[🇧🇩] Indo-Bangla Relation: India's Regional Ambition, Geopolitical Reality, and Strategic Options For Bangladesh

[Saif]

Will let the media know about progress on Tarique visit, says Delhi

Despite reports of preparations for Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's possible visit to Delhi next week, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs has not confirmed it. In a briefing on Friday, ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, as he has done previously, that he would “let [the media]

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Will let the media know about progress on Tarique visit, says Delhi

Despite reports of preparations for Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's possible visit to Delhi next week, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs has not confirmed it.

In a briefing on Friday, ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, as he has done previously, that he would “let [the media] know if there is any progress” regarding the Bangladesh premier’s visit to Delhi.

Diplomatic and political sources in Dhaka and Delhi say that preparations are under way for Tarique’s first visit to India next week, ahead of the BIMSTEC summit in Delhi.

These sources say that the likely date of the prime minister's visit could be Aug 22-23, exactly a week after India's Independence Day.

The Prime Minister's Office and the Ministry of External Affairs have not yet made any official announcement on the matter. Officials have declined to speak on the meeting on the record.

However, Indian media outlets have also started publishing reports on Tarique's possible visit.

NDTV wrote that during this possible visit, the prime minister is expected to meet his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi. Different issues of bilateral relations may be discussed between the two countries. Trade, communication, energy, border management and regional security may be in focus.

This would be Tarique’s first visit to India as prime minister and could be a significant step to resetting relations between the South Asian neighbours amid recent tensions.

Quoting sources, Indian media reports have said that a two-day visit is being planned as a bilateral visit.

Modi's government had invited Tarique for a bilateral visit soon after the BNP came to power after winning an absolute majority in February’s general election.

Tarique, as the current chairman of BIMSTEC, has also been invited to the outreach session of the BRICS summit to be held in New Delhi in September.

The Bangladesh government has not made any clear statement about whether the prime minister will attend the BRICS event.

However, Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman's statement last week indicated that he would prioritise bilateral visits over BRICS.

Government sources in Dhaka say that preparations are quietly but surely under way for the prime minister's first visit to the neighbouring country.

Last week’s meeting between the prime minister and Indian High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi last week may have played a role in changing the calculus on the meeting.

A source in the foreign ministry told bdnews24.com that Foreign Minister Khalilur will leave for the United States on Aug 27 or 28 to attend the UN General Assembly. Before that, he will join the prime minister on a visit to India.

Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Indian external affairs ministry, was asked at a briefing on Friday about media reports about a possible visit next week.

In response, he said: “As I had conveyed earlier, we have extended an invitation to the prime minister of Bangladesh for a bilateral visit.

“We have also extended an invitation to the prime minister of Bangladesh for a visit to India for the outreach session of the BRICS summit. I shall keep you updated if there is any progress in this regard.”

To a question regarding Bangladesh’s request for power and energy supply from Delhi amid the ongoing fuel and energy crisis, Jaiswal spoke about existing agreements between the two countries.

“As you know, we have an ongoing arrangement with Bangladesh for the supply of diesel. This continues. So far, as far as the additional requests you have mentioned are concerned, this will be examined while keeping our own requirement, our refining capacity, and the availability of diesel here in our country in mind.”​

 

[Saif]

Bangladesh-India relations: Temporary tensions vs long-term interests

The success of relationships with neighbours relies not only on crisis management but also on the ability to maintain long-term interests even amidst crises.

en.prothomalo.com

Bangladesh-India relations: Temporary tensions vs long-term interests​

 

[Saif]

People won't accept PM Tarique's India visit without accountability for sheltering Hasina: Nahid

Asif Mahmud terms it 'a betrayal of the people'

www.thedailystar.net

People won't accept PM Tarique's India visit without accountability for sheltering Hasina: Nahid

Asif Mahmud terms it 'a betrayal of the people'

Star Online Report

National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener and Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam today called the BNP-led government “fraudulent”, accusing it of betraying the people by failing to implement the referendum verdict.

“We can call this a fraudulent government and one that has breached the people’s trust,” he said at a rally organised by the NCP’s Dhaka South unit at Shaheed Faruk Road in the capital’s Jatrabari in the afternoon.

Nahid also said people would not accept a visit to India by Tarique Rahman unless New Delhi was held accountable for sheltering Sheikh Hasina and allowing her to speak from there.

The NCP chief said, “If this government fails to implement the roadmap approved through the referendum, we will not allow it to remain in power.”

He also warned of a movement unless the government addressed the gas and electricity crisis and reduced energy prices.

He said the BNP had claimed before the election that an elected political government would improve law and order and the economy.

“But after the elected government came to power, we saw that the law and order got worse than before. Extortion and corruption also increased,” he said.

He also alleged that the government had broken all previous load-shedding records within five months.

Addressing the rally as the main speaker, NCP spokesperson Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain said any visit by Tarique Rahman to India before New Delhi hands over Sheikh Hasina and others accused of the July Uprising killings would amount to “a betrayal of the people of this country”.

He said those responsible for the killings during the July uprising are still being sheltered in India. From there, they continue giving interviews and posting videos on Facebook.

“Until India hands over those responsible for the July uprising killings --and those accused of killing Osman Hadi, now in Indian custody -- it will be a betrayal to the people of this country, if the prime minister sets foot on Indian soil,” he said.

“Bring them back to Bangladesh first, carry out the death sentences handed down to them and ensure justice. Relations with India can be considered after that,” he added.

Asif said there could be no ties with India until it handed over those responsible for the killings.

Responding to statements by Hasina and other Awami League leaders about returning to Bangladesh, Asif said the NCP also wants them to return to face trial.

“We hear from across the border that Sheikh Hasina wants to return to Bangladesh. Awami League leaders are also giving interviews in different places, saying they want to return,” he said.

“We also want you [Hasina] to come. The families of the martyrs and our mothers pray every day that those responsible for killing their children are brought to justice. If Sheikh Hasina returns, we are ready to ensure justice,” he added.

Speaking about the presidential election, Asif accused the BNP of disregarding the July Charter by holding the election under the existing provisions of Article 70.

He said the NCP did not want Article 70 to be applied in the case of presidential election and in turn allowed MPs to vote freely.​