Ready to engage with Bangladesh on all matters constructively: India

India on Friday said they are “prepared to engage” with Bangladesh on all matters in an environment that is “conducive” to mutually beneficial dialogue, reports UNB.

“We share 54 rivers, which also includes the Ganga. To discuss all relevant issues that form part of this cooperation, the two countries have 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 Ganges water-sharing treaty renewed during a regular media briefing.

Jaiswal also have consultations of relevant state governments, representatives in their own internal consultations on such issues to frame their approach.

Officials of Bangladesh and India held the 86th meeting of the Joint River Commission in Kolkata a few months back where 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 the trilateral meeting held recently among 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.

Earlier on Thursday, 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 formation of 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, Adviser Hossain said it is certainly not targeting a 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 June 19, Dhaka says.

Trade Measures

Asked about the trade issues with Bangladesh, Jaiswal said the trade-related amendments announced by India in respect of 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

Respinding to a question, the MEA spokesperson said they understand that “extremists” were clamoring for demolishing 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 and they allowed the destruction of the temple on 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,” said the MEA spokesperson.