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Bangladesh and India have recognised the challenges in their bilateral relations and emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts to resolve these issues. This was discussed during a meeting between Bangladesh’s Foreign Affairs Adviser, Md Touhid Hossain, and Indian External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, on the sidelines of the 8th Indian Ocean Conference (IOC) in Muscat, Oman, on Sunday.
A statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs highlighted that both sides acknowledged the challenges and agreed on the necessity of working together to overcome them. The meeting also focused on key matters of mutual concern, including the need to discuss the renewal of the Ganges Water Treaty, with Hossain stressing its importance. He also called for the convening of a meeting of the SAARC Standing Committee, seeking India’s consideration in this regard.
The two diplomats noted that since their last meeting in September 2024 during the United Nations General Assembly, both countries have engaged in several bilateral activities. These include the Foreign Office Consultations in Dhaka on December 9, 2024, and the participation of Bangladesh’s Energy Adviser in the India Energy Week in New Delhi in February 2025. They also discussed the upcoming director-general-level meeting between Border Guard Bangladesh and India’s Border Security Forces in New Delhi from February 18-20, hoping it would address and resolve border-related issues.
While in Muscat for the IOC, Hossain participated in discussions on ‘Strengthening Maritime Supply Chains,’ where he emphasized the need for enhanced maritime connectivity and reduced trade barriers to foster a more prosperous future for countries in the Indian Ocean region. He reiterated Bangladesh’s strong commitment to maritime cooperation, focusing on food security, energy security, and disaster risk reduction. He also called for improved conditions for seafarers, emphasizing their crucial role in maintaining maritime supply chains.
The two-day conference, hosted by the Sultanate of Oman and supported by India, gathered delegations from over 30 countries and regional organizations such as SAARC, BIMSTEC, and IORA. Hossain also met with foreign ministers and officials from Brunei, Vietnam, and Tanzania, discussing various issues of shared interest. On Monday, he is scheduled to meet Oman’s Minister of Foreign Affairs.
