Staff Reporter :
Amid the 79th Session of the UN General Assembly, Interim Government Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain is set to meet with India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in New York.
Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, the Foreign Affairs Adviser confirmed the likelihood of the meeting, stating, “It’s almost certain that we will meet.”
Addressing the tensions in the relationship between Bangladesh and India, Touhid Hossain candidly admitted, “There is some tension in our relationship with India, and this is something we must acknowledge.
To resolve problems, we cannot afford to deny them. We will certainly try to overcome this tension and establish a working relationship.”
He added, “This must be based on sovereign power and mutual respect. I believe that under these principles, it is possible to advance our relationship, and we will strive to do so.”
When asked about a potential meeting between Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Foreign Adviser clarified that such a meeting would not take place.
“They will not both be present in New York at the same time, as Modi is arriving earlier, and our Chief Adviser is arriving later. Therefore, it seems unlikely that they will meet,” Touhid Hossain said.
He dismissed any suggestion that the absence of a Yunus-Modi meeting was a result of strained ties.
“There may be things we don’t like. Just because I don’t like something he says or he doesn’t like something I say doesn’t mean we should be overly concerned.
This doesn’t mean that Bangladesh will suddenly become distant from India or vice versa. As neighbours, we will remain close,” he explained. “Since neighbours do not change, regardless of whether someone likes what is said or not… There have been unacceptable discussions from India’s higher levels at various times. I believe we should not take this too seriously,” Touhid Hossain remarked.
Although the Yunus-Modi meeting will not occur, there will be a meeting between Dr Yunus and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in New York.
When pressed on the topics to be discussed during that meeting, Touhid Hossain said, “We can discuss what was said regarding our relationship when we return.”
The Foreign Affairs Adviser also provided an overview of Dr Yunus’s confirmed meetings in New York, which include talks with the Prime Ministers of the Netherlands, Pakistan, and Nepal; the President of the European Commission; the US Secretary of State; the UN Secretary-General; the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights; the President of the World Bank Group; and the Administrator of USAID.
“These meetings have been confirmed, and there are a few more in the pipeline,” he added.
Meanwhile, the government of Bangladesh has approved the export of 3,000 tonnes of hilsa fish to India in celebration of Durga Puja, the Ministry of Commerce announced in a statement on Saturday.
Businesses seeking export permissions have been directed to contact the relevant ministry department.
Earlier, the interim government had initially decided against exporting hilsa to India this year in an effort to boost domestic supply.
On August 11, Farida Akhter, Adviser to the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, emphasised that hilsa exports would only be allowed once domestic demand was met.
“We cannot allow ilish to be exported while our own people cannot buy them,” Akhter had stated, instructing the Ministry of Commerce to halt exports during Durga Puja.
However, following requests from India’s Fish Importers Association, Bangladesh’s Foreign Affairs Adviser, Touhid Hossain, reconsidered the decision.
The Fish Importers Association of India expressed gratitude for Bangladesh’s approval of hilsa exports, with Secretary Syed Anwar Maqsood calling it a “positive development.”
Since 2019, under the leadership of the now-deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh has consistently exported over 1,000 tonnes of hilsa to India in the lead-up to Durga Puja.
In 2023, the Commerce Ministry allowed 79 firms to export a total of 3,950 tonnes of hilsa to India.
Despite a rise in hilsa hauls, the fish remains expensive in Bangladesh, with retail prices ranging from Tk 1,300 to Tk 1,800 per kilogramme, making it a luxury for many.
According to fisheries data, Bangladesh produced 571,342 tonnes of hilsa in fiscal 2022-23, up from 566,593 tonnes the previous year.
Hilsa, the national fish of Bangladesh, continues to hold significant cultural and economic value, with high demand both locally and across the border in India.