NEW DELHI, Aug 18 - In a fresh attempt to boost ties with Bangladesh, India has sent Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla on a two-day visit to Dhaka from Tuesday. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that the visit was to take forward cooperation on matters of mutual interest.
Shringla, accompanied by Indian High Commissioner Riva Ganguly Das, is likely to meet Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, sources said. He will also meet Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen, besides having a bilateral meeting with his counterpart Masud Bin Mome.
Sources said the visit will see the Foreign Secretary doing a round of routine bilateral review meetings that could not be held due to coronavirus pandemic. Shringla�s meetings with Bangladesh officials will also focus on containing the pandemic.
The ongoing visit is crucial in the backdrop of the bilateral relations between these two neighbouring countries passing through bumpy weather. Dhaka is seen to be trying to distance itself from India allegedly under the influence of China. Both the countries have, however, dismissed all such rumours.
China had sent medical teams and proposed to undertake human trial for their vaccine in Bangladesh. However, the Bangladesh government had put the proposal on hold after New Delhi quietly protested through diplomatic channels, confided sources.
This is despite the fact that India rushed PPE and other health equipment to Bangladesh in the fight against coronavirus pandemic. India also proposed to send medical experts which has not been agreed to by Dhaka so far.
