External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar met with Bangladesh Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain in Muscat on Sunday during the Indian Ocean Conference in Oman. The two leaders engaged in discussions on key bilateral issues and regional cooperation under the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC).
Jaishankar shared details of the meeting on social media, stating,
“Met Foreign Affairs Adviser Md. Touhid Hossain of the Interim Government of Bangladesh. Conversation was focused on our bilateral relationship, as also on (BIMSTEC),” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Key Issues Discussed
The Bangladesh Foreign Ministry issued a statement highlighting the continuity of diplomatic engagements between the two nations since their last meeting at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in September 2024.
Since then, both nations have participated in:
- Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) at the Foreign Secretary level in Dhaka on December 9, 2024.
- India Energy Week (February 10-11, 2025), where Bangladesh’s Energy Adviser attended key discussions in New Delhi.
Additionally, both sides acknowledged the upcoming Border Guarding Forces meeting in New Delhi from February 18-20, 2025, hoping to resolve various border-related issues.
Bangladesh Calls for Ganges Water Treaty Renewal
During the meeting, Bangladesh’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain emphasized the need to renew the Ganges Water Treaty, a crucial agreement between the two nations governing water-sharing rights. He also urged India to consider convening a meeting of the SAARC Standing Committee to enhance regional cooperation.
Commitment to Stronger Ties
Both leaders recognized the challenges in bilateral relations and reiterated the need for collaborative efforts to address mutual concerns. Discussions also focused on strengthening regional partnerships and enhancing cooperation within BIMSTEC.
The meeting underscored the commitment of India and Bangladesh to fostering strong diplomatic, economic, and security ties, ensuring sustained regional stability and growth.
