BD-India relations returning to normal gradually
Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma has said that Bangladesh-India relations are gradually returning to normal.
He made the remarks on Monday after a courtesy call on Speaker of the National Parliament Hafiz Uddin Ahmed.
“We are working to preserve the emotional and cultural bonds between our two countries,” Verma said, noting that mutual understanding and trust between Bangladesh and India remain strong.
He highlighted that cooperation between the two nations spans multiple sectors, including energy, connectivity, and culture, which are closely interconnected.
Referring to shared heritage, Verma said the people of both countries carry a common culture, history, and traditions.
He added that Bangladesh and India will continue to collaborate in areas that bring mutual benefits to their people.
The High Commissioner also said discussions were held on continuing regular exchanges between the parliamentary activities of the two countries.
Meanwhile, after concluding another meeting with Bangladeshi Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Zahir Uddin Swapon at the Secretariat, Verma has reaffirmed India’s commitment to strengthening “people-centric cooperation” with Bangladesh across all sectors based on mutual interest and benefit.
The two officials discussed a wide range of collaborative efforts in the information and broadcasting domains.
Central to the discussions was the enhancement of people-to-people relations through the media. Both parties agreed to increase the frequency of exchange visits for media delegations to promote mutual understanding between the two nations.
To further professional development, High Commissioner Verma proposed several capacity-building initiatives for journalists and media professionals under the Government of India’s ITEC (Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation) programme.
A significant component of these initiatives includes a special training course for women journalists from Bangladesh, which is expected to be organised in India in the near future.
The ITEC programme has a long history of providing such vocational training, including previous courses for Bangladeshi journalists at institutions like the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute.
As part of this, a special training course specifically for women journalists from Bangladesh is slated to be organised in India shortly, sources said.
This builds on a history of vocational exchange at institutions like the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute, which has previously hosted specialised courses for Bangladeshi media professionals.
The meeting also focused on deepening cultural ties through the film industry. The officials exchanged views on: Organising film screenings and festivals in each other’s countries; collaborating on production and post-production technological support; strengthening engagements between the broadcasting institutions of both nations.
This diplomatic engagement follows the recent formation of the new Bangladeshi government after the February 2026 general elections.
New Delhi has expressed a consistent desire to build upon historic ties and support a “democratic, progressive, and inclusive Bangladesh” under the leadership of the new administration.
Minister Swapon, for his part, has recently emphasised that ensuring the right to information and protecting citizens from misinformation remain top priorities for the incumbent government.
