Bangladesh’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir has said that Bangladesh has to move beyond the fascination with India — a Remark that has now sparked a debate. “Breakfast in India, lunch in India, dinner in India then when will you eat your own food?” Daily Star quoted Kobir as saying. “We have to move beyond this fascination with India. India is just another country, and Bangladesh wants good bilateral relations with it.” However, he clarified that Dhaka wants to reset its relationship with Delhi following what he called 15 years of uneasy ties under the previous government, according to The Daily Star. “We want to move towards a new relationship, and that should be pursued through bilateral discussions, not through a multilateral forum,” Humaiun told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The Daily Star reported. Humaiun said his Comments were aimed specifically at India and the need to build ties through direct engagement rather than at multilateral forums in general. “What I said was mainly applicable to India. We want to build a good working bilateral relationship with India,” he told The Daily Star. He said Bangladesh’s first step with any country it seeks closer ties with should be a direct bilateral visit, not a meeting on the sidelines of a global event. “That was said only in the case of India. I never said that whenever we attend a multilateral event, we will not meet anyone,” he said. Asked about recent incidents along the Bangladesh-India border, Humaiun said the government would address such matters through diplomatic channels. He said Bangladesh would raise its concerns with India at Every appropriate level, while following international law, border protocols and existing agreements between the two countries. On the reported review of 101 memorandums of understanding, he said the agreements were being examined as part of the parliamentary process, The Daily Star reported. The state minister said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will leave for New York on September 21 and remain there until September 26 for the 81st session of the UN General Assembly. Rahman is scheduled to address the assembly, where he will present Bangladesh’s vision and speak about the country’s democratic transition and plans for the future. “He will share his thoughts and vision for the future of Bangladesh with world leaders ,” Humaiun said. The prime minister is also expected to hold meetings with world leaders on the sidelines of the assembly. Asked whether the UN Refugee Convention would come up during the visit, Humaiun said Bangladesh would hold a side event focused on the Rohingya crisis. On the possibility of a meeting between Rahman and US President Donald Trump , the state minister said such meetings are usually decided at the last moment during major international conferences. “The primary focus of the prime minister’s visit is to address the UN General Assembly,” he said, adding that details of side meetings would be known in due course. The Express Global Desk at indianexpress.com which delivers authoritative, verified, and context-driven coverage of key international developments shaping global politics, policy, and migration trends. The desk focuses on stories with direct relevance for Indian and global audiences, combining breaking news with in-depth explainers and analysis. A major focus area of the desk is US immigration and visa policy, including developments related to student visas, work permits, permanent residency pathways, executive actions, and court rulings. The Global Desk also closely tracks Canada’s immigration, visa, and study policies, covering changes to study permits, post-study work options, permanent residence programmes, and regulatory updates affecting migrants and international students. All reporting from the Global Desk adheres to The Indian Express’ editorial standards, relying on official data, government notifications, court documents, and on-record sources. The desk prioritises clarity, accuracy, and accountability, ensuring readers can navigate complex global systems with confidence. Core Team The Express Global Desk is led by a team of experienced journalists and editors with deep expertise in international affairs and migration policy: Aniruddha Dhar – Senior Assistant Editor with extensive experience in global affairs, international politics, and editorial leadership. Nischai Vats – Deputy Copy Editor specialising in US politics, US visa and immigration policy, and policy-driven international coverage. Mashkoora Khan – Sub-editor focusing on global developments, with a strong emphasis on Canada visa, immigration, and study-related policy coverage. ... Read More
