treatment of Hindu minorities and the vandalism of the Bangladesh Mission in Agartala, Tripura. Analysts believe the FOC could pave the way for improved relations between the neighbouring nations.
Foreign Secretary Misri’s visit is viewed as an opportunity to address longstanding issues that have strained bilateral ties in recent months. Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mohammad Rafiqul Alam confirmed on Thursday that the full range of relations would be discussed during the meeting.
“It’s difficult to pinpoint specific issues at this moment, but all critical matters will be up for discussion,” he said.
Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain had earlier reiterated the country’s desire for friendly and cooperative ties with India, stressing that both nations must work towards strengthening their bilateral relationship.
The Foreign Office Consultations were initially scheduled for December 10, but the Foreign Ministry announced on Thursday that the meeting would be held a day earlier, on December 9.
During this important meeting, Bangladesh’s Foreign Secretary Md. Jasim Uddin will lead the Bangladeshi delegation, while India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri will head the Indian team.
The outcome of these talks could significantly influence the future trajectory of India-Bangladesh relations.
Speaking to The New Nation, Imtiaz Ahmed, Professor of International Relations, urged both countries to take swift diplomatic action to de-escalate the situation.
“As neighbours, both countries are interdependent across multiple domains. We need to clarify the direction we want our relationship to take. Comprehensive discussions during the FOC can foster stronger ties,” he added.
“For peaceful co-existence, both sides must take responsibility for strengthening the historical bond between our nations,” he said.
Since the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government on August 5, bilateral relations between the two countries have come to a standstill, with the situation worsening due to allegations of Hindu persecution in Bangladesh from the Indian government.
The situation further deteriorated after an ISKCON leader was arrested on sedition charges, prompting statements from the Indian government. This was followed by actions from Indian extremist groups, including the desecration of Bangladesh’s national flag outside its Kolkata mission and vandalism at the Bangladesh Mission in Agartala.
Following these incidents, the Indian High Commissioner in Bangladesh, Pranay Verma, was summoned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. At that time, Verma said, “We have a multifaceted relationship. We cannot reduce it to one issue.”
“We genuinely seek a constructive and stable relationship. There are many issues involved, and there is mutual dependence in several areas. We want to leverage this interdependence for the benefit of both sides,” he told journalists.
“We will continue our cooperation to ensure that both our countries benefit. There has also been significant positive progress in this regard,” he added.
Stakeholders expect the FOC to help bolster relations by removing existing barriers.