Indian high commissioner meets speaker, information minister; strengthening bilateral ties stressed

India’s outgoing High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Pranay Verma, on Monday held separate meetings with Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed and Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan, with both sides underscoring the importance of deepening bilateral cooperation across multiple sectors.

During his meeting at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, the speaker said the foundation of the strong Bangladesh-India relationship lies in the shared history of the Bangladesh Liberation War, said a spokesman of the Jatiya Sangsad Secretariat. 

The speaker described India as a trusted and closest neighbour, expressing appreciation for New Delhi’s continued support on international platforms.

The speaker particularly thanked the Government of India for backing Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman for the presidency of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, calling it a reflection of India’s cooperative and generous approach toward its neighbours.

Highlighting domestic developments, Hafiz Uddin Ahmed said the current parliament is vibrant, with an active opposition contributing to democratic processes. He called for identifying new avenues of collaboration to elevate parliamentary relations between the two countries.

High Commissioner Verma emphasised the role of parliamentary diplomacy in strengthening bilateral ties, noting that friendship groups between the two legislatures could serve as effective bridges. He also stressed the importance of regular exchange visits by parliamentary delegations to further boost engagement.

In a separate meeting with Information Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan, discussions focused on expanding cooperation in the media and broadcasting sectors. Both sides agreed on enhancing exchanges between journalists and media professionals to promote people-to-people connectivity and mutual understanding.

The Indian envoy also proposed capacity-building initiatives under India’s ITEC programme, including specialised training opportunities for Bangladeshi journalists. A dedicated training course for women journalists in India is expected to be organised soon.

Cooperation in the film sector also featured in the talks, with both sides expressing interest in organising film festivals, facilitating screenings in each other’s countries, and strengthening collaboration in production and post-production technologies.

Reaffirming India’s commitment to Bangladesh, Pranay Verma reiterated New Delhi’s willingness to work closely with the government and people of Bangladesh to advance people-centric cooperation based on shared interests and mutual benefit.

Senior officials from the Indian High Commission and the Bangladesh Parliament Secretariat were present at the meetings.