New Delhi: Since the passage of India's new Citizenship bill from both houses of parliament in December 2019, New Delhi-Dhaka relationship has witnessed some dramatic developments.
On Sunday, for the first time, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina termed it unnecessary.
However, she also claimed that PM Modi had also assured her during her India visit in October last year that NRC won't affect Bangladesh.
Responding to ETV Bharat's query on Bangladesh PM's remark, former diplomat Anil Trigunayat, who had served in Dhaka for three years (1986-89) during his initial days in the foreign service, said that Sheikh Hasina's statement is essentially targeting her domestic constituency.
On the question of whether India-Bangladesh soaring relationship over the new law will turn out to be an opportunity for Beijing, Anil Trigunayat claimed, "Our neighbours have grown smarter over the years. Frankly, they have seen Chinese interest in investing in their country. At the same time, they want to keep their eggs in the Indian basket as well."
The former diplomat also stressed that India has been blessed with difficult neighbours. Referring to Pakistan whose entire policies are India centric, he claimed that diplomacy is neither black or white, it is grey. India has been pumping a lot of money in the neighbourhood in lieu to create a stronger and trusted relationship.
Post enactment of the Citizenship Law, Bangladesh cancelled several high-level meetings to India that included the visits of its Foreign Minister Abdul Memon and Home Minister Asaduzzaman.
Not only this, but Bangladesh administration also cancelled India visit of its State Minister for Foreign Shahriar Alam. Dhaka claimed that Alam's visit was cancelled as he had to accompany PM Hasina to UAE.
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