On Sunday, Bangladesh expressed its intent to “reset” relations with India, seeking to establish a new partnership grounded in mutual interests. This announcement comes amid criticisms of the previous administration under deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, which the current government described as having led to “uncomfortable” bilateral ties.
The remarks by State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir came two days after Bangladesh on Thursday said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman would not participate in the BRICS Summit hosted by India as he was not invited to the event, with the invitation instead extended to the BIMSTEC chair. “We have to get out of the India fascination. Kobir also said Prime Minister Rahman is scheduled to leave for New York on September 21 to attend the 81st session of the UN General Assembly and stay there until September 26.
“We want to move towards a new relationship, which should be done through bilateral discussions, not through a multilateral forum,” he said. India is just another country, and Bangladesh wants good bilateral relations with it,” he said. Responding to a question, the minister said, “Breakfast in India, lunch in India, dinner in India — then when will you eat your own food? Asked about the possibility of a meeting between Rahman and US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the UNGA, he said such meetings are often decided at the last moment during major international conferences. “The primary focus of the Prime Minister’s visit is to address the UN General Assembly,” Kobir said, adding that details of the sideline meetings would be known in due course.
