Bangladesh Seeks Respectful Cooperation with India, Adviser Says

Bangladesh seeks a cooperative and respectful working relationship with India, despite existing challenges in their bilateral ties, according to Humaiun Kabir, the Prime Minister's Foreign Affairs Adviser.

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We want cooperation with India, but it must be based on mutual respect. We should have a good working relationship with India.

"We want cooperation with India, but it must be based on mutual respect. We should have a good working relationship with India," Kabir stated during a panel discussion. He acknowledged a significant "tremendous deficit" in the relationship over the last 15 years, characterizing it as a one-sided approach that did not prioritize Bangladesh's interests.

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You know, we've made a visit. We expect visits to Dhaka, and either way, we will build the visibility of a working relationship with India. We intend to do that. But the environment must be conducive to accommodating this approach.

Despite these historical issues, Kabir expressed a positive outlook, particularly following a recent visit to New Delhi by Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman, which he also attended. He highlighted the shared commitment of leadership in both countries to move forward.

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It was one way, and it was not done with the interests of the people of Bangladesh in mind.

Kabir pointed to ongoing challenges, such as the presence of individuals who have committed serious crimes and continue to attempt destabilization from abroad. He stressed the importance of addressing these issues and finding ways to work together constructively. The adviser also noted the broader context of a conference organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, aimed at charting a forward-looking agenda for Bangladesh's economic engagement through sessions on trade, investment, and emerging growth sectors.

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We can do that. And it can be achievable. Of course, there are challenges. There are always challenges. When you have a terrorist who has fled from Bangladesh after killing one and a half thousand people, and who, to date, has shown no remorse and is trying to destabilise the country from over there, of course, there are challenges.