India brings up safety of minorities in B'desh

Dhaka says not appropriate for other countries to comment on its internal affairs

India on Monday conveyed to Bangladesh its concerns about the safety and welfare of minorities in that country, with foreign secretary Vikram Misri saying New Delhi wants to work with the interim government in Dhaka to take forward ties in a positive direction.

Misri arrived in Dhaka on Monday for the annual foreign office consultations with his Mohammad counterpart Jashim Uddin amid unprecedented strain in bilateral ties over the targeting of Bangladesh's Hindu minority and the arrest of monk Chinmoy Krishna Das. Misri, the first senior Indian functionary to travel to Dhaka since the change of government in August, also met de facto foreign minister Touhid Hossain and caretaker administration chief Muhammad Yunus.

At these meetings, Misri highlighted India's support for a "democratic, stable, peaceful, progressive and inclusive Bangladesh" and reiterated New Delhi's willingness to build a positive and constructive relationship with Dhaka based on "mutual trust and respect and mutual sensitivity to each other's concerns", the external affairs ministry said.

Jashim Uddin responded to the issues raised by Misri by claiming that there is "disinformation" and "false information" in the Indian media about the "alleged hostile treatment of minorities". He said people of all faiths in Bangladesh are "independently practising their religion" and it wasn't appropriate for other countries to comment on Bangladesh's internal affairs.

At the conclusion of the consultations, Misri told the media in Dhaka that the two sides had a "frank, candid and constructive exchange of views". He said the consultations focused on the "entire gamut of issues in the extremely important bilateral relationship", and that he emphasised New Delhi's "desire to work closely with the interim government" in Dhaka.