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Indian High Commissioner Pranay Kumar Verma has emphasised continued cooperation with the interim government to advance the multifaceted relations with Bangladesh and India.
Speaking to reporters after meeting new Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin at the foreign ministry in Dhaka on Tuesday afternoon, Verma said: "As I have said before, we remain deeply engaged with the Government of Bangladesh to fulfil our shared aspirations for peace, security, and development."
“As you know, this relationship is crucial for us. We look forward to taking it forward in the coming days," he added.
Verma said the meeting with the foreign secretary was a courtesy call but included broader discussions, reports bdnews24.com.
However, he avoided answering a question about the recent killing of a Bangladeshi by India’s Border Security Force, or BSF.
He only remarked: "The foreign advisor has already spoken on this."
The diplomatic dynamics between the two countries have come under strain following the recent upheaval in Dhaka, which saw the 15-year tenure of the Awami League government come to an end on Aug 5 amid intense student protests.
Deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina is reportedly in India, while the interim government appears to be considering a shift in foreign policy, including potential engagement with Pakistan.
According to a report by the Hindustan Times, Dhaka has proposed a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly later this month.
The Indian government has yet to respond to the proposal.
Citing sources familiar with bilateral communications, the Indian media outlet indicated that the meeting seems unlikely, given that Yunus's recent remarks in an interview with an Indian outlet were not well-received in New Delhi.
In an interview with Press Trust of India, or PTI, Yunus criticised Hasina, saying: "As long as she remains in India, she should remain quiet until she is ready to return to Bangladesh."
When questioned on the matter, Foreign Advisor Touhid Hossain said: "If they don't want to meet us, we can't force them to meet, can we?"