Dhaka [Bangladesh]: Bangladesh has canceled its judicial officials’ participation in training sessions scheduled to take place at India’s National Judicial Academy in Bhopal and a state judicial academy in February, according to a report by the Dhaka Tribune.
The Ministry of Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs in Bangladesh announced the decision in a circular issued on Sunday. The circular stated that the cancellation followed directives from the Supreme Court. Initially, a notification on December 30 had approved the participation of 50 judicial officials in the training program from February 10-20. These officials included Assistant Judges, Senior Assistant Judges, Joint District and Sessions Judges, Additional District and Sessions Judges, and District and Sessions Judges, as reported by the Dhaka Tribune.
According to the circular, the expenses for the program were to be covered entirely by the Indian government, with no financial involvement from Bangladesh. This training initiative stemmed from a bilateral agreement signed during former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to India in April 2017. The agreement aimed to enhance the capacity and expertise of Bangladeshi judicial officials through training at India’s National Judicial Academy and other institutions.
In a related development, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) recently reiterated its support for a “democratic, stable, peaceful, progressive, and inclusive Bangladesh.” Speaking at a weekly press briefing on Friday, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal emphasized that people are the main stakeholders in the bilateral ties between New Delhi and Dhaka.
“As far as our relations with Bangladesh are concerned, we have made it very clear that our approach is to foster ties based on mutual trust, respect, and sensitivity to each other’s concerns and interests,” Jaiswal stated. He further highlighted that India’s development cooperation with Bangladesh spans trade, connectivity, and capacity-building initiatives, all geared towards benefiting the people of Bangladesh.
The MEA’s reaffirmation comes amidst political developments in Bangladesh. The interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus recently called for the extradition of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from India. Hasina fled to India in August following widespread student-led protests in Bangladesh.
India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, during a recent visit to Bangladesh, underscored India’s willingness to build positive and constructive relations with its neighbor, prioritizing the welfare of the people. “Our approach remains to foster these ties while respecting mutual concerns,” Jaiswal added.
As regional dynamics evolve, the focus remains on maintaining strong and cooperative bilateral relations between the two nations.