Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humaiun Kobir has said the challenges that exist in the Bangladesh-India relationship can be resolved if both sides remain engaged in dialogue.
"Challenges are there. I am telling you repeatedly. You can address the challenges if you are engaged in dialogue. You must not give up the path of dialogue," he told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday evening.
Adviser Humaiun said the chances of resolving issues will be greater if the door to dialogue and discussion remains open.
Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman met Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar and Oil and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Puri in New Delhi on April 8.
Prime Minister's Adviser Humaiun and Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Riaz Hamidullah were present at these meetings.
They also held a meeting with India's National Security Adviser Ajit Doval following their arrival in India's capital city on April 7.
"It was our first visit to India. Let us utilise this as a stepping stone to start dialogue and discussion for moving forward positively," said Adviser Humaiun while responding to a question.
He said it is a very good start to working together positively.
Describing Sheikh Hasina as a terrorist and killer he said she is staying in India after 'killing 1,500 people' in Bangladesh.
"It's a must to restrain her. She (ex-PM Hasina) should not be allowed to utilise Indian soil to destabilise Bangladesh in any way," he said.
The Adviser said there are some issues that can be resolved immediately while others may take a little longer to resolve.
Earlier in the day, Adviser Humaiun talked to reporters at the Secretariat and described former Prime Minister Hasina as an "autocrat, terrorist and killer" who fled to India and is staying there as an "international terrorist," having lost her relevance in Bangladesh.
"We told (the Indian side) she (Hasina) is a terrorist. She is irrelevant to Bangladesh. She doesn't have any room in Bangladesh. She doesn't hold any importance in Bangladesh. People have moved on," the Adviser told reporters.
"I would say it's a good start to resetting the conversation," the Adviser said while commenting on the recent visit to India.
"We will continue to seek her extradition through a transparent judicial process. It (the extradition request) has been discussed. It will be dealt with through a transparent judicial process," Adviser Humaiun said.
He said there would be some challenges as Hasina is still staying there.
The Bangladesh side reiterated its request to extradite Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal to Bangladesh, who have been awarded the death penalty by the International Crimes Tribunal.
During the discussions, Minister Jaishankar said Indian visas for Bangladeshis, particularly medical and business visas, would be eased in the coming weeks.
Responding to a question, Adviser Humaiun said the Indian side responded positively to resuming medical and business visas.
"We hope there will be some goodwill gesture from the Indian side in the coming weeks," said the Adviser.
In the discussions in New Delhi, both sides emphasised the importance of advancing bilateral relations between the two countries in various dimensions.
They also discussed key regional and international issues.
Dr Khalilur said the recently elected BNP government under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman would pursue its foreign policy in accordance with the principle of "Bangladesh First" and on the basis of mutual trust, respect, and reciprocal benefit.
He thanked the Indian government for apprehending the suspected killers of Shaheed Osman Hadi.
Both sides agreed that the arrested individuals will be returned to Bangladesh in accordance with the procedures laid out in the extradition treaty between the two countries.
Dr Khalilur expressed thanks to Minister Hardeep Puri for the recent supply of diesel to Bangladesh by India and requested an increase in the volume of diesel and fertilizer supply.
Minister Puri indicated that the Government of India will consider the request readily and favourably.
The two sides also agreed to undertake consultations on key bilateral issues.