India expects consular dialogue with Bangladesh at mutually convenient time

Spokesperson of India’s Ministry of External Affairs Randhir Jaiswal has said various initiatives have been taken under an organised framework in different fields including trade, railway, water resources and border management and regular meetings are being held. He also said India is interested in maintaining a positive, constructive and far-sighted relationship with Bangladesh.

Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said these words at the weekly briefing of India’s Ministry of External Affairs in Delhi on Friday (November 13).

In reply to a question Randhir Jaiswal said, “The next phase of the India-Bangladesh consular dialogue will be held at a mutually convenient time of both sides. Issues related to the revised travel arrangements will also be discussed there.” He said India is ready to discuss all bilateral issues with Bangladesh through these existing frameworks.

Earlier the fifth consular dialogue between the two countries scheduled to be held in Dhaka on November 17 and 18 was postponed. Diplomatic sources in Dhaka and Delhi said India requested through a diplomatic note last week to postpone the meeting in Dhaka due to mismatch of schedules.

An inter-ministerial meeting was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka on November 3 ahead of the consular dialogue between the two countries. At that meeting opinions came that discussion should be held on various bilateral issues including stopping the malpractice of push-in, peaceful border management, visa activities, repatriation of detained citizens in both countries, release and repatriation of fishermen and mutual legal assistance.

After starting in 2017 the consular dialogue between Bangladesh and India has been held four times so far. The fourth dialogue was held in Delhi in May 2024.