Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri holds high-level talks with Dhaka amid strained ties

Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri holds high-level talks with Dhaka amid strained ties

The foreign secretaries of India and Bangladesh met on Monday in Dhaka, marking the first high-level engagement between the two nations since Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted in August.

Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri arrived in Dhaka earlier in the day on an Indian Air Force jet for a one-day visit. Upon his arrival, he held one-on-one talks with his Bangladeshi counterpart Mohammad Jashim Uddin, followed by a formal meeting with delegations from both sides at the state guest house, Padma.

“The meeting… is taking place as scheduled. They first held brief one-on-one talks, and then the formal meeting began with delegates from both sides,” a Bangladeshi foreign ministry official confirmed.

Bilateral relations have been fraught since Hasina’s removal from power on August 5 during a massive anti-government protest. Nobel laureate Mohammad Yunus assumed leadership days after Hasina fled to India, further straining ties.

In recent weeks, tensions escalated over incidents of violence targeting Hindus in Bangladesh, including attacks on temples and the arrest of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das. These developments prompted concerns in New Delhi, which analysts believe will dominate the discussions during the Foreign Secretary-level talks.

Bangladesh has dismissed allegations of religious persecution, attributing the violence to political unrest linked to Hasina’s ouster. “The Hindus who were harassed were related to her Awami League party, and the violence had nothing to do with their religious faith,” Dhaka stated.

Interim government leader Yunus has accused India of being dissatisfied with the political shift, describing Hasina’s removal as a “revolution” against a “fascist regime.” However, his administration has expressed optimism about rebuilding ties.

On Sunday, Bangladeshi foreign affairs adviser Mohammad Touhid Hossain said, “We expect that we will be able to overcome this impasse. Establishing mutual communication and meeting each other is important to overcome such stalemates.”

Misri is also scheduled to meet Hossain and pay a courtesy visit to Yunus before concluding his trip.

While both sides have acknowledged the changed political dynamics, the path to resolving the stalemate remains uncertain. The outcome of these talks is expected to shape the trajectory of India-Bangladesh relations in the coming months.

(With inputs from PTI)

Also Read: Bangladesh will seek extradition of Sheikh Hasina, says Muhammad Yunus

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