Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali will go to India after the formation of a new government there.
“Of course I hope to go,” he told the Dhaka Tribune when asked if he would go to India shortly after attending a programme of Bangladesh-India Friendship Society at Dhaka University yesterday.
The foreign minister, however, did not say when he would go to New Delhi or make comment if there was any change in relationship between the two countries as the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance won an absolute majority in the Lok Sabha elections.
Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Pankaj Saran told the Dhaka Tribune that India would have a new government sworn in next few days. “Certainly, we are expecting a new government to be formed in next few days,” he said.
Asked if there is any deviation in the foreign policy as there would be a power change in India, he declined to make comment. “We will talk later,” he said.
The foreign minister at the programme informed that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had already sent a congratulatory message to prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi and the people of India for holding a successful election.
He said interaction and exchange of progressive ideas would eventually usher in a secular, prosperous, and inclusive South Asia. “Our two countries are becoming interlinked through engagement of all considerable sectors.”
Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury said Bangladesh and India have many common challenges like poverty eradication, inclusive growth, climate change, good governance and women empowerment.
She hoped if a joint working committee or group of parliament members of both the countries could be formed, then it might have positive impact on the bilateral relationship.
The speaker hoped the two friendly countries would have win-win outcome in water sharing, land boundary agreement and all other aspects.
