India needs to address Bangladesh's concerns to improve relation: Touhid

Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain today said India needs to address Bangladesh's longstanding concerns to improve bilateral ties between Dhaka and New Delhi.

"Bangladesh's previous (ousted) government addressed the concerns of India, but India did not address Bangladesh's concerns," he said while speaking at a roundtable titled "Bangladesh-India Relations: Expectations, Barriers and Future."

The South Asian Institute of Policy and Governance (SIPG) and the Department of Political Science and Sociology (PSS) of North South University (NSU) hosted the event at its campus in the capital.

Touhid said there has been no progress on crucial issues between Bangladesh and India such as the Teesta water-sharing agreement or the troubling problem of border killings.

"Such incidents do not occur along the borders of other countries unless there is a state of war," Touhid said adding that India must take responsibility for these issues.

"If individuals commit crimes, they might be prosecuted in court, but shouldn't be killed," he added.

Touhid also raised concerns about an aggressive media campaign in India against Bangladesh, especially since 5 August, noting that such rhetoric was detrimental to fostering healthy relations between the two nations.

"In such a complex relationship, our (Bangladesh) media has a key role to play in fact-checking and providing accurate coverage, especially regarding statements from our foreign ministry," Touhid said.

Despite current diplomatic challenges, the adviser expressed optimism about the future of Bangladesh-India relations accepting the reality in the context of the post-August 5 changed situation.

"There is a change in the relations after August 5. This is reality," he said.

However, the foreign adviser said, Dhaka wants to remain optimistic that "we would be able to establish a good relation with India making sure that bilateral interests are protected".

Touhid emphasised the importance of a national consensus on foreign policy, saying Bangladesh could not fully capitalize its potentials due to political divisions.

The adviser also highlighted the need to enhance the country's national capacity, particularly through the development of human resources.

Bangladeshi workers in the Middle Eastern countries earn significantly less than their Indian counterparts. This is due to a lack of skills and poor proficiency in English, he explained.

Vice Chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Dr SM Asaduzzaman Ripon, joint member secretary of the AB Party Barrister Asaduzzaman Fuaad, former diplomat Saquib Ali, former Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division Lt Gen (retd) Mohammad Mahfuzur Rahman, Vice-Chancellor of Manarat International University Prof Dr Mohammad Abdur Rob attended the roundtable as panel discussants.

NSU Vice-chancellor Prof Abdul Hannan Chowdhury was in the chair while Dr M Jashim Uddin, Associate Professor of the Department of Political Science and Sociology acted as the moderator.