Touhid, Jaishankar want mutual cooperation to address challenges in Dhaka-Delhi ties
Bangladesh and India today (16 February) recognised the challenges the two neighbours are facing in terms of bilateral relations and discussed the necessity to work together to address those.
The discussion took place at a meeting between Bangladesh Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain and India External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on the sidelines of the 8th Indian Ocean Conference (IOC) in Muscat, Oman, reads a press release issued by the foreign ministry of Bangladesh.
During the meeting, Touhid underscored the importance of initiating discussions for the renewal of the Ganges Water Treaty.
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He also emphasised the need for convening the SAARC Standing Committee meeting and requested India's support on the matter.
Both sides expressed optimism that various border-related issues would be addressed during the upcoming meeting between the Directors General of Border Guarding Forces of Bangladesh and India, scheduled to be held in New Delhi from 18 to 20 February, said the foreign ministry release.
The two leaders also exchanged views on other bilateral issues of mutual interest and concern, the foreign ministry stated.
Reflecting on their last meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2024, they noted that since then, the two nations have engaged in multiple bilateral dialogues, including the Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) at the Foreign Secretary level in Dhaka on 9 December.
Besides, they also recalled Bangladesh energy adviser's participation in the India Energy Week events in New Delhi on 10-11 February.
Adviser Touhid also held meetings with the Second Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brunei, the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam, and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tanzania on the sidelines of the IOC.
He is scheduled to meet the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Oman tomorrow.
