Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, the Secretary General of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), has expressed optimism over the bilateral talks held between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladesh’s Chief Advisor Mohammed Yunus, saying that it will prove positive for both countries.
The bilateral meeting between the two leaders held in Bangkok, Thailand, on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC summit on Friday was viewed with great interest, and has been described as productive and mutually beneficial by the Bangladesh Interim Government.
“This will undoubtedly benefit the people of Bangladesh and the people of India,” Fakhrul said while replying to a question from reporters at BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office on Friday evening, according to Dhaka Tribune.
As diplomatic relations between India and Bangladesh have soured since the formation of the Yunus-led Interim Government in August last year, the BNP leader said: “The meeting has created the possibility that the bitterness won’t escalate further or it may subside.”
During the meeting, PM Modi had raised the issue of the targeting of the Hindu community and other minorities in Bangladesh, the anti-India rhetoric emanating from the interim government, and border security. The CA in turn had raised the issues of border killings, former PM Sheikh Hasina’s extradition, and water sharing.
PM Modi had congratulated Bangladesh for assuming chairmanship of BIMSTEC, and hoped for further developments of a positive relationship between New Delhi and Dhaka. Both leaders agreed on the advancement of regional integration and enhancement of consultations under the BIMSTEC framework.
