India's Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met with his Bangladeshi counterpart Mohammad Jashim Uddin in Dhaka on Monday, marking the first high-level diplomatic engagement between the two nations since the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August. Misri arrived in Dhaka earlier in the day aboard an Indian Air Force jet for a brief yet significant day-long visit.

The visit commenced with one-on-one talks between Misri and Uddin, setting the stage for a formal meeting involving delegations from both countries. This interaction underscores the importance of sustaining bilateral ties and addressing key issues of mutual interest amidst evolving political dynamics in the region.

A Bangladeshi foreign ministry official told the news agency PTI, “The meeting between our foreign secretary Jashim Uddin and his counterpart Vikram Misri is taking place as scheduled at the state guest house Padma.”

Misri who was in Bangladesh at the invitation of his Bangladeshi counterpart told the Press that he discussed the entire gamut of issues in the “extremely important bilateral relationship”. He participated in the Foreign Office Consultation (FOC) led by him and Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Jashimuddin which was held at the State Guest House Padma.

"Today's discussions have given both of us the opportunity to take stock of our relations, and I appreciate the opportunity today to have had a frank, candid, and constructive exchange of views with all my interlocutors. I emphasized that India desires a positive, constructive, and mutually beneficial relationship with Bangladesh. We have always seen in the past, and we continue to see in the future, this relationship as a people-centric and people-oriented relationship, one that has the benefit of all the people as its central motivational force," he said.

"This is reflected on a daily basis in the development projects that have been executed on the ground in Bangladesh and that continue to be developed. It is also reflected in the mutually beneficial engagement we have on a whole set of issues ranging from trade, commerce, connectivity, power, water, and energy, and development cooperation, consular cooperation, and cultural cooperation," he added.

"We also had the opportunity to discuss certain recent developments and issues, and I conveyed our concerns, including those related to the safety and welfare of minorities. We also discussed some regrettable incidents of attacks on cultural, religious, and diplomatic properties," he said.

"A constructive approach on all these issues by the Bangladesh authorities, and we look forward to moving the relationship forward in a positive, forward-looking, and constructive direction," he added.

Misri said there is no reason why the "mutually beneficial cooperation" should not continue to deliver in the interests of both our peoples. He stated that the leaderships of both countries have been in contact with each other since August this year and pointed Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the first world leader to greet the Chief Advisor on assuming the position.

"The two of them had a very cordial telephone conversation thereafter, and the Chief Advisor also accepted the Prime Minister's invitation to speak at the third Voice of the Global South Summit that was held in August this year," he said.

"Since then, the External Affairs Minister and the Foreign Affairs Advisor have also been in touch. They met each other on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York in September this year, and my visit follows those interactions and is the first Foreign Secretary-level structured engagement between the two sides following those developments," he added.

Earlier in the day, he met with Foreign Affairs Advisor Mohammed Touhid Hossain.

Raising the issue of attacks on minorities including Hindus with Bangladesh leaders, Misri expressed India’s desire to work closely with Bangladesh’s Interim government. Since August 5, there have been a number of targeted attacks on Hindus by extremist elements in Bangladesh. Hindu houses were looted, set on fire and temples were vandalised and dieties were desecrated.

The situation has become worse with the arrest of Hindu monk Chinmay Krishna Das in Chittagong on October 25. Taking note of the plight of the hapless Hindus and other minorities and denial of bail to Chinmoy Krishna Das India expressed a serious concern on November 26.

"This incident follows the multiple attacks on Hindus and other minorities by extremist elements in Bangladesh. There are several documented cases of arson and looting of minorities' homes and business establishments, as well as theft and vandalism and desecration of deities and temples," Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

"It is unfortunate that while the perpetrators of these incidents remain at large, charges should be pressed against a religious leader presenting legitimate demands through peaceful gatherings. We also note with concern the attacks on minorities protesting peacefully against the arrest of Shri Das," the statement added.

Expressing concern, India had urged Bangladesh authorities to ensure the safety and security of Hindus and all minorities, including their right to freedom of peaceful assembly and expression.