Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain today (Thursday) said Bangladesh–India relations faced some setbacks during the interim government but remained important, expressing hope that an elected government would help smoothen the ties through constructive engagement.

Speaking at an exchange-of-views meeting with the media at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the adviser said Dhaka has consistently emphasised maintaining “good working relations, reciprocal respect and mutual interest” with New Delhi, and there has been no difference of opinion within the government on the need for strong bilateral ties.

He, however, acknowledged that progress stalled in several areas, describing the situation as not a major crisis but a period without forward movement.

The adviser said differing perceptions of national interests between the two countries contributed to the slowdown, noting that each side pursued its own priorities, which did not always coincide.

Responding to questions, the adviser said that interim government is advancing key negotiations, including trade talks with the United States and other partners, to ease the workload of the next elected government.

Touhid said the interim government was not leaving behind unresolved burdens, but was instead pushing forward several important issues to ensure continuity.

Citing trade negotiations with the United States, he said Bangladesh has remained actively engaged in discussions, helping reduce tariffs from earlier levels of 25 to 37 percent to 20 percent.

He noted that tariffs for India and Pakistan stand at 18 percent and said Bangladesh is trying to secure a similar rate.

Achieving such a reduction would complete a major task in advance for the next government, he added.

Responding another question, he said that negotiations on agreements with Japan and other countries were not sudden developments, but the result of initiatives launched earlier and followed up over the past one to one-and-a-half years.

He said several of these talks are now close to reaching a conclusion.

Once signed, he said, such agreements would establish a framework enabling the next government to move forward more smoothly.

Senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were present at the meeting.