Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stated today that he raised India’s concerns with Dhaka regarding recent attacks on minorities in Bangladesh. During a meeting with Bangladeshi Foreign Adviser Mohammad Touhid Hossain, Mr. Misri expressed regret over the attacks on religious institutions and places of worship.

Mr. Misri also conveyed India’s desire for a “positive, constructive, and mutually beneficial” relationship with Bangladesh’s interim government. Speaking to the media after the high-level meeting, he emphasized India’s intent to work closely with the interim authorities in Bangladesh.

On the issue of minority safety, Mr. Misri said, “We discussed recent developments, and I conveyed our concerns, including those related to the safety and welfare of minorities. We also talked about the regrettable incidents involving attacks on cultural and religious properties.”

Describing the discussions as “frank, candid, and constructive,” Mr. Misri noted that the talks provided both sides an opportunity to assess the state of their bilateral ties. The Foreign Secretary arrived in Dhaka earlier today for a day-long visit, marking the first high-level meeting between the two countries following strained relations after the ouster of Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August.

Mr. Misri first met with his Bangladeshi counterpart, Foreign Secretary Jashim Uddin, at the Padma state guest house. The two foreign secretaries initially held one-on-one talks before a formal meeting with delegations from both sides.

Diplomatic relations between India and Bangladesh have faced challenges since the ouster of Sheikh Hasina following a large-scale anti-government protest in August. Nobel laureate Mohammad Yunus assumed the role of Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser after Hasina fled to India.