President Urges Dialogue to Resolve Bangladesh-India Issues

President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday stressed the need to resolve outstanding issues between Bangladesh and India through dialogue and urged India to take effective measures for the equitable sharing of waters of common rivers, including the Ganges and the Teesta.

Mutual trust and confidence between the peoples of the two countries would further increase if issues of common interest were resolved through just and mutually acceptable solutions, he said.

The President made the remarks when Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi paid a courtesy call on him at Bangabhaban in the morning, said President’s Press Secretary Md Sarwar Alam.

Noting that the management of common rivers is directly linked to the lives and livelihoods of people in both countries, the President urged India to take effective measures to ensure fair distribution of the waters of common rivers.

Dinesh Trivedi informed the President that his government was taking positive steps in this regard.

The President said Bangladesh attaches special importance to its relations with India as a close neighbour and an important trade and development partner.

He said Bangladesh wants to build a respectful, forward-looking and mutually beneficial partnership with India while upholding sovereign equality, national interests, dignity and the welfare of the people.

During the meeting, the Indian High Commissioner congratulated Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and conveyed warm greetings and good wishes on his assuming office as President of Bangladesh.

Mentioning that India attaches great importance to its relations with Bangladesh, Trivedi reaffirmed his country’s commitment to expanding cooperation in various areas, including people-to-people relations.

He said India was keen to further strengthen ties between the two countries based on mutual respect, trust and cooperation.

The President thanked the High Commissioner for his greetings and asked him to convey his sincere gratitude and greetings to the President of India.

He said there is enormous potential for expanding cooperation in areas including trade, water resources management, technology, connectivity, culture and people-to-people relations.

Bangladesh and India could work more closely to achieve shared peace, development and prosperity by utilising the capabilities and potential of the peoples of both countries, he added.

The Indian High Commissioner expressed hope that the two countries would continue working together and sought the President’s cooperation in discharging his responsibilities.

The President wished him a successful tenure, expressing hope that his tenure would contribute to making bilateral relations more fruitful, positive and people-oriented.

Senior officials from the President’s Office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Indian High Commission were present at the meeting.

In a statement, the Indian High Commission in Dhaka said the High Commissioner conveyed warm greetings to the President and wished him success in his continued service to the people of Bangladesh.

The discussion underscored the deep-rooted bonds between Bangladesh and India, built on shared history, close cultural ties and people-to-people relations, it said.

The two sides also emphasised the importance of strengthening the bilateral partnership for the mutual benefit of the peoples of the two sovereign countries.