Bangladesh’s Touhid Hossain Talks Trade, Visas, and Durga Puja Amid Political Changes
Dhaka, Bangladesh – As Bangladesh recovers from political instability, it aims to continue its commercial activities and projects with India. Bangladesh’s Foreign Affairs Advisor, Mohammed Touhid Hossain, assured that these projects will remain unaffected.
Speaking about trade, Touhid Hossain said, “Trade has been going on. After a short gap, immediately after the fall of the government, trade again picked up.” He emphasized that ongoing and approved projects will continue as planned.
Despite a slowdown in trade, the first consignment of the famous ‘Padma Hilsa’ fish from Bangladesh arrived in West Bengal on September 27, weighing around 45-50 tonnes, just in time for Durga Puja.
Touhid Hossain also mentioned that the process of issuing visas has not yet returned to normal. “The Indian visa offices are not fully open yet. It is up to the Indian government to decide when they will do it. Our offices in India are issuing visas to those coming for Bangladesh visas,” he explained.
He added that the bilateral relations between Bangladesh and India will continue normally. “We have a lot of commonalities and complementary interests. Both countries recognize that they need each other’s help,” he said.
Touhid Hossain described India as Dhaka’s “largest neighbor” and emphasized the importance of maintaining good working relations. He mentioned that his conversation with Indian Foreign Minister Jaishankar was constructive, and both sides agreed on the need for good working relations.
Regarding the recent political changes, Touhid Hossain did not comment on media reports claiming that the US government orchestrated a coup to replace Sheikh Hasina. He stated that the movement was spontaneous by the younger generations.
Minority groups in Bangladesh alleged that Hindus were attacked after the political changes, but the interim government claims these were political, not religious, incidents. Touhid Hossain explained that there was a vacuum in administration and policing immediately after Sheikh Hasina’s departure, leading to high tensions and some incidents.
When asked about Durga Puja, Touhid Hossain assured that it would be allowed. “Durga Puja has been performed in this country for ages, and there have been no instances when it was not held. Worshippers will have the opportunity to do so,” he asserted.
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned on August 5 and fled to India in a military aircraft following protests against the government job quota system.
Doubts Revealed
Touhid Hossain -: Touhid Hossain is a person who advises the government of Bangladesh on foreign affairs, which means he helps with decisions about how Bangladesh interacts with other countries.
Trade -: Trade means buying and selling goods and services between countries. In this case, it refers to the exchange of goods between Bangladesh and India.
Visas -: A visa is a special permission that allows someone to enter, stay, or leave a country. It is usually a stamp or sticker in a passport.
Durga Puja -: Durga Puja is a big festival in India and Bangladesh where people celebrate the goddess Durga. It involves prayers, music, dance, and feasts.
Political instability -: Political instability means that the government is having problems, like protests or changes in leadership, which can make it hard to run the country smoothly.
Padma Hilsa -: Padma Hilsa is a type of fish that is very popular in Bangladesh and India. It is named after the Padma River in Bangladesh.
Bilateral relations -: Bilateral relations are the interactions and agreements between two countries. In this case, it refers to the relationship between Bangladesh and India.
Sheikh Hasina -: Sheikh Hasina is a political leader in Bangladesh. She was the Prime Minister but resigned on August 5 due to protests.