Amid growing tensions between India and Bangladesh, foreign secretaries of the two countries met in Dhaka on Monday for the high-level talks.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, who arrived in Dhaka earlier in the day, held one-on-one talks with his Bangladeshi counterpart Mohammad Jashim Uddin before the formal meeting with delegates from both sides.
Talking to reporters after the meeting, Misri said he had raised the issue of attacks on minorities, including Hindus, with Bangladeshi leaders and officials.
#WATCH | Dhaka: After meeting Foreign Adviser Md. Touhid Hossain of Bangladesh, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri says, "... We also discussed recent developments and I conveyed our concerns including those related to the safety and welfare of minorities... We also discussed… pic.twitter.com/FUXzwluzqs
— ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2024
"I emphasised that India desires a positive, constructive and mutually beneficial relationship with Bangladesh. I have underlined today India's desire to work closely with the interim government of Bangladesh Authority," he said.
It is the first high-level visit to Dhaka by an Indian official since August 5, when former prime minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted following massive nationwide protests.
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Misri said the meeting had given both sides an opportunity to take stock of the bilateral ties. “We also discussed recent developments, and I conveyed our concerns, including those related to the safety and welfare of minorities. We also discussed regrettable incidents of attacks on cultural and religious properties," the foreign secretary added.
Misri’s visit to Bangladesh comes amid reports of widespread attacks on Hindus and other minority communities in the neighbouring country ever since Hasina was forced to quit and leave the country.
The arrest of Hindu monk Chnimoy Krishna Das and attacks on temples had triggered strong concerns in New Delhi, which urged Bangladeshi authorities to ensure the safety and security of all minorities and their right to freedom of peaceful assembly and expression.
