DHAKA: Bangladesh interim govt foreign affairs adviser Md Touhid Hossain expressed optimism on Saturday about the prospects of building a strong relationship between Bangladesh and India despite the challenges posed by recent developments even as he acknowledged that while the previous Hasina govt made efforts to address New Delhi’s concerns, Dhaka’s concerns remain unresolved.
While saying that unresolved issues such as water-sharing and border killings still require attention, Hossain emphasised that both countries must take a realistic approach considering the post-Aug 5 situation. “We are hopeful that we can establish a good relationship with India, protecting the interests of both nations,” Hossain said during a roundtable discussion titled “Bangladesh-India Relations: Expectations, Barriers, and Future”.
Hossain pointed out the lack of progress on the Teesta treaty, which has been a long-standing concern for Bangladesh. “We expect progress on this front,” he said.
He also expressed his country’s strong stance against border killings, a recurring issue at the Bangladesh-India border. “These killings are unacceptable,” he stressed, saying that this is the only border in the world where people are shot dead though a war situation does not exist. He also underscored the need to foster mutual trust.