Staff Reporter:
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said New Delhi has always attached “highest priority” to its relationship with Dhaka and it does not support any particular party in Bangladesh.
He made the remark at a bilateral meeting with Bangladesh Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC summit in Bangkok.
Modi said the history of the two neighbours is intricately linked, and it goes back to the birth of Bangladesh.
He said India would always support a progressive, democratic and inclusive Bangladesh.
Claiming that India does not support any particular party in Bangladesh, Modi said: “Our relationship is people-to-people.”
India’s attachment is with a country, not with any individuals or political organisations, he said.
The Indian premier recalled the global stature of Prof Yunus.
About the statements of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina delivered from India, the Indian prime minister blamed social media for the tensions around Sheikh Hasina’s remarks.
Referring to the border killings, he said Indian border troops opened fire only in self-defence and the fatalities occurred in Indian territories.
The two leaders stressed the need for working together to prevent killings along the Bangladesh-India border.
Narendra Modi congratulated Prof Yunus on his assumption of the BIMSTEC chairmanship and greeted him on the occasion of Eid ul-Fitr.
During their 40-minute candid meeting, both leaders greeted each other with mutual respect and a shared openness for dialogue.
They concluded their fruitful and honest dialogue by wishing each other good health and personal well-being and extended their best wishes for continued peace, progress, and prosperity for the people of both countries.
Bangladesh Foreign Adviser Md Tauhid Hossain, Chief Adviser’s High Representative Khalilur Rahman, Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval were, among others, present.
