Bangladesh's Foreign Affairs Advisor Mohammed Touhid Hossain Talks About Relations with India and Recent Political Changes

Dhaka [Bangladesh], October 1: Bangladesh and India must maintain good working relations, according to Bangladesh's Foreign Affairs Advisor, Mohammed Touhid Hossain. He described India as Bangladesh's largest neighbor and emphasized the importance of cooperation between the two countries.

Speaking about his recent meeting with India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in New York, Touhid said, "I think my conversation with Dr. Jaishankar was constructive. It seems to me that both India and Bangladesh want to have good working relations with each other." He clarified that the issue of Sheikh Hasina was not discussed during their meeting.

India and Bangladesh share over 4,000 km of common land borders and maritime boundaries in the Bay of Bengal. Despite some disruptions, trade between the two countries continues, and ongoing projects and agreements are proceeding as planned. However, the issuance of visas has not yet returned to normal levels.

Touhid Hossain assured that bilateral relations between Bangladesh and India will continue normally. He highlighted the mutual interests and commonalities between the two nations, stating that both countries recognize the need for each other's help.

Regarding recent political changes in Bangladesh, Touhid refrained from commenting on media reports about a US-manufactured coup to replace Sheikh Hasina. He acknowledged the sacrifices made by the younger generation, which led to the change in government. Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled to India on August 5, and an interim government led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus was formed.

There were allegations of attacks on minority groups, particularly Hindus, following the political changes. However, Touhid clarified that these incidents were political rather than religious in nature. He emphasized that the violence was primarily against Awami League loyalists and not based on religious differences.

In response to concerns about Durga Puja celebrations, Touhid assured that the festival would continue as usual. He stated, "Durga Puja has been performed in this country for ages and there have been no instances when Durga Puja was not held."

Bangladesh is currently experiencing a fluid political situation, with Sheikh Hasina's resignation and the formation of an interim government. The protests, led mainly by students, demanded an end to a quota system for government jobs and evolved into anti-government demonstrations.