Indian High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi declined to comment on Bangladesh’s internal politics when asked about India’s relations with a BNP government and tensions involving former prime minister Sheikh Hasina. He made the remarks on Tuesday afternoon after a courtesy meeting with Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Dr Abdul Moin Khan at the Secretariat in Dhaka.

Trivedi said challenges would remain between Bangladesh and India, but both countries should move forward with the future in mind. He said the past cannot be forgotten, yet development work cannot progress if the two sides remain stuck in it. He also said he had extended greetings to everyone on the BNP’s founding anniversary.

The high commissioner said the meeting included discussion on working together harmoniously. He stressed the importance of people-to-people ties, saying decisions made by the two countries affect ordinary citizens and carry a responsibility to ensure public welfare. Trivedi added that the neighbours share not only a border but also dreams, increasing their responsibilities as neighbours, and said neither country is bigger or smaller than the other.