Staff Reporter:
The Indian government has said it is “prepared to engage” with Bangladesh on all matters, in an environment that is “conducive” for mutually beneficial dialogue.
“We share 54 rivers, which also includes the Ganga. To discuss all relevant issues that form part of this cooperation, the two countries have a bilateral mechanism in place, which is the Joint Rivers Commission,” Spokesperson at the Ministry of External Affairs Randhir Jaiswal told reporters in New Delhi.
He made the remarks while responding to a question on the prospective renewal of the Ganges water-sharing treaty during a regular media briefing.
Jaiswal said Delhi would have consultations with the state governments concerned, and based on these internal consultations frame their approach.
Officials of Bangladesh and India held the 86th meeting of the Joint River Commission in Kolkata a few months back when they discussed the pros and cons of renewing the 30-year-old Ganges water-sharing treaty which comes up for renewal next year.
Responding to a question on a trilateral meeting held recently between officials of Bangladesh, China and Pakistan, the MEA spokesperson said they maintain a constant watch on the developments in their neighbourhood that have a bearing on their interest and security.
“Our relations with individual countries, while they stand on their own footing, take into account the evolving context as well,” Jaiswal said.
On Thursday afternoon, Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain ruled out any new alliance among Bangladesh, China and Pakistan, and stressed that it was not done targeting Bangladesh’s neighbouring country – India.
“We are not forming any alliance. It was a meeting at the official level, not at the political level…. there was no element of forming any alliance,” he told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs while responding to a question.
Asked whether the meeting was aimed at making India cornered, Touhid said it was certainly not aimed at any third party. “I can assure you.”
Bangladesh, China and Pakistan held an ‘informal’ trilateral meeting on the sidelines of the 9th China-South Asia Exposition and the 6th China-South Asia Cooperation meeting in Kunming on 19 June, Dhaka says.
Trade Measures
Asked about the trade issues with Bangladesh, Jaiswal said the trade-related amendments announced by India with respect to Bangladesh were based on Bangladesh’s own quest for “fairness, equal treatment, and reciprocity.”
He said they await resolution of the underlying issues pending with the Bangladeshi side for a long time.
“These issues have been raised by India at several structured meetings earlier, including at the commerce secretary-level talks,” Jaiswal said.
Minority Issues
Responding to a question, the MEA spokesperson said they understand that “extremists” were clamouring to demolish the Durga temple in Khilkhet, Dhaka.
The interim government in Bangladesh, he said, instead of providing security to the temple, projected the episode as illegal land use allowing the destruction of the temple Thursday.
This has resulted in damage to the deity before it was shifted, Jaiswal said, adding that they are “dismayed” that such incidents continue to recur in Bangladesh.
“Let me underline that it is the responsibility of the interim government of Bangladesh to protect Hindus, their properties, and religious institutions,” he added.
