‘Come out of fascination with India’: Bangladesh minister stokes row

Dhaka: Bangladesh must break free from its “fascination with India” and stop allowing New Delhi to dominate its thinking, Foreign Affairs State Minister Humayun Kabir said, signalling a sharper push to redefine Dhaka’s relationship with its powerful neighbour after 15 years of strained ties under the previous government, reports said.

Kabir said Bangladesh could not afford to keep thinking about India constantly, “at breakfast, lunch and dinner,” and should instead focus on its own interests. He said India was simply another neighbouring country with which Dhaka wanted good bilateral relations, rather than a country around which Bangladesh’s foreign policy should revolve.

The minister said Dhaka wants to reset and repair relations with India through a more direct bilateral approach. Instead of relying on meetings held on the sidelines of multilateral events, he said direct visits and negotiations should form the basis of future engagement.

Kabir also said Bangladesh would address border disputes and recent incidents involving India through diplomatic channels, raising its concerns at appropriate forums in accordance with international law and existing border protocols. A review of 101 agreements with India is also underway as part of parliamentary procedures.

Meanwhile, Kabir said Prime Minister Tariq Rahman will travel to New York from September 21 to 26 for the 81st United Nations General Assembly. Rahman is expected to discuss Bangladesh’s democratic transition and future plans and hold meetings with world leaders.

Dhaka will also host a special event on the Rohingya crisis. Kabir said a possible meeting between Rahman and US President Donald Trump would depend on last-minute arrangements.