First high-level Dhaka-Delhi meeting set for Dec since Hasina’s fall

Bangladesh and India will hold the first foreign secretary-level meeting in early December in Dhaka since the fall of the Awami League government, according to ministry officials.

Bangladesh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs held an inter-ministerial meeting today (20 November), chaired by Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, to review the agenda for discussions with India, prepared by various ministries and departments.

Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri will lead the India side at the meeting that will address political, security, and bilateral issues between the two countries.

Relations between the close-door neighbours became strained after Sheikh Hasina fled to India on 5 August.

In the changed political context, India has raised concerns about alleged "persecution of minorities" in Bangladesh, restricted visa issuance, allowing only those for treatment and third-country travel, and suspended direct train services. 

Citing security concerns, Indian contractors and personnel were withdrawn from various projects in Bangladesh, though some have started returning.

Several advisers of the interim administration alleged that India opened the Dumboor Dam on the Tripura River in mid-August without prior warning, causing floods and damage in Bangladesh. 

A section of Indian politicians and media also made negative remarks about Bangladesh, creating further tensions.

However, in a gesture aimed at mending ties, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus assured Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a phone call on 16 August that the interim government would prioritise the protection, safety, and security of Hindus and all minority groups in Bangladesh. 

In response, Modi shared on his X handle that he reiterated India's support for a democratic, stable, peaceful, and progressive Bangladesh.

In September, Bangladesh's Foreign Adviser Md Touhid Hossain met Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. Although Bangladesh expressed interest in a meeting between the Prime Ministers, India did not respond.

What's on the agenda for the meeting?

A senior official of the South Asia Wing of Bangladesh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the foreign office consultation meeting primarily focuses on political and diplomatic relations between the two countries. 

It also involves updates on ongoing agreements and memorandums of understanding (MoUs), as well as the implementation progress of decisions made in previous meetings. New proposals from both sides are also discussed, he said.

This year's meeting will include new proposals from Bangladesh, with several ministries putting forward fresh suggestions for discussion. Whether these proposals will be included in the meeting's agenda is yet to be decided, he added.

Over 20 agreements and more than 65 MoUs exist between Bangladesh and India, although there are no public documents regarding the details of these agreements. 

Adviser Touhid Hossain has mentioned in several media discussions that these agreements will be reviewed, and any necessary new ones will be negotiated. An extradition agreement between Bangladesh and India for the handover of fugitives or criminals has been in place since 2013. 

On 17 November, during a speech to the nation, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus said, "The efforts for the trial of the killings in July-August are progressing well. We will also seek the return of the fallen autocrat Sheikh Hasina from India."

Project sources say India's Line of Credit loan is funding 17 ongoing projects in Bangladesh, with eight more in the development project proposal stage. In some cases, the pace of disbursement has been slow, prompting the Economic Relations Division to propose discussions on the matter.

In addition to these, the agenda for the meeting are likely to cover issues such as border security, water sharing, weather forecasting, rail connectivity, resumption of all types of visas, ensuring the presence of project contractors, and the use of ports and rivers. Bangladesh is preparing the meeting agenda accordingly.