Amid the tumultuous political situation in the country, Indian Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh arrives in Dhaka on Wednesday. Although Sujatha is coming to Dhaka at the invitation of her Bangladeshi counterpart Shahidul Haque to hold bilateral talks, political situation in Bangladesh will dominate the agenda of their talks, said diplomatic sources. The Indian foreign secretary will arrive at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 10:30am.
Apart from her meeting with Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque, Sujatha will also call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Foreign Minister Abdul Hasan Mahmood Ali, a
press note issued by Indian High Commission in Dhaka said on Tuesday.
The press note added that the Indian foreign secretary would also hold talks with opposition leader Khaleda Zia and Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad.
Sujatha will also meet a group of eminent personalities over a lunch at the residence of Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh. This will be Sujatha’s first visit to
Bangladesh after taking over as the foreign secretary of India on August 1, 2013. She is scheduled to leave Dhaka on Thursday morning.
A senior foreign ministry official said, “During the bilateral talks at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel on Wednesday evening, the Bangladesh side will press the Indian
delegation for ratifying the Land Boundary Agreement, signing the Teesta water sharing deal and for bringing an end to casualties along the Indo-Bangla border.” She is
also scheduled to meet some senior journalists at the same venue at 6pm.
According to diplomatic sources, the visit is considered important as it comes at a time when the country is heading towards the 10th nat’l election scheduled to be
held on January 5, 2014. Main opposition BNP has already boycotted the election.
Sources also said that the top diplomat of the powerful neighbour might carry messages from New Delhi for the leadership in Bangladesh.
“It is a political visit under the guise of bilateral talks. Look at the list of people the Indian foreign secretary is meeting during her tour and look at the
timing,” said a diplomat requesting anonymity.
He further said that two former Indian foreign secretaries Nirupama Rao and Ranjan Mathai did not meet Khaleda during their visits to Bangladesh.
“We cannot even think of our foreign secretary meeting the Indian prime minister and the leader of the opposition. This reflects the influence of India in our
politics,” he added.
Another diplomat said that the Indian foreign secretary might urge the Bangladeshi leadership to resolve the ongoing political impasse.
“She might remind the Bangladeshi top leaders that India has a stake in the security and stability of Bangladesh. These messages could be conveyed over phones or other
methods of communication. But, the top diplomat is being dispatched to show the sense of urgency on Delhi’s part,” he added.
The diplomat also said that Sujatha might clarify India’s stance against the backdrop of reports that the United States and India were not on the same page with
regards to Bangladesh.
Earlier in October, US Ambassador to Bangladesh Dan Mozena visited India and discussed issues relating to Bangladesh with the Indian foreign secretary. Mozena also
held meetings with Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pankaj Saran recently.
It should be mentioned that the prime minister’s son Sajeeb Wazed joy and her sister Sheikh Rehana have also met with the Indian high-commissioner recently.
-With The Independent input
