United News of Bangladesh

Outgoing Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma and his wife, Manu Verma, hosted a reception at India House on Saturday to bid farewell to friends from the media amid conversations, shared memories, and music, saying these are the memories they will carry back to Brussels. Pranay Verma, who has recently been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Kingdom of Belgium and the European Union, said Bangladesh will remain one of their most cherished postings because of the warm affection and friendship they received here. “Don’t say goodbye; let’s say, ‘See you again.’ Thank you very much for being there with us,” he said in his brief remarks. The envoy sang two songs - one in Bangla and one in Hindi - and said, “I truly hope our paths will cross again, somewhere, sometime.” Senior journalists including former Dhaka bureau chief of the Associated Press (AP) Farid Hossain, current AP Bureau Chief Julhas Alam, and members of the Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh, including its President AKM Moinuddin and General Secretary Emrul Kayesh, were present. Pranay Verma is likely to leave Dhaka for Brussels in the last week of this month. India has appointed Dinesh Trivedi as the next High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs announced the appointment recently, noting that he is expected to take up the assignment shortly. Pranay Verma, who previously served as India’s Ambassador to Vietnam, arrived in Dhaka on September 21, 2022. Trivedi served as Union Minister for Railways and Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare during the UPA regime as a member of the Trinamool Congress (TMC). He resigned from the TMC on February 12, 2021, and joined the BJP on March 6, 2021.

Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Monday said Bangladesh wants to see a “normal and friendly” relationship with India protecting mutual interest, noting that he sees West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's remark as usual that goes with her. "I would like to see this as Mamata-like remarks. I don’t understand why she has made such remarks," he said while responding to a question at a media briefing. Hossain said he personally thinks it is not a right step from her though politicians make remarks on various perspectives. Indian media on Monday reported that West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee urged the central government to seek the deployment of a peacekeeping mission by the Union Nations in Bangladesh to tackle the ongoing situation there. "We have families... properties... and loved ones in Bangladesh. We accept whatever stance the Government of India takes on this...but we condemn atrocities on religious grounds anywhere in the world and appeal to the union government, and the Prime Minister, to intervene," NDTV quoted Mamata as saying. Earlier, the Adviser briefed the diplomats stationed in Dhaka at state guesthouse Padma on minority issues explaining the government's position and describing the situation on the grounds. He said a section of the media, especially in India, is engaged in propaganda. “We said that we as a society have always been maintaining communal harmony. "We are not saying that there are no such incidents of attacks on minorities, but those are isolated and happen more or less during all regimes.” Hossain said the government conveyed to the diplomats that religious harmony is part of the society and the government is firmly determined to maintain it. He said there are efforts domestically and globally to give an impression that the country is heading towards a deteriorated situation. “We should not forget that there is a global campaign (against the government) by a certain group.” The Adviser said the government will handle it with an iron-hand if anyone tries to create chaos in the country. Responding to a question, he said they did not say anything specific about India but media issues came up. He said a representative of the Indian High Commission in Dhaka was also present at the briefing largely attended by the diplomats. Responding to a question, Hossain said they shared with the diplomats under what circumstances former ISKCON leader Chandan Kumar Dhar, alias Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, was arrested. He is now in jail.   He said the government will not allow any communal activities in the country and it sees all its citizens equally. “We did not say that there is no problem in the country. There are proble4ms and we are trying to fix those problems,” Hossain said, adding that they have become successful in addressing issues in many areas. Asked whether the scheduled Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) will be held this month, he said, “I think it will be held.” Hossain acknowledged that there has been a change in the dynamics of bilateral relations with India since the August 5 political changeover.