Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma remarked that there is no opportunity for Bangladesh-India relations to remain stuck in the past. He stated that challenges will certainly exist between the two countries, but they must move forward toward the future by taking those challenges into consideration. While it is not possible to forget the past, staying trapped in it will not allow development work to move forward.
On Tuesday (September 1), the Indian High Commissioner paid a courtesy call on Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Dr. Abdul Moyeen Khan. He made these remarks later during a briefing organized regarding the meeting. Pranay Verma said that he conveyed his greetings to everyone on the occasion of the founding anniversary of the BNP. The meeting also included discussions on working together between the two countries.
Regarding Bangladesh's internal politics, he stated that he does not want to comment on what is happening in domestic politics, nor should he. He also remarked that the people of the country and a government elected on the basis of a majority will best understand what is good for the people.
Emphasizing the strengthening of relations between the people of the two countries, the Indian High Commissioner said that people-to-people ties are always important. The decisions taken by the two countries affect ordinary people, so both nations have a responsibility to ensure the welfare of the common people. He said, 'We say that we share our dreams along with our borders. Therefore, our responsibilities as neighbors increase. We are equals; no one is big or small.'
Noting that Bangladesh and India face various types of challenges, Pranay Verma said that challenges will always exist. Just as Bangladesh's democratic challenges must be taken into account, India's challenges must also be understood. Keeping these challenges in mind, the two countries must move forward.
Regarding past relations and events, he said, 'We cannot forget the past, but there is no scope to remain stuck in the past either. If we remain stuck in the past, development work will not happen.'
The Indian High Commissioner stated that the meeting also discussed advancing the commercial relations between the two countries further. He mentioned that discussions were also held on how the two nations can move towards free trade. He said, 'We cannot forget the past. However, if we remain stuck in the past, there will be no development. Discussions were held on how to establish a free trade agreement between the two countries. Challenges will exist, but we want to take the relations between the two countries forward by overcoming these obstacles.'
