Indian daily reports that Indian Foreign Secretary’s Dhaka visit is expected to proceed

Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri is expected to visit Bangladesh for discussions with his Bangladeshi counterpart, despite ongoing tensions in bilateral relations, the Hindustan Times reported on Wednesday.

If the visit materializes, it would mark the first trip to Dhaka by a senior Indian official since the interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, assumed power in August. However, an official announcement from New Delhi or Dhaka regarding the visit is yet to be made.

According to the newspaper, Misri’s visit is tentatively scheduled for December 10, though the current state of bilateral ties adds an element of uncertainty. “As things stand, the Foreign Secretary is slated to visit Bangladesh. But with a week still to go and the existing tensions, we will have to wait and see how things unfold,” the report quoted an unnamed source familiar with the developments.

The most recent foreign office consultations between the two nations took place in New Delhi in November 2023. If Misri’s visit goes ahead, it could signal an attempt by both sides to move beyond past grievances and focus on improving relations.

The Foreign Secretary-level meeting was agreed upon during talks between India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Bangladesh’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York on September 23. This marked the first high-level engagement since Sheikh Hasina stepped down amid protests, leading to the formation of the Yunus-led interim administration.

The proposed talks are likely to address issues such as the resumption of India-funded development projects in Bangladesh, easing of visa processes, and enhancing trade and investment ties, according to the Hindustan Times.

Misri’s visit is seen as an opportunity to de-escalate tensions and restore a degree of normalcy in the strained bilateral relationship. Relations have recently been under pressure due to protests in India over alleged persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh, the arrest of Bangladeshi monk Chinmoy Krishna Das on sedition charges, and a breach of security at Bangladesh’s consulate in Agartala by protesters.

Adding to the strain, Bangladesh has expressed displeasure over Sheikh Hasina’s presence in India, where she sought refuge after leaving Bangladesh. The Yunus-led interim government has called for her extradition, further complicating ties between the two nations.