New Delhi
23 June 2005
Clarifying that no 'anti-India' mindset existed in his country,
Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Hemayetuddin has said that "irritants" like New Delhi's
security-related perceptions were not insurmountable and that outstanding issues could
be resolved in a spirit of understanding and accommodation.
"We have made a lot of forward movement, In my assessment, the talks have been
good. We have clearly demonstrated our commitment to good relations with India [so] it
would be wrong to assume that (an anti-India) mindset existed," he said in an interview
to this correspondent a day after conclusion of foreign office consultations.
Mr Hemayetuddin, who has been Dhaka's envoy in India, said India was still to ratify the
land boundary agreement but hoped that an acceptable solution would be found now that
both sides have decided to revive the joint boundary working group to exchange
enclaves and territories in adverse possession.
Allaying New Delhi's concerns over terrorism and illegal cross-border movement, he
said Dhaka was against fencing but at the same time, it would not allow its territory to be
used for any activities inimical to each other's interests. "Training camps are not there ...
we do not tolerate those things," he observed.
Dhaka, he acknowledged, has been vocal about its concerns over river interlinking
project but it should not be seen as an "anti-Indian" gesture. He welcomed New Delhi's
assurance of not taking any unilateral action that would harm the interest of Bangladesh
and of continuing the talks on sharing of river waters.
During his stay in New Delhi, Mr Hemayetuddin met with his Indian counterpart Mr
Shyam Saran and also called on Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil, Union Commerce
and Industry Minister Kamal Nath, Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Mani Shankar
Aiyar and Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed.
The June 21-22 foreign secretary-level talks were held after a gap of almost two years.
The last meeting was held in April 2003. Dhaka will host the next round of foreign office
consultations. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will attend the 13th SAARC Summit in
Dhaka later this year.
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