Whether Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s visit to Dhaka will ease the ongoing strain in Bangladesh-India relations remains to be seen, Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain said on Thursday.
He made the remarks while responding to journalists’ questions at the Foreign Ministry on January 1.
A journalist asked whether bilateral tensions, fuelled by several recent incidents, might ease following Jaishankar’s visit to Dhaka to pay last respects to former prime minister Khaleda Zia. In reply, Touhid Hossain said the answer would have to be found in the future.
Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and Pakistan National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq arrived in Dhaka on Wednesday, December 31, to pay tribute to three-time former prime minister and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia.
Foreign representatives from Bhutan, the Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka also attended the programme.
Touhid Hossain said Jaishankar’s visit should not be viewed through a political lens. “Representatives from all South Asian countries came. The Indian foreign minister also came,” he said.
He noted that Khaleda Zia enjoys respect and acceptance not only in Bangladesh but also across neighbouring countries, regardless of party affiliation. “Everyone in South Asia recognises her position. It is natural that leaders would attend her death and funeral. That is how we see it,” he added.
Describing the visit as a positive gesture, the adviser said Jaishankar’s stay was brief but meaningful. “He attended the entire programme and then left. It was a good gesture. It is better not to read more into it,” he said.
Touhid Hossain also clarified that there was no private meeting with Jaishankar. “There was no one-to-one discussion. The opportunity did not arise,” he said, adding that the exchange was limited to courtesies in the presence of other foreign guests.
“There was no politics in our conversation. It was entirely formal and public, so there was no scope to discuss bilateral issues,” he added.