Bangladesh calls for dialogue to resolve issues with India

Bangladesh has stressed for dialogue to resolve issues with India following weeks of heightened tensions along the border between the two neighbouring countries.

According to reports, Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said that the “country firmly believes that any issues should be resolved through constructive dialogue under the framework of existing bilateral agreements to maintain peace along the border”.

Dhaka's message comes after it had raised objections to India’s fencing project along the border within Indian territory.

On January 12, Bangladesh conveyed its message to India through its Ambassador in Dhaka Pranay Verma, while terming New Delhi’s border fencing project in its own territory as “unauthorised” which “undermined the spirit of cooperation between the two countries”.

Day later, New Delhi summoned Bangladesh Deputy High Commissioner Mohammad Nural Islam and conveyed to him that it had observed all protocols and agreements between the two governments in its project.

India has maintained that it remains committed to ensuring crime free border with Bangladesh by effectively addressing cross border criminal activities.

The fencing by India is to stop illegal migration from the neighbouring country. Some 800 km of the 4,096 km boundary between the two countries does not have a fence.

In August last year, after Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus became head of interim government in Bangladesh, the relations between the two countries soured.

There has been tussle between the two countries over Bangladesh’s former PM Sheikh Hasina, who has taken refuge in India, while Dhaka wants her deportation.