Desk Report : Bangladesh is hopeful that India will resume issuing visas for Bangladeshi nationals, with Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain expressing the country’s desire for a good working relationship with New Delhi. Speaking to reporters at the foreign ministry, Hossain emphasized that Dhaka has always maintained a clear position in favor of fostering strong ties with India.
“We have always said that we want a good working relation with India. We have a clear position on it,” Hossain stated. He added that both countries have mutual interests in maintaining positive relations, citing Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus’s recent interview with BBC where he reiterated this stance.
When asked about the possibility of visas being issued for Bangladeshis, Hossain noted that the decision is ultimately up to the Indian government, and he could not comment further on it. However, he expressed optimism, saying, “We hope the Indian High Commission will issue visas for Bangladeshis who wish to visit India and enhance its activities.”
Visa issuance for Bangladeshis has been limited since the political upheaval in Bangladesh in August 5, following the mass uprising and the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. In response, Dhaka requested New Delhi to extradite Sheikh Hasina, who has sought shelter in India, but no official response has been received.
On another matter, when asked about Bangladesh’s collaboration with China on the Teesta water management project, Hossain confirmed that the two countries have a memorandum of understanding, but no specific discussions have taken place on the Teesta project.
Regarding Bangladesh’s concerns about China’s largest hydropower dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo River, which could potentially affect the Brahmaputra River in Bangladesh, Hossain revealed that during his recent visit to China in late January, the issue was raised. According to ministry officials, the Chinese side assured that there would be no impact on Bangladesh, as the dam would not involve any water withdrawal.
Touching upon recent remarks by US President Donald Trump, Hossain downplayed concerns that Bangladesh’s relations with the US would be affected. Trump had commented on the $29 million USAID project for democracy promotion in Bangladesh, but Hossain clarified that Bangladesh’s foreign ministry had investigated the matter and found the allegations to be false.
Hossain also explained that during Trump’s first term, USAID had selected Democracy International (DI), a US-registered organization, to implement the project. He reiterated that the selection process had been competitive and transparent, with multiple international organizations involved.
The diplomatic interactions between Bangladesh, India, China, and the US remain closely watched, as each nation plays a significant role in the region’s geopolitical landscape.