Bangladesh-India relations balanced, based on mutual respect: Press Wing

The Press Wing of the Chief Adviser’s Office has said that relations with India have become balanced on the basis of mutual respect during the tenure of the interim government.

It also noted that while the damage of 16 years cannot be repaired in 18 months, the country has firmly moved away from authoritarian practices and is now progressing toward a democratic future.

The statement was issued on Monday by the Chief Adviser’s Office.

According to the statement, Bangladesh entered a new chapter on 5 August 2024, when a new generation of youth took to the streets against fascism.

Following 16 years of repression, an interim government was formed under the leadership of Prof Muhammad Yunus through the July mass uprising to steer the country out of crisis.

At the time, the state was facing economic turmoil and severe institutional weaknesses. Years of corruption and misgovernance had weakened public institutions, while looting and capital flight had left the banking sector in distress. Public trust in law enforcement agencies had eroded, and confidence in the judiciary was also low.

Against this backdrop, the interim government formed several reform commissions comprising experts. Based on their recommendations, along with its own initiatives, the government launched realistic legal and institutional reform measures aimed at rebuilding the state and restoring democratic foundations.

Highlighting its activities, the Press Wing said that over the past 18 months, the government has enacted around 130 laws—both new and amended—and issued more than 600 executive orders necessary for institutional reform.

Of these measures, approximately 84% have already been implemented.

The statement also noted significant progress in the economy and foreign relations. An economic partnership agreement with Japan has granted duty-free access to about 7,400 Bangladeshi products.

Cooperation with China has resulted in extended loan tenures, improvements in health infrastructure, and enhanced flood forecasting systems. Talks with the United States have reduced tariff rates from 37% to 19%.

Diplomatic ties with key countries have been strengthened, and relations with India have become balanced on the basis of mutual respect, the statement said.

In the financial sector, banking supervision has been reinforced. Transparency in procurement processes has been increased across 42 ministries, and the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics has been granted greater independence in publishing data.

As part of reforms in law enforcement agencies, more than 1,200 officials have been temporarily suspended, and human rights-based training programmes have been introduced.

The Rapid Action Battalion has been restructured and renamed the Special Intervention Force. Judicial independence has been restored, merit-based appointments of judges have been ensured, and executive interference has ended.

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The government has also withdrawn politically motivated cases against journalists and reopened media outlets that had been shut down, restoring press freedom.

The Press Wing concluded that these reforms mark only the beginning of building a citizen-friendly state structure. Although the damage of 16 years cannot be undone in 18 months, the country is steadily moving away from authoritarian practices and advancing toward a democratic future.