Why in News?

• Bangladesh and India are currently enjoying “best ever” relations, Foreign Minister of Bangladesh Dr.K. Abdul Momen said during an interaction with the media in Dhaka.

Highlights:

• The observations form the backdrop to the October 3-6, 2019 visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina that will include a summit-level meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
• Sheikh Hasina is also expected to participate in the India Economic Forum.
• Bangladesh has recently been in the spotlight after the final list of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam was published on 31st August 2019.
• The exercise excluded more than 1.9 million individuals.
• However, India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar had assured Bangladesh that the future of the NRC-excluded Bengali-speaking people in Assam is an internal issue of India.
• Subsequently, however, Home Minister Amit Shah had said the people excluded from the NRC will not find space in India.
• Bangladesh has steadfastly refused to be drawn into the debate.

India-Bangladesh:

• The relations between Bangladesh and India, the South Asian neighbours have been friendly, although sometimes there are border disputes.
• The historic land boundary agreement was signed on 6 June 2015 which opened a new era in the relations and further stopped all irritants in ties.
• They are common members of SAARC, BIMSTEC, IORA and the Commonwealth.
• The two countries share many cultural ties. In particular, Bangladesh and the East Indian state of West Bengal are Bengali-speaking.