PM’s India Visit Dependent on Favorable Diplomatic Environment

At a Ministry of Foreign Affairs briefing on Tuesday, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. Humayun Kabir announced that no high-level diplomatic visit between Bangladesh and India has been finalized yet. He said that such a visit will be decided at a suitable moment through discussions based on mutual respect and an ideal setting. He described the BNP as a historic party founded by Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman that upheld a democracy with multiple parties and noted that it depends on public trust and nationalist sentiment to protect the nation during democratic crises.

Speaking about diplomatic conflicts, the state minister said that Bangladesh voiced strong opposition following Ms. Sheikh Hasina’s August 5 speech in New Delhi, pointing out that the event affected national sentiments. Delhi Police later rejected permission for a global conference with speakers from the prohibited Awami League on August 29, despite India’s claim that the program was planned by a commercial media group without government approval. Mr. Humayun Kabir called the cancelation a step in the right direction and said Dhaka expects neither country to provide shelter to anyone convicted of terrorism or other severe crimes.

Regarding infrastructure, Mr. Humayun Kabir explained that route growth, economic capacity, and the needs of Bangladesh’s aviation industry, rather than political pressure, are the only factors influencing the purchase of Boeing aircraft. He outlined plans to make Bangladesh a major international aviation hub that connects Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East through Dhaka, stressing out that developing this industry will boost national income and improve passenger services. The goal of this strategic vision is to develop a significant aviation gateway.

The state minister emphasized at the end of his briefing that these high-level targets for aviation growth are being pursued while keeping balanced diplomatic ties with Beijing, Washington, and other international partners. In order to maintain steady progress, he reaffirmed that all upcoming international engagements and domestic projects would continue to be strictly focused on fundamental national interests and more general development goals.