Dhaka, Delhi agree to reset ties on sovereign equality: Minister

Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman said on Wednesday that Dhaka and New Delhi agreed on the need to reset and take forward bilateral ties based on sovereign equality and mutual interests after India’s new high commissioner here paid his first courtesy call on him.

"We both agree that our two countries' relations should move forward keeping mutual interests at the forefront and, as I always say, on the basis of sovereign equality," he told journalists at his office in the foreign ministry.

Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humauin Kobir was also present at the briefing, when Khalilur said no detailed discussions on any specific bilateral issue took place during their first meeting and they rather exchanged views on improving the overall relationship.

"This was a courtesy call. We did not have any extensive discussion on any particular issue, as there will be opportunities for that later," he said.

The foreign minister acknowledged that there were some "irritants" in Bangladesh-India relations that need to be addressed.

“He (envoy) knows about them and I know about them. It is very important that these irritants are addressed," Khalilur said.

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Asked whether the issue of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina was discussed, he reiterated that no specific bilateral issue was taken up during the meeting. "We will discuss all the issues in the coming days." 

India invitation to PM under review

Asked for government response to India’s invitation to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to attend the upcoming 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, the foreign minister said, “We are currently reviewing it.”

“We will take a decision and inform you immediately once that decision is made," he said.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited his Bangladeshi counterpart to attend as a special guest the 12-13 September summit of the inter-governmental BRICS, which comprises India and China alongside Russia, Brazil, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Indonesia, and the United Arab Emirates.

The minister said the prime minister has by now received several invitations for overseas visits, while he is scheduled to attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York. "So, we have to consider all these engagements together." 

Referring to his recent interaction with Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in Manila, Khalilur said during the talks they expressed hope that Dhaka and New Delhi would work to strengthen bilateral relations in the coming days.

US envoy's visit 'exploratory'

The foreign minister said US President Donald Trump's Special Envoy for South and Central Asia Sergio Gor is coming to Dhaka and called the visit "exploratory" when the envoy would seek a broader understanding of Bangladesh and its priorities.

"He will want to understand Bangladesh. He will speak not only with us but also with many other stakeholders," Khalilur said.

The minister said Gor was expected to visit the Rohingya camps and noted that the United States remains the largest international contributor to the Rohingya humanitarian response.

He described Dhaka-Washington relations as “multidimensional” while both sides wanted to advance the partnership further.

Asked if any pressure was mounting on Dhaka on any issue, he said, "We do not feel any kind of pressure."

Foreign relations not 'zero-sum game'

Asked if Bangladesh's “growing engagement” with China could cause concern in Washington or affect relations with other partners, the minister rejected a zero-sum interpretation of Dhaka's diplomacy.

"Our relationship with one country is not a zero-sum game in the context of our relationship with another country. We will never strengthen relations with one country at the expense of another.” 

Khalilur said Dhaka sought to strengthen “our relations with all countries while protecting and advancing Bangladesh's national interests" but noted Bangladesh had an "extremely successful" engagement with China during Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s recent visit to Beijing.

He said Bangladesh was expecting an identical outcome if the prime minister travelled to India. "Improving relations with one country does not mean that our relations with another country are deteriorating." 

Bangladesh maintains relations with many countries and would pursue those ties based on its national interests, the minister added.

Indian High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi told reporters separately that his meeting with the foreign minister was “very good and I look forward to a relationship firmly founded on mutual benefit and stronger people-to-people ties”.

The envoy said that from culture and music to cricket, this is just the beginning and “I am sure we will engage more with each other, and I look forward to that”.

Trivedi also called on State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam separately.