Foreign Minister holds meeting with Indian High Commissioner

Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman has held a meeting with Indian High Commissioner to Dhaka Dinesh Trivedi. The meeting took place at a state guest house on Sunday. However, no official information has been released regarding which issues between the two countries were discussed.

A senior official aware of the meeting said it was a pre-scheduled meeting. "I can only say that it was a pre-scheduled meeting. I do not know what they discussed," he said.

The meeting comes against the backdrop of fresh tensions between Dhaka and New Delhi following the recent statement by former prime minister Sheikh Hasina in New Delhi. As a result, the meeting between the Foreign Minister and the Indian High Commissioner carries special significance amid the recent diplomatic situation between the two countries.

On August 5, the second anniversary of the July mass uprising, Sheikh Hasina delivered a speech via audio message at an event organised by the Foreign Correspondents Club of South Asia in New Delhi. In that speech, she announced her intention to return to the country and said that even if she fears being arrested or sent to jail, that fear cannot determine her responsibilities. She also presented arguments in favour of her government's role in handling the situation during July-August 2024, while levelling various allegations against the current leadership.

Sheikh Hasina's son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, along with several leaders of the banned Awami League, joined the event virtually from the United States. The Bangladesh government reacted strongly to the event. In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Bangladesh was outraged, describing the event on the second anniversary of the July mass uprising as an insult to Bangladesh's sovereignty and a grave disrespect to the July martyrs.

However, India's Ministry of External Affairs had stated that the Indian government had no involvement in the organisation of Sheikh Hasina's speech.

Meanwhile, the government has also made clear Dhaka's position on keeping Bangladesh-India relations normal and constructive. On August 6, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaid Islam said Dhaka wants a constructive relationship with New Delhi. Noting that there are various important bilateral issues between the two countries, including water, energy and the border, she said these issues must be resolved through discussion and dialogue.