Always wanted good working relationship with India: Bangladesh

After Bangladesh Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus’ call for a “good relationship” with India, the country’s Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain has also emphasised friendly ties with India, expressing hope that New Delhi will take the message positively and resume issuing visas to Bangladeshis soon.

Hossain, quoted in several Bangladeshi news publications, said, “Dhaka has always wanted a good working relationship with India. We have a clear position on it.”

Diplomatic relations between India and Bangladesh have been strained due to political instability in Bangladesh and calls for the extradition of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who has sought refuge in New Delhi. Hossain’s remarks on restoring ties with India come after Yunus, in an earlier interview, reiterated Dhaka’s desire for a good relationship with India. Hossain also expressed hope that India would soon resume issuing visas to Bangladeshis.

India halted visa issuance to Bangladeshis following the ouster of Hasina on August 5, after unprecedented student protests in the country.

Tensions between the two nations eased after a meeting between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Hossain on the sidelines of the 8th Indian Ocean Conference in Muscat, Oman, last month.