Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman on Sunday indicated Bangladesh’s intent to build a ‘forward-looking and balanced partnership’ with India based on mutual interest for the benefit of the people of the two countries.

Both sides agreed to maintain a regular and constructive engagement to further strengthen the bilateral relationship.

Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma, who met the Foreign Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, extended to Dr Khalilur Rahman an invitation from Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to undertake an official visit to New Delhi at an early date.

Talking to reporters at the Ministry, the Indian envoy said they look forward to working together with Bangladesh in a forward-looking manner to strengthen people-centric cooperation in all domains.

"So, I think, of course, people-to-people exchanges are a very important part of our bilateral relations," he said, noting that they really hope to take forward things working together in a positive, constructive and forward looking manner.

During the meeting, the High Commissioner reiterated their position that they look forward to engaging with the new government in Bangladesh.

"We want to strengthen our people's centric cooperation in all domains, working together in a positive, constructive and forward looking manner. And based on our mutual benefit and mutual interest," he said.

"So that was the conversation that we had and we really look forward to it," said the High Commissioner.

He expressed his government’s readiness to work closely with the new Government of Bangladesh to further advance bilateral cooperation.

The High Commissioner also met Stare Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"It was my first meeting with the new Foreign Minister and Minister of State after the formation of the new Government in Bangladesh. So, it was more of a courtesy meeting and an initial exchange of views," he said.

The High Commissioner referred to their recent high level communications with Bangladesh since the election.

On February 13, a day after the elections, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent a congratulatory message to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

"They also spoke on the phone later that day," said the High Commissioner.

Later, on February 17, when the new government was sworn-in, the Speaker of Lok Sabha visited Dhaka to attend the swearing-in ceremony, representing the government of India.

He also had a bilateral meeting with the new Prime Minister.

"During the meeting, our Speaker handed a letter from Prime Minister Modi to Prime Minister Rahman," said the High Commissioner.

In all these communications, he said, they expressed the desire to build on their historic ties with Bangladesh and strengthen the multifaceted bilateral relations.

"We also underlined our commitment to support a democratic, progressive and inclusive Bangladesh," Pranay Verma said.