Bangladesh President seeks early talks with India on pending bilateral issues

Bangladesh President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir met Indian High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi in Dhaka. He urged quick talks on pending issues, with water sharing and connectivity high on the agenda.

In Short

• Trivedi became the first foreign envoy to greet Bangladesh's new President
• Dhaka stressed sovereign equality while seeking a respectful, mutually beneficial partnership
• Alamgir highlighted trade, water, technology, connectivity and culture for expanded cooperation

Bangladesh President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday called for a quick resolution of outstanding issues with India through talks, as Indian High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi paid a courtesy call on him. The meeting focused on taking forward bilateral ties and came as both sides stressed the importance of closer cooperation for the benefit of the people of the two countries.

Alamgir, who assumed office as Bangladesh's 23rd President on August 21, told the Indian envoy that Dhaka attached special importance to ties with India as its closest neighbour and an important trade and development partner. According to Bangabhaban officials, Trivedi was the first foreign envoy to meet and greet the new President.

In a social media post, the Indian mission said Trivedi conveyed warm greetings to Alamgir and wished him success in his continued service to the people of Bangladesh. "The discussion underscored the deep-rooted bonds between India and Bangladesh, built on shared history, close cultural ties and strong people-to-people relations," it said. The two sides also emphasised the need to strengthen the bilateral partnership for the mutual benefit of the peoples of the two sovereign countries, the mission added.

According to state-run BSS news agency, Alamgir said trust and confidence between the peoples of the two countries would grow further if matters of mutual interest were resolved through fair and mutually acceptable solutions. He said India and Bangladesh could work more closely for shared peace, development and prosperity by using the capabilities and potential of their people. He also said Bangladesh wanted to build a respectful, forward-looking and mutually beneficial partnership with India while upholding sovereign equality, national interests, dignity and the welfare of the people. "There is immense scope for further expanding cooperation in various fields, including trade, water resources management, technology, connectivity, culture and people-to-people relations between the two countries," the President said.

During a briefing after the meeting, the President's Press Secretary Md Sarwar Alam said Alamgir urged India to take effective steps to ensure a fair share of the waters of common rivers, including the Ganges and the Teesta. The spokesman said the Indian envoy told the President that his government was taking positive measures on the matter and that India also attached great importance to its relations with Bangladesh. Trivedi also reiterated India's commitment to expanding cooperation in various fields on the basis of mutual respect, trust and cooperation. Alamgir said he hoped ties between the two countries would become more fruitful, positive and people-oriented during his tenure.

Later, Trivedi met Bangladesh's Minister of Shipping, Railways, Road Transport and Bridges Sheikh Rabiul Alam. State Minister for Road, Highways and Railways Habibur Rashid was also present. The two sides discussed issues of mutual interest related to railways, shipping, connectivity and bilateral development projects. "They underscored the importance of strengthening connectivity between India and Bangladesh as a key enabler of economic engagement and closer people-to-people ties," the mission said in another post.

The meetings took place as India and Bangladesh work to maintain and strengthen engagement after ties came under strain over New Delhi providing political asylum to former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India after her ouster in a youth-led agitation in August 2024. In recent weeks, Trivedi has also met several top Bangladeshi political leaders, including Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, as both sides seek to deepen bilateral ties through continued engagement.

With PTI Inputs

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