Indian parliamentary panel meets experts to mend Dhaka-Delhi ties

To ease tensions and normalize relations with Bangladesh, the Indian Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs recently convened a lengthy meeting. Led by Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, the session featured four prominent experts, such as former National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon, former Indian High Commissioner to Dhaka Riva Ganguly Das, retired Lieutenant General Syed Ata Hasnain, and Jawaharlal Nehru University professor Amitabh Mattoo.

According to Indian news outlet The Hindu, the meeting lasted around two and a half hours. Experts and Members of Parliament strongly recommended ways to improve and move forward the relationship between India and Bangladesh.

The experts noted that India and Bangladesh share deep historical, linguistic, and cultural ties. They said this relationship should not be damaged but strengthened instead. They also emphasized that Bangladesh should not be viewed as an enemy like Pakistan. Instead, it is more important now to increase people-to-people connections, cultural exchanges, and mutual respect.

West Bengal was highlighted as a key player in this process. Given the shared language and cultural ties between the people of West Bengal and Bangladesh, Members of Parliament suggested leveraging the state as a bridge for cultural diplomacy. The recent meeting between Bangladesh’s High Commissioner and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was seen as a positive development.

The meeting also discussed Bangladesh’s internal situation. It was said that tensions between the two countries started after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government was ousted during mass protests in July-August 2023 and she took shelter in India. The committee focused on how to repair the relationship since then. One MP stated that everyone sincerely wants to see Bangladesh as a friend and gave advice on how to fix the ties.

Furthermore, concerns were voiced regarding Bangladesh’s increasing proximity to China, issues related to illegal immigration, and the recent Kunming meeting. Indian policymakers emphasized that this is the right time to renew and strengthen ties with Bangladesh, agreeing that all diplomatic and cultural avenues should remain open to enhance bilateral relations.