India has made it clear that there are some incidents in its neighboring country behind the closure of the facility for Bangladeshi goods to be exported to third countries through transshipment using Indian land ports. In response to a question in the weekly briefing of the Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday, the spokesperson of the ministry said that some incidents preceding that decision need to be investigated. Then the picture will be complete and clear.
The spokesperson, however, left it unclear as to which ‘incidents’ need to be investigated.
According to Indian government sources, in March itself, the Bangladeshi Commerce Ministry had recommended stopping the import of yarn through land ports. Infrastructure problems were cited as the reason. However, that decision was implemented after India stopped the export of Bangladeshi goods to third countries through its land ports. Within a few days of that decision, Bangladesh implemented the decision taken in March. According to government sources, Bangladesh took that decision so that it would be possible to import Pakistani yarn through sea ports.
In response to another question, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reminded that India's decision does not include landlocked countries like Nepal and Bhutan. Bangladeshi goods will be supplied to those two countries as usual. As a result, it will not have any impact on South Asia.
In response to another question, Jaiswal reminded that India has repeatedly said that it wants a 'positive and constructive' relationship with Bangladesh. India is interested in seeing a 'democratic and inclusive' Bangladesh.
Today, Pakistan's Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch held a bilateral meeting with her Bangladeshi Foreign Secretary. This visit is an attempt to normalize relations between the two countries after a long 15 years.
Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will visit Bangladesh this month. When asked how India views this issue, the spokesperson said, 'The issue is under our attention.' Apart from that, he did not make any other comments.