Thursday, 05 December, 2024
Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain has said that India needs to address Bangladesh’s longstanding concerns to foster improved bilateral relations between Dhaka and New Delhi.
“While Bangladesh’s previous (ousted) government made efforts to address India’s concerns, India has not reciprocated by addressing Bangladesh’s key issues,” he said at a roundtable titled “Bangladesh-India Relations: Expectations, Barriers, and Future” on Saturday while addressing a discussion organized by the South Asian Institute of Policy and Governance (SIPG) and the Department of Political Science and Sociology (PSS) at North South University (NSU) took place on its campus in the capital.
Touhid pointed out the lack of progress on critical issues, including the Teesta water-sharing agreement and the persistent problem of border killings.
“Border killings of this nature do not occur in other countries unless there is a state of war,” he said, stressing that India must take responsibility for resolving these issues. He added, “If individuals commit crimes, they can be prosecuted, but they should not be killed.”
The adviser also criticized what he described as an “aggressive media campaign” in India against Bangladesh, particularly since August 5, calling such rhetoric harmful to fostering positive relations.
“In this complex relationship, our media has a critical role in ensuring accurate reporting, especially regarding statements from the foreign ministry,” Touhid stated.
Despite the challenges, Touhid expressed optimism about the future of Bangladesh-India relations, acknowledging the changing dynamics post-August 5. “There has been a shift in relations after August 5, and that is the reality. However, we remain hopeful that we can build a mutually beneficial relationship with India while protecting our national interests,” he said.
He also underscored the importance of a national consensus on foreign policy to harness Bangladesh’s potential more effectively, lamenting that political divisions have hindered progress.
Touhid highlighted the need to build the country’s capacity, particularly by investing in human resource development. He noted that Bangladeshi workers in the Middle East earn less than their Indian counterparts due to a lack of skills and English proficiency.
Prominent participants in the roundtable included BNP Vice Chairman Dr. SM Asaduzzaman Ripon, AB Party’s joint member secretary Barrister Asaduzzaman Fuaad, former diplomat Saquib Ali, former Principal Staff Officer Lt. Gen. (Retd) Mohammad Mahfuzur Rahman, and Manarat International University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Mohammad Abdur Rob.
NSU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Abdul Hannan Chowdhury chaired the session, while Dr. M. Jashim Uddin, Associate Professor of the Department of Political Science and Sociology, moderated the discussion.
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Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain has said that India needs to address Bangladesh’s longstanding concerns to foster improved bilateral relations between Dhaka and New Delhi.
“While Bangladesh’s previous (ousted) government made efforts to address India’s concerns, India has not reciprocated by addressing Bangladesh’s key issues,” he said at a roundtable titled “Bangladesh-India Relations: Expectations, Barriers, and Future” on Saturday while addressing a discussion organized by the South Asian Institute of Policy and Governance (SIPG) and the Department of Political Science and Sociology (PSS) at North South University (NSU) took place on its campus in the capital.
Touhid pointed out the lack of progress on critical issues, including the Teesta water-sharing agreement and the persistent problem of border killings.
“Border killings of this nature do not occur in other countries unless there is a state of war,” he said, stressing that India must take responsibility for resolving these issues. He added, “If individuals commit crimes, they can be prosecuted, but they should not be killed.”
The adviser also criticized what he described as an “aggressive media campaign” in India against Bangladesh, particularly since August 5, calling such rhetoric harmful to fostering positive relations.
“In this complex relationship, our media has a critical role in ensuring accurate reporting, especially regarding statements from the foreign ministry,” Touhid stated.
Despite the challenges, Touhid expressed optimism about the future of Bangladesh-India relations, acknowledging the changing dynamics post-August 5. “There has been a shift in relations after August 5, and that is the reality. However, we remain hopeful that we can build a mutually beneficial relationship with India while protecting our national interests,” he said.
He also underscored the importance of a national consensus on foreign policy to harness Bangladesh’s potential more effectively, lamenting that political divisions have hindered progress.
Touhid highlighted the need to build the country’s capacity, particularly by investing in human resource development. He noted that Bangladeshi workers in the Middle East earn less than their Indian counterparts due to a lack of skills and English proficiency.
Prominent participants in the roundtable included BNP Vice Chairman Dr. SM Asaduzzaman Ripon, AB Party’s joint member secretary Barrister Asaduzzaman Fuaad, former diplomat Saquib Ali, former Principal Staff Officer Lt. Gen. (Retd) Mohammad Mahfuzur Rahman, and Manarat International University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Mohammad Abdur Rob.
NSU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Abdul Hannan Chowdhury chaired the session, while Dr. M. Jashim Uddin, Associate Professor of the Department of Political Science and Sociology, moderated the discussion.
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