Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri provided a detailed briefing to the parliamentary standing committee on external affairs, chaired by Congress MP Dr. Shashi Tharoor, regarding his recent visit to Bangladesh. The briefing followed Foreign Office Consultations held in Dhaka on December 9.
During the session, several members of parliament raised questions about the current situation in Bangladesh, including reports of violence against minorities. Misri assured the panel that the Bangladesh government had committed to taking action against those responsible for such incidents.
Addressing concerns raised by MPs about media reports, Misri clarified that the interim government in Bangladesh, led by Professor Muhammad Yunus, had not brought up discussions about reviewing existing agreements with India.
Committee members expressed concerns about unrest in Bangladesh and the status of Chinmoy Krishna Das, a Hindu monk and former ISKCON leader who was reportedly arrested. Misri emphasized that the Indian government was addressing these matters through various diplomatic channels.
Sources noted that some MPs also inquired about the status of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is reportedly in India following her removal from office. External affairs ministry officials refrained from commenting on her status.
After the meeting, Dr. Tharoor expressed satisfaction with the briefing and highlighted its significance as a foundation for further discussions. “It was a very good meeting, and since we will be reporting to parliament about this issue later next year, it can be termed as a very good beginning,” he stated.
A scheduled consultative committee meeting on December 14, where External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar was to discuss India’s neighborhood policy in the context of Bangladesh, has been postponed due to “unavoidable circumstances” and will be rescheduled.
Misri’s visit marked the first high-level diplomatic engagement between New Delhi and Dhaka since the recent political changes in Bangladesh. During his visit, Misri held meetings with Foreign Adviser Touhid Hussain and Bangladeshi Foreign Secretary Jashim Uddin.
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