Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi said Tuesday the two countries must move forward in the interest of development by overcoming all challenges they face.
He made the remarks after a courtesy meeting with Abdul Moyeen Khan, minister of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives, and State Minister Mir Shahe Alam at the Secretariat.
It was Trivedi’s first visit to the ministry since assuming his duties in Dhaka.
“The past cannot be forgotten, but we cannot remain stuck in the past. For the sake of development, both countries must overcome challenges on the democratic path and move forward,” Trivedi said.
He added that relations between Bangladesh and India are not limited to governments alone but are rooted in people‑to‑people ties. Referring to trade, he said discussions were held on how free trade could be advanced for the benefit of citizens of both countries.
At the start of the meeting, Trivedi extended greetings to BNP Standing Committee member Abdul Moyeen Khan on the party’s 48th founding anniversary.
He also congratulated the minister on assuming new responsibilities and praised his long political experience.
Minister Moyeen Khan emphasised advancing the historic and close ties between the peoples of Bangladesh and India.
The meeting discussed expanding trade and economic cooperation, particularly the prospects of free trade, with the minister stressing stronger people‑to‑people contacts to elevate bilateral relations.
High Commissioner Trivedi highlighted India’s interest in skills development and experience sharing in the local government sector.
He said Bangladeshi officials and representatives could be trained and exchange expertise through India’s Hyderabad‑based institute on local governance, expressing hope for expanding cooperation based on mutual interests.
State Minister Mir Shahe Alam reiterated the government’s determination to hold free, fair and impartial local government elections within the current fiscal year, while acknowledging that completing the polls in time is a challenge.
He told reporters that India had expressed interest in sending observers to Bangladesh’s local government elections, subject to discussions with the Election Commission.
Local Government Division Secretary Md Shahidul Hasan, India’s Deputy High Commissioner Pawankumar Tulshidas Badhe, and senior officials from the ministry and the High Commission attended the meeting.
