India Signals Willingness to Engage with Bangladesh’s New Government

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obayed Islam said on Tuesday that India has expressed interest in maintaining relations with Bangladesh’s newly formed government.

Speaking to reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, she stated that a new administration led by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party is now in power, and India has indicated its intention to work with the new government.

When asked whether India would normalize visa services for Bangladesh, the minister said that Indian authorities have assured them that visa processes will be restored. She emphasized that visa facilitation should return to previous levels to support trade, commerce, people-to-people connections, and medical travel between the two countries. According to her, India has conveyed that such normalization is expected.

Addressing concerns about human trafficking to Libya, the state minister said the government wants Bangladeshi citizens to migrate legally to all countries. However, she acknowledged that trafficking networks remain a major issue. She stressed the need to identify and take action against those involved in human trafficking, noting that unscrupulous individuals exploit vulnerable people for profit and put their lives at risk. The government aims to put an end to these practices.