FM cancels, home minister postpones India visits

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has cancelled his India tour citing busy schedule at home, while Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal has postponed his India visit for unavoidable circumstances. The foreign minister was scheduled to fly to New Delhi on a three-day official visit to attend the sixth edition of the Indian Ocean Dialogue (IOD). Besides, the home minister was set to visit Indian state of Meghalaya to attend a function, organised by the Meghalaya government and the Muktijodhya Academy Trust, on December 15 as the guest of honour. Talking to The Independent, Home Ministry Public Relations Officer Md Sharif Mahmud Apu said that the home minister postponed his India tour for a special reason. “The minister will visit India in congenial time in near future,” he said. Meanwhile, the foreign minister was scheduled to tour India from December 12 to December 14 to attend the dialogue. But he cancelled it hours before his departure as per the schedule. The ministry sources said the foreign minister cancelled the visit as he would remain pre-occupied at home on various issues like the observation of Martyred Intellectuals Day and the Victory Day. Besides, currently the State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam and Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque are abroad for other official purposes, ministry sources said. However, a director general on behalf of foreign minister will lead Bangladesh delegation to India at the IOD. Besides, attending the dialogue, the foreign minister had a sideline meeting with his Indian counterpart Dr S Jaishankar to talk on various bilateral issues between the two neighbouring countries.

Ministry sources said Foreign Minister Momen is likely to pay a visit to India next month.

He cancelled the India visit amid violent protests in different parts of India over the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill which has been passed by Rajya Sabha on Wednesday night.  

The IOD is a flagship initiative of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) with its origins in the 13th Council of Ministers meeting, held in November 2013 in Perth, Australia.

 

FM cancels, home minister postpones India visits

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has cancelled his India tour citing busy schedule at home, while Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal has postponed his India visit for unavoidable circumstances. The foreign minister was scheduled to fly to New Delhi on a three-day official visit to attend the sixth edition of the Indian Ocean Dialogue (IOD). Besides, the home minister was set to visit Indian state of Meghalaya to attend a function, organised by the Meghalaya government and the Muktijodhya Academy Trust, on December 15 as the guest of honour. Talking to The Independent, Home Ministry Public Relations Officer Md Sharif Mahmud Apu said that the home minister postponed his India tour for a special reason. The minister will visit India in congenial time in near future, he said. Meanwhile, the foreign minister was scheduled to tour India from December 12 to December 14 to attend the dialogue. But he cancelled it hours before his departure as per the schedule. The ministry sources said the foreign minister cancelled the visit as he would remain pre-occupied at home on various issues like the observation of Martyred Intellectuals Day and the Victory Day. Besides, currently the State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam and Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque are abroad for other official purposes, ministry sources said. However, a director general on behalf of foreign minister will lead Bangladesh delegation to India at the IOD. Besides, attending the dialogue, the foreign minister had a sideline meeting with his Indian counterpart Dr S Jaishankar to talk on various bilateral issues between the two neighbouring countries. Ministry sources said Foreign Minister Momen is likely to pay a visit to India next month. He cancelled the India visit amid violent protests in different parts of India over the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill which has been passed by Rajya Sabha on Wednesday night. The IOD is a flagship initiative of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) with its origins in the 13th Council of Ministers meeting, held in November 2013 in Perth, Australia.