Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is looking forward to a visit by his Bangladesh counterpart Tarique Rahman, Indian High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi said on Monday.
He also expressed optimism that the two leaders could address contentious issues through dialogue and work towards improving bilateral relations.
Trivedi made the remarks while speaking to reporters after calling on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed.
It was the first meeting between Tarique and the newly appointed Indian envoy.
Trivedi said, “I have mentioned before that the people of India and the Prime Minister of India are looking forward [to the visit], and we are positive that if the two leaders sit together, there will be issues. If there are no issues, it is not a democracy.”
“We have issues and Bangladesh also has issues, but the people’s issue is only one, and that is good relations,” he added.
Describing his meeting with Tarique as a positive one, the envoy said he was pleased to meet the prime minister as a representative of the people.
“Your Prime Minister, I said the day before yesterday, is a man of the people. It was very nice. We met more as public figures. I am not a diplomat. This is a meeting with a representative of the people as a representative of the people. And I am very happy that I met him,” Trivedi said.
The Indian envoy said Bangladesh and India shared more than a border, as the two countries also shared common aspirations.
“We share dreams, that’s why I think the future will be very good. The issues have to be sorted out, from both sides,” he said.
Tension in Dhaka-Delhi relations
Trivedi said differences were natural between democratic countries and should be addressed through dialogue.
“If there are no issues, there will be no democracy. There are issues at home too. When I go home, there are issues at home too. There is no issue that we cannot solve. I can say this with confidence—there is no issue that we cannot sit down and solve,” he said.
The envoy also stressed that both Bangladesh and India had vibrant democracies and that stronger bilateral relations would serve the interests of both countries.
“It’s a win-win situation between the two countries. Both countries want it, the people, the common people, want it. The common people of India, the common people of Bangladesh want the same thing—that relations should be good. It’s natural,” he said.
