Dhaka, Delhi for addressing challenges

Bangladesh Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain and Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar yesterday acknowledged the challenges facing bilateral relations and stressed the need for joint efforts to address them.

The discussion took place during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the 8th Indian Ocean Conference (IOC) in Muscat, Oman, according to a press release issued by the Bangladesh foreign ministry.

"Both sides recognised the challenges the two neighbours are facing in terms of bilateral relations and discussed the necessity to work together to address those," read the release. 

 During the meeting, Touhid underscored the importance of initiating discussions for the renewal of the Ganges Water Treaty.

He also emphasised the need for convening the Saarc Standing Committee meeting and requested India's support on the matter.

Both sides expressed optimism that various border-related issues would be addressed during the upcoming meeting between director generals of Border Guard Bangladesh and Indian Border Security Force in New Delhi, said the ministry release.

The two leaders also exchanged views on other bilateral issues of mutual interest and concern, the ministry stated.

Reflecting on their last meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in September 2024, they noted that since then, the two nations have engaged in multiple bilateral dialogues, including the Foreign Office Consultations at the Foreign Secretary level in Dhaka on December 9.

Besides, they recalled Bangladesh energy adviser's participation in the India Energy Week events in New Delhi from February 10 to 11.

 Adviser Touhid also held meetings with the second minister of foreign affairs of Brunei, the vice minister of foreign affairs of Vietnam, and the deputy minister of foreign affairs of Tanzania on the sidelines of the IOC.  

Earlier in the day, Touhid yesterday laid emphasis on facilitating maritime connectivity and reducing trade barrier to ensure a brighter, more prosperous future for all nations of the Indian Ocean and beyond.

"We need to facilitate maritime connectivity, reduce the trade barriers," he said when speaking at a plenary session titled "Strengthening Maritime Supply Chains: Overcoming Disruptions and Enhancing Resilience" at the IOC. 

The adviser said that Bangladesh places strong importance on maritime cooperation for facilitating the efficient movement of goods, services and people, for advancing food security, energy security, water cooperation, disaster risk reduction and providing fair access to global public goods.

The adviser pointed out that global economy, food security, and energy supplies are at increasing risk due to vulnerabilities at key maritime routes.