India Keeping a Close Watch on Garment Workers’ Movement

India is closely monitoring the ongoing protests and situation involving garment workers in Bangladesh. Randhir Jaiswal, official spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs of India, stated that several recent incidents have taken place in Bangladesh, and India is tracking the developments.

Speaking at a regular news briefing in New Delhi on Tuesday (November 3), Mr. Jaiswal made these remarks in response to a journalist’s query regarding the garment workers’ movement in Bangladesh. During the briefing, he also reiterated India’s commitment to building a positive, constructive, and forward-looking relationship with Bangladesh.

When asked about India-Bangladesh relations in light of Bangladesh’s growing engagements with China and Pakistan, Jaiswal emphasized that India seeks to foster a positive, constructive, and mutually beneficial partnership with Bangladesh. He added that this remains New Delhi’s endeavor and that India is committed to working toward this objective.

The spokesperson also addressed the potential visit of Bangladeshi PM Tarique Rahman to India, confirming that an invitation has already been extended. ‘We have already invited the Prime Minister of Bangladesh to visit India. Let us see how it progresses,’ Mr. Jaiswal stated.

Regarding queries on transit arrangements and the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty, Mr. Jaiswal referred to the Joint Rivers Commission (JRC) as the established institutional mechanism for bilateral discussions on transboundary rivers. He noted that the JRC remains the primary framework for addressing issues related to all shared rivers, including the Ganges, while adding that he had no new updates to share on the matter at present.