India –Bangladesh relations rooted in strategic necessity: Bangla Envoy

The newly appointed High Commissioner of Bangladesh to India, Riaz Hamidullah reminded South Block, where India’s External Affairs Ministry is located, that “our two nations need to re-imagine bilateral and regional cooperation – not as a legacy of the past, but as a strategic necessity –for our collective good and resilience.”

Speaking in the presence of a minister and senior Indian foreign ministry officials, Hamidullah did not elaborate on the nature of the strategic necessity, but diplomats present on the occasion interpreted his statement in the context of what Bangladesh Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus had said about India’s North-east being “land locked.” The Bangladesh National Security Advisor Khalliur Rahman recently told a private television channel that New Delhi has to engage with Bangladesh “because of the North-east of India.”

Speaking in New Delhi, Hamidullah also stated that the Yunus-led interim government of Bangladesh plans to hold free and fair elections in that country in early 2026.

Bangladesh observes its National Independence Day on March 26. This year, after a delay of almost three months, the Bangla High Commission in New Delhi organized a function at a 5-star hotel in the city to celebrate, belatedly, the country’s Independence day.

The national day celebrations were “deferred”, explained the Mission’s Press Counsellor Faisal Mahmud, due to several factors, “including the arrival and presentation of credentials by the New High Commissioner to India, and the observance of the holy month of Ramadan in March.”

This was the first official function organized by the High Commission in New Delhi after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina – led Awami League government in Dhaka, on August 5, 2024, and this was the new High Commissioner’s first public speech in India.

Kirti Vardhan Singh, India’s Minister of State for external affairs, was Chief guest at the function. He was accompanied on the occasion by B Shyam, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of External affairs in charge of the Bangladesh and Myanmar division. Several former Indian Envoys to Bangladesh and other senior officials also attended.

Referring to the students’ agitation that brought down the Hasina government, Hamidullah said, “last monsoon, our people, particularly the youth stood up demanding reform and restructuring of the key state apparatus. We solemnly remember hundreds of youth who made the supreme sacrifice. They asked for transformation in ways that enable them to master their destiny, live in true freedom and define Bangladesh as an inclusive and open society.” He reiterated that “Bangladesh aspires for a peaceful and prosperous neighborhood where we all can prosper, upholding universal values while also protecting our interests.”

MoS Singh echoed those sentiments saying, “India and Bangladesh share deep-rooted bonds of history, culture and language. We want mutually beneficial cooperation. We are committed to fostering greater interlinkage and connectivity with Bangladesh.”

The celebration also featured a cultural showcase of traditional Bangladeshi Jamdani sarees and a specially curated menu, including the iconic ‘Kachhi’ Biryani, made by chefs flown in from Dhaka.

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