Delhi says it remains committed to continued high-level meetings with Dhaka

India has said it has consistently expressed its support for a democratic, stable, peaceful, progressive and inclusive Bangladesh and remains committed to continued high-level exchanges and meetings under bilateral institutional mechanisms.

The statement came from Indian State Minister for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh in reply to a question from TR Baalu, a lawmaker of Tamil Nadu’s Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam party, in the Lok Sabha on Friday (20 March).

In response to Baalu’s question about whether the Indian government is reconsidering its recent decision to cancel priority given to exports from Bangladesh at Indian sea ports, Singh said, “No priority was accorded to exports from Bangladesh over [its] own exports at Indian ports when this facility was previously extended. 

“Any change in policy will be undertaken after due consideration of all relevant factors.”

The state minister said India’s approach to relations with Bangladesh is neighbourhood-driven and people-centric.

“Accordingly, India has extended support for various development-oriented initiatives in Bangladesh through lines of credit and grants-in-aid for projects as well as support for ‘high-impact community development projects,’ humanitarian assistance, disaster relief and capacity building programmes,” he pointed out.

According to Singh, since 2014, India has extended two major lines of credit to Bangladesh totalling $6.5 billion in assistance.

He said India and Bangladesh, as neighbouring countries, “share deep historical, geographical, cultural, linguistic and social linkages.”