Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus on Friday raised several issues, including the extradition of deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the sharing of common river waters, and border killings with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their much-discussed bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Summit, reports UNB.
Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam briefed reporters after the meeting, stating: "All issues of mutual interest were discussed. The meeting was very constructive, productive, and fruitful."
The bilateral talks on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Summit are considered the most significant development in Dhaka-Delhi relations since the July Uprising in Bangladesh.
This was the first-ever in-person meeting between the two South Asian leaders since the formation of Bangladesh’s interim government on August 8, following the fall of the previous government three days earlier.
Foreign Affairs Adviser Md. Touhid Hossain, High Representative to the Chief Adviser Khalilur Rahman, Principal Coordinator on SDGs Affairs Lamiya Morshed, the Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam, and Foreign Secretary Md. Jashim, among others, were present at the meeting, Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder told UNB.
Observers say this is the biggest diplomatic development in India-Bangladesh relations since the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her subsequent flight to Delhi (where she remains).
Earlier, Bangladesh approached India through diplomatic channels to arrange a meeting between Dr. Yunus and Prime Minister Modi on the sidelines of the summit.
In his pre-departure statement from India, Modi said he would meet the leaders of the BIMSTEC countries to discuss ways to strengthen collaboration, keeping the interests of the people in mind.
"I look forward to meeting the leaders of the BIMSTEC countries and engaging productively to further strengthen our collaboration with the interests of our people in mind," Modi said as he began his visit to Thailand and Sri Lanka on Thursday.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
