Agartala, December 09, 2024: Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri arrived in Dhaka on Monday morning amid escalating tensions between India and Bangladesh. Misri’s plane landed at Dhaka Airport at 8:30 am, where he was welcomed by Bangladesh Foreign Office Director General (South Asia) Ishrat Jahan.
The Foreign Secretary-level meeting, known as the Foreign Office Consultation (FOC), between India and Bangladesh commenced shortly after Misri’s arrival. The meeting is being held at the state guest house Padma, with Foreign Secretary Jasim Uddin leading the Bangladeshi delegation and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri representing India.
Misri’s visit is seen as highly significant given the recent attack on the ISKCON temple in Bangladesh, the arrest of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das Prabhu, and the rising anti-India sentiment in Bangladesh. “Our position on the matter is very clear—the interim government must live up to its responsibility of protecting all minorities,” stated an Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson.
The close ties between India and Bangladesh have been under severe strain since the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August. Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus assumed power following Hasina’s departure, leading to increased violence against Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh. The arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das Prabhu has further exacerbated the situation, triggering protests and diplomatic tensions.
During the FOC, Misri is expected to raise India’s concerns over the attacks on minorities and the arrest of Das Prabhu. “We hope that the case against Das will be handled in a just, fair, and transparent manner,” the MEA spokesperson added.
Bangladesh’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Mohammad Touhid Hossain expressed optimism about resolving the current stalemate. “We expect that we will be able to overcome this impasse through mutual communication and engagement,” Hossain said.
The outcome of Misri’s visit and the FOC will be closely watched, as both nations seek to navigate the complexities of their bilateral relationship amid ongoing tensions.
