On Bangladesh’s request for India’s assistance in dealing with its ongoing energy crisis, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the matter was being examined.
“We have an ongoing energy cooperation with Bangladesh. As far as the additional request is concerned, we are examining this given our own requirements, given our refining capacity, as also the availability that is there on our side,” Jaiswal told reporters.
Asked about a recent report by a UN Security Council body pointing to attempts by al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) to establish cells in Bangladesh,
Jaiswal said terrorism and security concerns were a “common scourge”.
“We want to fight this problem together,” he said.
India on Tuesday (Aug 18) made it clear that it wants “positive, constructive and forward-looking” relations with Bangladesh based on “mutuality of interests and reciprocity”.
The remarks are vital as they come amid uncertainty over Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s proposed visit to New Delhi.
Jaiswal made the remarks at his bi-weekly media briefing while responding to questions on the recent strains in India-Bangladesh ties especially following former Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina’s virtual media interaction from New Delhi on August 5.
Following the interaction, Dhaka reiterated its demand for Hasina’s extradition and sought to link the issue with Rahman’s possible visit to India.
Jaiswal said:
“India desires positive, constructive and forward-looking relations with Bangladesh based on mutuality of interests and reciprocity"
“Our position on the press conference by the former Bangladesh prime minister needs no repetition.
On the issue of extraditions, our consistent position has been that these requests are being examined as part of our established processes,” he added.
The Bangladesh foreign ministry had strongly objected to the event, saying it was “outraged” that the interaction was allowed despite Dhaka conveying its concerns to New Delhi over its possible impact on bilateral ties.
Sheikh Hasina, 78, was ousted from power in August 2024 following violent student-led protests. She has been staying in India since fleeing Dhaka on August 5 2024.
Amid the continuing strain, India has invited Tarique Rahman for a bilateral visit as well as to attend the outreach session of the BRICS summit to be hosted in New Delhi on September 12 and 13.
The summit is expected to deliberate on several pressing global issues, including the economic consequences of the ongoing West Asia crisis.
Bangladesh has raised the bogey of extradition of Sheikh Hasina.
On the possibility of India and Bangladesh working together on sharing the waters of the Teesta river, Jaiswal said water-related issues are discussed through established bilateral mechanisms.
The Teesta is the only one of the 54 rivers shared by India and Bangladesh over which the two countries have not reached a water-sharing agreement. “All water-related collaborations and discussions are handled by the bilateral Joint Rivers Commission and other structured dialogue mechanisms,” Jaiswal said.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the credibility and robustness of India’s election machinery are “well-established facts globally” after US President Donald Trump cited India’s electoral system while pushing for mandatory photo identification for voters in the United States.
“I have no specific comment to make on the remarks. I can say, however, that the credibility and robustness of India's election machinery are well-established facts globally,” Jaiswal said.
Trump had on Tuesday invoked Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar while renewing his demand for mandatory voter identification in the US and urging Congress to pass the SAVE America Act.
“Earlier this month, India's Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar, asked our Administration, how can you have Elections in the US without a valid Photo ID?” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
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