NEW DELHI : During his inaugural trip to India as Bangladeshโs new Foreign Minister, Dr Hasan Mahmud addressed the burgeoning anti-India sentiments in Bangladesh, dismissing the โIndia Outโ campaign in an exclusive conversation. Dr. Mahmud asserted, โBefore, anti-India sentiment in Bangladesh existed, but this โIndia Outโ narrative is no longer effective; such sentiments are diminishing.โ
The โIndia Outโ campaign, gaining traction in Dhaka after a similar movement in the Maldives, is being spearheaded by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), sparking concerns over potential ramifications. The BNPโs stance, as the largest opposition party in Bangladesh, underscores the gravity of the situation. Moreover, recent allegations of Indian interference in national elections have escalated tensions, leading to calls for boycotting Indian goods in Bangladesh.
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Dr Mahmudโs visit to India coincides with PM Sheikh Hasinaโs fifth-term victory, marking a landslide win in parliamentary elections. Emphasizing the historical ties between India and Bangladesh, Dr. Mahmud highlighted Indiaโs pivotal role in Bangladeshโs independence war, underscoring the enduring bond between the two nations. He further described the last decade as a โGolden chapterโ in bilateral relations, positioning Bangladesh-India ties as a model for the region.
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During his bilateral discussions with Indian External Affairs Minister Dr Subramanyam Jaishankar, Dr Mahmud conducted a comprehensive review of various facets of India-Bangladesh relations, including cross-border connectivity, defence and security, energy, water resources, and people-to-people exchanges.
EXCLUSIVE: The New Indianโs Urvashi Khona talks to FM of Bangladesh, Dr. Hasan Mahmud, on Recent Anti-India sentiments fuelling in Bangladesh.
Minister dismisses โIndia outโ campaign, stating such sentiments are diminishing.
#ForeignAffairs #Bangladesh #IndiaRelationsโฆ pic.twitter.com/YhBueEZhQ9
โ The New Indian (@TheNewIndian_in) February 8, 2024
The Ministry of External Affairs hailed Dr. Mahmudโs visit as a significant step in strengthening the enduring friendship and cooperation between India and Bangladesh. It emphasized the importance of ongoing high-level exchanges, envisioning a forward-looking engagement between the two nations under the new term of Bangladeshโs government.
