Panel of ex-envoys to insulate ties from national politics

“Both countries are democracies, which elect political rivals with different ideologies. The idea is to have linkages which can help protect and preserve the relationship, even after regimes change,” a former Indian diplomat said.

Six former Indian envoys in Dhaka, Muchkund Dubey, I S Chadha, Deb Mukharji, Veena Sikri, Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty and Rajeet Mitter attended the meeting, organised jointly by Dhaka University and India-Bangladesh Foundation.

Former Bangladesh envoys in India who were present include Faruq Ahmed Chowdhury, Sarooq Sobhan, Harun ur Rashid, Mostafa Faruque Mohammed, Humayun Kabir, Tariq Ahmed Karim, Hemayetuddin and Touhid Hossain.

The meeting was also attended by Bangladesh Foreign minister A H Mahmood Ali and the current Indian High Commissioner Pankaj Saran.

“Since the diplomats from Bangladesh have been political appointees by different political dispensation, it was good to hear their views on the relations,” the official said.

The group emphasised the importance of deepening and widening economic engagement between the two countries with focus on free and increasing flow of goods and services. It also called upon the two governments to intensify cooperation on security related matters.

It was also decided that a group of former High Commissioners of Bangladesh and India, who have served in the two countries, would be formed for regular interaction.

They also recommended the continuation of interaction by organising regular biennial summits. It was proposed that the next summit will be held in India in 2016. “But, they will be a phone call away, if there is a need to engage,” a South Block source said.