Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi expressed optimism after his first meeting with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. Speaking to reporters after the meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office at the Secretariat on Monday (August 10), Trivedi shared his impressions of the meeting in an upbeat tone.

Describing his first meeting with the prime minister, Dinesh Trivedi said, “I am very happy that I got to meet him. After meeting him for the first time, I did not feel at all that I was meeting him for the first time. He was very good, very humble, very down to earth. The discussion will be people-to-people. It was a very good discussion. We are hopeful.”

Referring to India’s invitation to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, he said, “Our invitation is already there. So, last time also I mentioned that the people of India and the Prime Minister of India are looking forward.”

Asked about various complexities in Bangladesh-India bilateral relations, the Indian high commissioner responded confidently, saying, “If there are no issues, there will be no democracy. There are issues even at home. When I go home, there are issues there too. There is no issue that we cannot resolve. I can say this with confidence.”

Earlier, Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman briefed reporters after the prime minister’s meeting and said Bangladesh had asked New Delhi to expedite the process of bringing back former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who is currently staying in India.

Bangladesh has also sought India’s cooperation in returning those involved in the murder of Inqilab Mancha convener Osman Hadi, the foreign minister said. He added that the government expects India’s cooperation on these issues, which it considers important to bilateral relations.

The foreign minister said, “To move the relations between the two countries forward, it is necessary to create an environment of mutual trust and cooperation. Among the issues prioritized by Bangladesh during the meeting were the extradition of Sheikh Hasina and bringing back those involved in the murder of Osman Hadi.”

India appointed Dinesh Trivedi as its 16th high commissioner to Bangladesh in April. He arrived in Bangladesh through the land border with West Bengal on June 5. On Sunday (August 9), he met with Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman.

Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman and Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir were also present at Monday’s meeting with the prime minister.