‘No distance with Delhi, no close ties with Islamabad’

Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain has said there is no such thing that we are maintaining a distance with New Delhi and close ties with Islamabad.

The adviser said this while talking to journalists at the foreign ministry on Monday afternoon.

He said that taking the right bilateral steps could help alleviate public discontent towards Bangladesh-India relations.

“It's possible to ease public dissatisfaction towards India. I believe we need to take very correct bilateral steps to address this,” he said.

Hossain noted that while the 'golden chapter' of Bangladesh-India relations is apparent at the governmental level, it has not extended to the general public.

“We want to see strong people-to-people ties. The public should feel that there is a genuinely good relationship between Bangladesh and India, but unfortunately, this aspect has been lacking,” he said.

Hossain criticized the Indian media for creating exaggerated narratives on Bangladesh after the student-people revolution, noting that international media, known for their substantive and neutral coverage, did not echo the same sentiment.

He acknowledged that while there was some unrest, it has since been resolved. “"We have moved past that phase,” he added.

On regional cooperation, Hossain said that there was a hope that the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) could serve as an alternative to the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).

However, he pointed out that BIMSTEC cannot become fully effective until peace is restored in Myanmar.
Hossain emphasized that Bangladesh does not currently want to see BIMSTEC as a replacement for SAARC.

“SAARC has been a victim of India-Pakistan rivalry, and we do not want to continue down this path,” he said.

Hossain noted that Chief Adviser Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus is keen on revitalizing SAARC as a regional forum.

Regarding relations with Pakistan, the foreign adviser noted that there were tensions between Bangladesh and Pakistan during the previous government for some reasons, but improving these ties would be beneficial for both nations.

“We seek friendship with all. There is no benefit in creating tension with Pakistan,” he said.