Ministry of External Affairs has said that India desires a positive, constructive and forward-looking relationship with Bangladesh. To a question on the India-Bangladesh Consular Dialogue, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal during a media briefing in New Delhi said that, accordingly, initiatives have been taken and meetings held under structured mechanisms in areas such as trade, railways, water resources and border management, among others. He said the next round of the India-Bangladesh Consular Dialogue, which will also take up matters relating to revised travel arrangements, will be held on a mutually convenient date. Mr Jaiswal added that India remains ready to discuss all matters and bilateral issues with Bangladesh through these existing mechanisms, including at the technical level.
The Spokesperson reiterated that the well-being and safety of the Indian seafarers is of high importance to India. He informed that an emergency travel certificate has been issued to Akshay Harish, an Indian seafarer from Keralam who was stranded at Chabahar Port in Iran, paving the way for his earliest possible return home. The Indian seafarer has been left stranded in Iran without a passport or travel documents following a series of disruptions involving his shipping vessel, regional conflict, and missing paperwork.
Mr Jaiswal said, India has extended invitations to several nations, including member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), for the upcoming Civilisational Dialogue Forum, scheduled to be held in New Delhi from 20th to 22nd of this month.
Responding to a media query, the Spokesperson said that preparations are underway for the event in the national capital, underscoring India’s readiness to welcome participating delegations.
Mr Jaiswal informed that the 19th edition of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas will be held in Kolkata from 7th to 9th January next year and both the Prime Minister and the President are scheduled to participate in the event.
The Spokesperson said, India had participated in the FATF plenary meeting and working group meetings which were held in Paris. He said, FATF, discusses several issues pertaining to illicit financing and India participated in these meetings with the idea to strengthen global networks which try to prevent money laundering, financing of terror, financing of proliferation, and such matters.
