Status of Bangladesh-India Foreign Office Consultation (FOC) meeting
The Foreign Secretary-level Foreign Office Consultation (FOC) meeting between Bangladesh and India has concluded. The meeting began at the State Guest House Padma after 11 am today, Monday, and ended around 2:30 pm.
Foreign Secretary Md. Jasim Uddin led Bangladesh and Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Mishri led his country in the meeting. Before the delegation-level meeting, the foreign secretaries of the two countries held a private meeting.
Earlier, the Indian Foreign Secretary arrived in Dhaka this morning on a special flight of the Indian Air Force to participate in the meeting. This is the first time a Delhi policymaker has visited Dhaka since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government. This is also Vikram’s first visit to Bangladesh as India’s foreign secretary.
Bangladesh sends strong message to India over border killings
Foreign Secretary Md. Jasim Uddin said, ‘We discussed border killings in today’s meeting with the Indian Foreign Secretary. We said that killings on the border are not desirable and such killings are not in line with the friendly relations between the two countries.’
The Foreign Secretary said this at a press briefing after the meeting with the Indian Foreign Secretary on Monday.
Md. Jasim Uddin said, ‘We have always said that border killings should be reduced to zero. From their side, they have said that various types of crimes are committed on the border. There is a connection between these crimes and killings.’
He also said, ‘We have said that we do not support any crime, but at the same time we do not support killings. So, in line with what we are talking about in terms of friendly relations between the two countries, they should respect our commitment and political commitment to reduce the number of killings to zero.’
The Foreign Secretary said, ‘We have said that people of all religions freely practice their religion in Bangladesh. This is our internal matter. We do not expect to comment on our internal matters. We do not do this in the case of other countries either.’
Noting that there is negative propaganda in the Indian media about the persecution of minorities after the mass uprising, the Foreign Secretary said, “There is propaganda, false information and misleading statements in the Indian media about the July August Revolution and the alleged hostile behavior towards minorities after the revolution in Bangladesh. We have drawn the attention of the Indian government in this regard and we have requested it to take appropriate action in this regard.”
Foreign Secretary Jasim Uddin said that the statements made by Sheikh Hasina while in India were also discussed in this meeting between the two countries.
He said, “We have informed India that the government does not like the statements made by the former Prime Minister of Bangladesh while in India.”
At the press conference, the Foreign Secretary said that we have called for India’s cooperation in maintaining peace and stability in the region and in finding a permanent solution to the Rohingya crisis.
The Foreign Secretary said, “Every year, a significant number of Bangladeshis visit India for tourism and medical purposes. We have requested them to facilitate their visas and other matters.”
India wants to work closely with the interim government
India wants to work closely with the interim government, said Foreign Secretary Vikram Mishri, who is visiting Dhaka.
He said this after a Foreign Secretary-level Foreign Office Consultation (FOC) meeting and a meeting with Foreign Affairs Advisor Towhid Hossain on Monday.
Vikram Mishri said, “India’s desire is to work closely with the interim government. At the same time, we discussed the recent developments. I expressed our concerns on the minority issue. We had discussions on the issue of minorities. The Bangladesh authorities said that they will look into the matter.”
Regarding the reason for coming to Dhaka, the Indian Foreign Secretary said, “I have come to Dhaka at the invitation of Foreign Secretary (of Bangladesh) Jasim Uddin. I have come to Dhaka at a very important moment in bilateral relations, to take forward the discussions between Bangladesh and India. This is the first time that the leaders of both our countries have spoken since the political change in Bangladesh in August this year. They had a telephone conversation. There was a meeting at the level of foreign ministers of the two countries in New York. My visit is part of that.’
Bikram Mishri said, ‘This is the first foreign secretary meeting with the new government. Today’s discussion has given both of us this opportunity. We had an open and constructive exchange of views. Our aspiration is a positive, constructive and mutually beneficial relationship, which we have seen in the past between Bangladesh and India and we want to see it in the future as well.’
He further said, ‘This relationship will be people-centric. It will benefit the people of both countries and we are seeing its reflection in our daily events. Which includes our trade and commerce, electricity, water, energy, development cooperation, consular cooperation and cultural contacts. We have to continue working on these issues.’
