Dhaka-Delhi ties 'organic', conversation must continue: Riaz Hamidullah

Outgoing Bangladesh High Commissioner to India M Riaz Hamidullah has described the relationship between Bangladesh and India as "organic" and rooted in mutual interdependence and shared interests.

"Very simple - this is a relationship which, on several occasions, I've said is organic ... of mutual interdependence. It's a relationship which is in shared interests," he said.

Hamidullah, who assumed charge as Bangladesh High Commissioner to India on 7 April 2025, is set to leave New Delhi early next month to take up his new assignment as Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations in Geneva, a senior official told UNB.

The diplomat said differences in views, perspectives and approaches are natural in any close relationship, particularly between two countries that share an intimate geography.

"But with those, we must remain engaged; carry on conversation, as we need to unpack the interaction between people far more than it is today," he told Indian media ANI in an interview.

He said people-to-people engagement should go beyond conventional exchanges, noting that broader interaction could reach millions of people and help strengthen understanding between the two countries.

Unattended space

"That's an unattended space that remains," he said, referring to the need for greater engagement at the people-to-people level.

While communication between ministries and governments remains important, Hamidullah said he sees a much larger space that can be addressed through broader social and educational engagement.

"For example, among students, school-going children and universities," the envoy said, adding that greater engagement in these areas could reach "millions" of people and make a "distinct difference" to the relationship between the two countries.

Reflecting on his recent experiences in India, Hamidullah, in a post on his verified X account, spoke about a visit during which an interaction with students at Delhi Public School (DPS) Srinagar left a lasting impression on him.

He visited the school after arriving in Srinagar on 3 September, saying he was particularly struck by its inclusive and scholastic environment and the energy of its more than 5,000 students.

DPS Srinagar was founded in 2003 by Vijay K Dhar under the D P Dhar Memorial Trust. The Dhar family has longstanding links with Bangladesh, including through the late D P Dhar, who played a significant role in the formation and early years of Bangladesh.

Hamidullah said his interaction with students at the school offered him a different perspective on how young people view issues such as borders and identity.

A Class XII student, RJ Fatima, introduced herself to him as a radio jockey and invited him to the school's digital radio station, which, he said, has been operating since 2019.

"She just asked me and got me into her radio studio, and we got into conversation," Hamidullah recalled. What surprised him most, he said, was Fatima's question: "How do you look at borders?"

"Imagine, sitting in Srinagar, a girl asking this," he said, adding that he took the question in "absolute candour" and responded to her openly.

People-to-people ties

Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi recently called for keeping trade, cultural exchanges and people-to-people connectivity between Bangladesh and India moving forward, saying such issues should not be held back by political developments.

Talking to reporters after a cultural programme in Dhaka earlier this month, he said the two countries would continue discussing various issues, but matters such as the Maitree Express, the Ganges Water Treaty, trade and cultural exchanges should not be allowed to get stuck.

"These are the things of ordinary people," said the High Commissioner, highlighting the importance of keeping people at the centre.

The High Commissioner said trade restrictions on both sides have to be eased. Otherwise, he noted, people will suffer.

He said there is no need to rush and the political process will take its own course. But the work that concerns ordinary people must continue, Trivedi said.

India on Tuesday reiterated that it wants to take its relationship with Bangladesh forward in a positive, constructive and forward-looking manner and expressed its willingness to discuss all bilateral issues between the two countries.

"India desires a positive, constructive, and forward-looking relationship with Bangladesh," Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said while responding to a question about bilateral ties during a media briefing in New Delhi.

Jaiswal said India is ready to discuss all bilateral issues with Bangladesh through the existing structured mechanisms.

"Our intent is to take this relationship forward in a positive direction, in a constructive direction, in a forward-looking manner," he said.

Celebrating Bangladesh's national fish

A vibrant 'Ilish Fest' celebrating Bangladesh's national fish, hilsa, was held at the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi on Saturday.

The event, held at the 'Maitri' Auditorium of the High Commission, brought together prominent Indian politicians, diplomats, civil society representatives, academics, journalists and cultural personalities.

During the festival, prominent Indian personalities unveiled the book A Fish Called Ilish, published in Dhaka.

The event centred on hilsa, which is deeply rooted in Bengali heritage, culture and culinary traditions. It also provided an opportunity to showcase Bangladesh's rich cultural heritage and hospitality, with guests enjoying a variety of hilsa dishes alongside traditional Bangladeshi cuisine.

The guests appreciated not only the distinct taste of Bangladeshi hilsa but also the emotions, traditions and cultural values associated with the fish.

Former Indian Minister of State for External Affairs and noted journalist M J Akbar, former diplomat and politician Mani Shankar Aiyar, human rights activist and social thinker Syeda Hameed, former Indian ambassador Ronen Sen, eminent sociologist Ashis Nandy and other distinguished personalities attended the programme.

The guests praised the taste of Bangladeshi hilsa and the overall organisation of the festival.

The event also highlighted Bangladesh's heritage, culture and hospitality, while guests expressed hope that such initiatives would contribute to further strengthening the friendly ties between the peoples of Bangladesh and India.

Speaking after the book launch, Bangladesh High Commissioner Riaz Hamidullah said hilsa is closely linked to Bangladesh's identity and the fish is deeply intertwined with the country's social and economic fabric.

The High Commissioner also noted that Bangladesh has five hilsa sanctuaries and that the government has taken various initiatives to increase hilsa breeding and production. These efforts have contributed to increased conservation and production of hilsa, he said.