UNB, Dhaka :
India has termed its relations with Bangladesh “very strong” and brushed aside speculation over the last-minute cancellation of Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen’s New Delhi visit.
“We have been informed by Bangladeshi side that the change in programme was due to domestic issues related to commemoration of Bangladesh Victory Day on December 16,” official spokesperson at the Indian Ministry of External Affairs Raveesh Kumar told reporters at a briefing in New Delhi on Thursday.
He termed speculation linking the cancellation of the visit to the Indian Parliament’s adoption of
the Citizenship Amendment Bill “unwarranted.” The MEA spokesperson ruled out the speculation, saying: “There have been unwarranted speculations…”
Earlier, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here said the scheduled visit of Foreign Minister Dr Momen to New Delhi on Thursday was cancelled due to his ‘busy schedule’ at home ahead of Martyred Intellectuals Day and Victory Day.
“Yes, he (Dr Momen) is not going as he needs to attend some important programmes here,” a senior official told UNB confirming the cancellation of the planned visit.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam will leave for Madrid on Friday while Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque is leading a Bangladesh delegation at The Hague currently, the official added. Dr Momen is likely to visit India in January, another official told UNB.
The Foreign Minister was scheduled to leave here for New Delhi on Thursday afternoon on a three-day visit to attend the sixth edition of the Indian Ocean Dialogue (IOD) and have discussion on bilateral issues with his Indian counterpart Dr S Jaishankar on the sidelines.
The sixth edition of the Indian Ocean Dialogue will be held on Friday where a Bangladesh delegation will attend.
Dr Momen accompanied Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during her visit to New Delhi in October this year. The Indian External Affairs Minister also visited Dhaka in August and had bilateral talks with his Bangladesh counterpart.
The IOD is part of Indian Ocean Rim Association’s (IORA) endeavours to enhance Indo-Pacific collaboration in maritime security, economic cooperation, disaster risk management, and blue economy, said an official.
India has termed its relations with Bangladesh “very strong” and brushed aside speculation over the last-minute cancellation of Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen’s New Delhi visit.
“We have been informed by Bangladeshi side that the change in programme was due to domestic issues related to commemoration of Bangladesh Victory Day on December 16,” official spokesperson at the Indian Ministry of External Affairs Raveesh Kumar told reporters at a briefing in New Delhi on Thursday.
He termed speculation linking the cancellation of the visit to the Indian Parliament’s adoption of
the Citizenship Amendment Bill “unwarranted.” The MEA spokesperson ruled out the speculation, saying: “There have been unwarranted speculations…”
Earlier, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here said the scheduled visit of Foreign Minister Dr Momen to New Delhi on Thursday was cancelled due to his ‘busy schedule’ at home ahead of Martyred Intellectuals Day and Victory Day.
“Yes, he (Dr Momen) is not going as he needs to attend some important programmes here,” a senior official told UNB confirming the cancellation of the planned visit.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam will leave for Madrid on Friday while Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque is leading a Bangladesh delegation at The Hague currently, the official added. Dr Momen is likely to visit India in January, another official told UNB.
The Foreign Minister was scheduled to leave here for New Delhi on Thursday afternoon on a three-day visit to attend the sixth edition of the Indian Ocean Dialogue (IOD) and have discussion on bilateral issues with his Indian counterpart Dr S Jaishankar on the sidelines.
The sixth edition of the Indian Ocean Dialogue will be held on Friday where a Bangladesh delegation will attend.
Dr Momen accompanied Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during her visit to New Delhi in October this year. The Indian External Affairs Minister also visited Dhaka in August and had bilateral talks with his Bangladesh counterpart.
The IOD is part of Indian Ocean Rim Association’s (IORA) endeavours to enhance Indo-Pacific collaboration in maritime security, economic cooperation, disaster risk management, and blue economy, said an official.
