In a significant development, and amidst apparent frosty ties, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar held a crucial meeting with Bangladesh Foreign Affairs Advisor Touhid Hossain on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. This marked the first high-level interaction between India and Bangladesh’s interim government, led by Muhammad Yunus, since the ousting of prime minister Sheikh Hasina last month.
The meeting was primarily focused on strengthening bilateral ties between the two neighbouring countries and addressing shared interests, underscoring the importance of the discussions.
“Had a meeting with Foreign Affairs Advisor Md. Touhid Hossain of Bangladesh in New York this evening. The conversation focussed on our bilateral ties,” EAM Jaishankar posted on X.
The two ministers met just a few hours after the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry filed a “diplomatic protest” with the Indian High Commission in Dhaka on Monday. This was in response to recent remarks made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah “regarding Bangladeshi nationals” during his tour of Jharkhand.
The Bangladesh MFA’s statement has faced widespread criticism, with many questioning its validity. It is likely that EAM Jaishankar expressed New Delhi’s dissatisfaction with the matter during his meeting with Hossain, which also included Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri.
Despite India’s continuous push for normalisation of relations following last month’s events and the continued targeting of Bangladesh’s Hindu population, the interim administration in Dhaka has been accused of making baseless comments in recent weeks, sparking a need for factual and respectful communication.
Last month, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) denounced as “baseless” charges made by Bangladesh’s interim government that India is “deliberately” allowing more water to flow into the neighbouring country.
“We have seen media reports of the opening of Farakka barrage gates that will allow the flow of over 11 lakh cusecs of water downstream of the river in its natural course into the Ganga/Padma river. This is a normal seasonal development that takes place due to increased inflow from heavy rainfall in the Ganga river basin catchment areas upstream,” said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on August 26.
New Delhi expressed concerns over “fake videos, rumours and fear-mongering to create misunderstanding”, stating that the entire data, as per protocol, is shared with the concerned Joint River Commission officials in Bangladesh on a regular and timely basis.
“It is to be understood that Farakka is only a barrage and not a dam. Whenever the water level reaches the pond level, whatever inflow comes that passes. It is merely a structure to divert 40,000 cusecs of water into the Farakka canal that is carefully done using a system of gates on the main Ganga/Padma river, while the balance water flows into the main river to Bangladesh,” he added while firmly countering the rumours with facts.
There was also intense media speculation about a meeting between PM Modi and Mohammad Yunus on the sidelines of the UN ‘Summit of the Future on Monday’. However, it was not scheduled due to the leaders’ different arrival and departure timings.
Asked about this at a news conference, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said, “The Prime Minister is leaving in a few minutes from now. The Chief Advisor of Bangladesh is not here yet, so there hasn’t been any possibility of a meeting on this occasion.”
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–IANS
Photo source: X
