Bangkok: Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain today announced that during a meeting in Bangkok, Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus discussed the issue of former leader Sheikh Hasina's extradition with Indian Premier Narendra Modi. Despite the discussion, no conclusive agreement was achieved. Hossain addressed the media at the foreign ministry, but refrained from providing further details.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the meeting occurred on the sidelines of the 6th BIMSTEC Summit, which followed the Chief Adviser's inaugural bilateral visit to China. During these international engagements, the Foreign Adviser stated that the visits to both China and Thailand largely met Bangladesh's expectations. He emphasized that enhancing Dhaka-Delhi relations requires collaborative efforts, noting, "We need to move forward together."
Following the Yunus-Modi meeting, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri conveyed that Prime Minister Modi urged all involved parties to avoid rhetoric potentially harmful to bilateral relations. Adviser Hossain concurred with this sentiment, acknowledging similar concerns from the Bangladeshi side. Modi also expressed India's commitment to supporting a democratic, stable, peaceful, progressive, and inclusive Bangladesh.
Foreign Adviser Hossain reiterated the interim government's dedication to transferring power to an elected leadership through free and fair elections, acknowledging the international interest in Bangladesh's democratic process. He noted that concerns about elections are frequently raised by Bangladesh's international partners, regardless of their own democratic traditions.
Regarding Indian visa issues, Hossain remarked that visa issuance is a sovereign decision for India, mentioning that Bangladesh has previously paused visa issuance to India. He highlighted that visa restrictions often prompt people to seek alternatives elsewhere.
On the Teesta River Management Project, Hossain stated Bangladesh's openness to collaborate with both India and China, adopting a liberal stance to evaluate where national interests are best served. He emphasized that cooperation with either country is possible and progress on the Teesta project will take time.
Reflecting on the recent China visit, Hossain mentioned that high-level engagement has fostered progress, facilitating the advancement of bilateral relationships. Several documents were signed, and discussions on mutual interests between the Chief Adviser and the Chinese President were deemed positive.
Addressing the Rohingya issue, Hossain mentioned Myanmar's confirmation of eligibility for repatriation for 180,000 forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals. However, he cautioned that immediate repatriation is unlikely given the current conditions in Rakhine State.
Lastly, regarding delays faced by Bangladeshi nationals in obtaining Italian visas, Hossain stated that ongoing dialogue with Rome continues. He attributed the delays to the detection of numerous fake documents, affecting even legitimate applications as Italian authorities verify document authenticity.