Dhaka:Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Dinesh Trivedi, emphasized the importance of continuous dialogue, mutual respect, and trust between India and Bangladesh to resolve bilateral issues. Speaking at the Bay of Bengal Conversation in Dhaka, he stated that every issue between the two nations has a solution.
According to United News of Bangladesh, Trivedi addressed the need for discussions on various matters such as water, trade, culture, sports, communication, and transportation through appropriate forums. He highlighted that in a democracy, dialogue must be ongoing and occur at the proper forums.
Trivedi reassured that the engagement process between the two countries, though potentially slow, has not ceased. He affirmed that Bangladesh, as an independent and sovereign nation, has the right to make its own decisions, free from outside interference.
The High Commissioner also mentioned that India's relationship with Bangladesh is independent of Bangladesh's relations with other countries. He emphasized that both nations have the right to protect their national interests and described their ties as culturally and historically deep-rooted.
He pointed out the unique cultural foundation of their relationship, citing the shared legacy of Bengali cultural icons, including Rabindranath Tagore, who wrote the national anthems for both countries. Trivedi underlined the importance of support between neighboring countries during calamities and respecting each other's sovereignty.
Acknowledging inevitable disagreements between neighboring democracies, Trivedi stressed that these should be addressed through dialogue and consultation, with trust as the foundation. He expressed optimism that the strong people-to-people ties will continue to strengthen bilateral relations.
The discussion aimed to explore ways of managing strategic rivalry and reducing risks amid geopolitical uncertainties. It included participation from various experts and was moderated by Faris Hadrovic from Bosnia and Herzegovina.