Emphasis on working together to address challenges in Dhaka-Delhi relations

Foreign Affairs Advisor M Towhid Hossain and Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar have acknowledged the challenges facing Bangladesh and India. They discussed the need to work together to address these challenges.

Foreign Affairs Advisor M Towhid Hossain met Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on the sidelines of the Indian Ocean Conference in Muscat, Oman’s capital, on Sunday (February 16).

The Ministry of External Affairs said that in the meeting, Towhid Hossain and Jaishankar discussed various bilateral issues of mutual concern and interest. Recalling their last meeting on the sidelines of the UN conference in September 2024, both mentioned that since then the two countries have participated in various bilateral meetings.

In the meeting, both sides mentioned that a meeting at the level of the Director Generals of the Border Guard Forces of the two countries is scheduled to be held in New Delhi from February 18-20. They hope that various border-related issues will be discussed and resolved in the meeting.

Both sides acknowledged the challenges facing the two neighbours in their bilateral relations and discussed the need to work together to address them.

The Foreign Affairs Advisor stressed the importance of resuming negotiations on the renewal of the Ganga Water Sharing Treaty. He also highlighted the importance of the SAARC Standing Committee meeting and requested the Government of India to consider this matter.

The Government of India and Oman have jointly organized the 8th Indian Ocean Conference in Muscat. The conference was attended by Foreign Ministers of at least 27 countries.

It is worth noting that earlier in September last year, Foreign Affairs Advisor M Towhid Hossain met with Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session in New York, USA.