India Says Relations With Bangladesh Moving in ‘Positive Direction’

Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs, said on Tuesday that New Delhi is moving its relationship with Bangladesh in a “positive direction.”

“We have already indicated that we are taking relations with Bangladesh forward in a positive direction,” Jaiswal said during a press briefing in New Delhi.

He also highlighted India’s continued energy assistance to Bangladesh amid the ongoing regional energy crisis triggered by tensions involving Iran.

“Despite the energy challenges created by the Iran conflict, New Delhi continues to meet Bangladesh’s additional fuel demands,” he said.

Referring to recent diplomatic exchanges, Jaiswal mentioned the visit of Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman to Delhi and the recent trip to Dhaka by Om Birla, Speaker of India’s Lok Sabha.

“This reflects the current trajectory of relations with Bangladesh,” he added.

Jaiswal made the remarks while responding to questions from journalists regarding protests in Bangladesh against imports of Indian goods and concerns linked to recent political developments in West Bengal.

Addressing questions about India’s support to neighboring countries during the energy crisis, Jaiswal said India has continued fuel exports under existing regional arrangements.

“Fuel supplies to Bangladesh through the Bangladesh-India Friendship Pipeline are continuing uninterrupted,” he said.

According to him, India has been supplying high-speed diesel to Bangladesh through the friendship pipeline and has also fulfilled additional requests from Dhaka.

“We received extra demand from Bangladesh, and we have met those demands and continue to do so,” he added.

Jaiswal also said India is supplying fuel products to Bhutan and Nepal under existing agreements and has extended assistance to Sri Lanka. He added that similar arrangements with Mauritius are currently under process.

He further stated that India has received a request from Nepal for fertilizer supplies, which is being processed under the current cooperation framework.

On the issue of illegal immigration, Jaiswal referred to recent comments by Bangladesh State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed, who said Dhaka follows a “zero tolerance” policy regarding illegal migration.

Responding to related questions, Jaiswal said the matter remains under discussion between the two countries. He added that India is awaiting Bangladesh’s response regarding the nationality verification of more than 2,860 individuals whose names have already been shared with Dhaka.

Asked about Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman’s recent visit to China, Jaiswal said India closely monitors all regional developments but stressed that India’s ties with neighboring countries are not dependent on any other diplomatic engagements.

“As practitioners of international relations and diplomacy, we closely observe developments around us. However, India’s relations with neighboring countries stand on their own foundation,” he said.

Jaiswal also commented on the decision by West Bengal’s newly elected Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari to hand over land to the Border Security Force (BSF) within 45 days for construction of barbed-wire fencing along the India-Bangladesh border.

“Protecting border security remains our priority. We view the decision from that perspective,” he said.

Following the announcement, Bangladesh Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir said Bangladesh is no longer intimidated by barbed-wire fencing.

“The people and government of Bangladesh are not afraid of barbed wire,” he told journalists on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed dismissed Suvendu Adhikari’s remarks as insignificant, saying Dhaka would engage in diplomatic discussions only if the proposal officially came from India’s central government.