External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday said that India seeks to continue a stable relationship with Bangladesh and that their ongoing political turmoil is the country's "internal matter".
In an interview with NDTV, S Jaishankar said, "What happens is their internal matter. Bangladesh is our neighbour and the relationship, on our part, is something we want to keep stable. We have good trade... our people-to-people ties are good. I want to keep the relationship that way."
His remark comes a few days after Bangladesh imposed a ban on the export of Hilsa fish right before Durga Puja, creating a massive impact in the Indian market. Indian fish traders can import up to 3,950 metric tonnes of Hilsa from Bangladesh, according to a report published in September 2023 by ANI.
Meanwhile, the Bangladesh government issued clarification on this decision and said that this decision has been taken to ensure an adequate supply of Hilsa (Bangladesh ilish fish) for the local people. Farida Akhtar, advisor to the Bangladesh Fisheries and Livestock Ministry, said that if the export ban was not imposed, the prices of hilsa in the country would have increased significantly.
The decision not to export Hilsa fish to India comes amid growing concerns about the local availability of ilish fish in Bangladesh. Bangladesh Fisheries Minister Farida Akhter highlighted the urgency of the situation, asserting that the needs of local households must come first.
"We apologise but we can’t allow Hilsa to go to India. It’s an expensive fish and we notice that our own people are unable to have it as all goes to India and what is left behind is too expensive for our people. We, too, celebrate Durga Puja, our people can also enjoy it here," the minister told News 18 in an interview.
Notably, India provided shelter to Sheikh Hasina when she fled Bangladesh following political unrest in the country.
Recently, Bangladesh Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus has said that Sheikh Hasina making political remarks on Bangladesh in India is an "unfriendly gesture", adding that Hasina should remain silent and refrain from making political remarks until she's in India.
"Sheikh Hasina making political remarks on Bangladesh in India is an "unfriendly gesture". If India wants to keep Hasina until Bangladesh wants her back, the condition would be she has to keep quiet," Yunus told PTI.
(With inputs from agencies)