Dhaka refutes Ananda Bazar Patrika report on Indo-Bangla ties
June 20, 2007 00:00:00
Dhaka has refuted the report published in the Indian Ananda Bazar Patrika that stated the bilateral relations between Bangladesh and India are deteriorating.
A Foreign Ministry press release Tuesday also rejected the report that anti-India sentiment is prevailing in Bangla-desh and Indian Prime Minis-ter Manmohan Singh is sending Foreign Secretary Shiv-Shankar Menon to Dhaka to express New Delhi's unhappiness over the status of Bangladesh-India relations, reports UNB.
The Foreign Ministry release stated Menon's visit to Dhaka is part of the routine foreign office consultations, the resumption of which was agreed upon in April between Foreign Affairs Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury and Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee. Both of them had expressed firm commitment to strengthen bilateral relationship.
The timing of the consultations was mutually decided upon immediately thereafter, the press release stated adding that during the SAARC summit in Delhi the heads of government of Bangladesh and India-Fakhruddin Ahmed and Manmohan Singh-underscor-ed the importance of activating the existing institutional mechanisms in addressing bilateral issues in the context of their desire to buttress bilateral cooperation.
The release also mentioned the author does not provide any evidence of the "anti-Indian sentiments" (in Bangladesh) and so-called "deterioration of relationship."
The Foreign Ministry, in the release, has expressed its assessment that the bilateral relationship between the two countries is at present on an even keel.
"We would urge upon such sections of Indian media to be more objective in their analyses and to play a constructive role as we go forward in achieving the level of friendship that reflects the aspiration of our leaders and peoples," the release added.