Foreign affairs adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Monday said that taking the right bilateral steps could help alleviate public discontent towards Bangladesh-India relations.
鈥業t鈥檚 possible to ease public dissatisfaction towards India. I believe we need to take very correct bilateral steps to address this,鈥� he told reporters at the foreign ministry in the afternoon.
The adviser noted that while the 鈥榞olden chapter鈥� of Bangladesh-India relations was apparent at the governmental level, it had not extended to the general public.
鈥榃e want to see strong people-to-people ties. The public should feel that there is a genuinely good relationship between Bangladesh and India, but unfortunately, this aspect has been lacking,鈥� Touhid said.
He criticised the Indian media for creating exaggerated narratives on Bangladesh after the student-people revolution, noting that international media, known for their substantive and neutral coverage, did not echo the same sentiment.
He acknowledged that while there was some unrest, it had since been resolved. 鈥榃e have moved past that phase.鈥�
On regional cooperation, Touhid said that there was a hope that the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation could serve as an alternative to the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation.
He, however, pointed out that BIMSTEC could not become fully effective until peace was restored in Myanmar.
The adviser emphasised that Bangladesh did not currently want to see BIMSTEC as a replacement for SAARC.
鈥楽AARC has been a victim of India-Pakistan rivalry, and we do not want to continue down this path,鈥� he said.
He noted that chief adviser professor Muhammad Yunus was keen on revitalising SAARC as a regional forum.
Regarding relations with Pakistan, the foreign adviser noted that there were tensions between Bangladesh and Pakistan during the previous government for some reasons, but improving these ties would be beneficial for both nations.
鈥榃e seek friendship with all. There is no benefit in creating tension with Pakistan,鈥� he said.
