Dhaka always wanted good working relationship with Delhi: Touhid

Taking India’s medical team’s presence in Bangladesh positively, Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Thursday said the interim government always wanted a good working relationship with India on the basis of reciprocity and mutual respect.

“We always wanted that….from day one we said we want good working relationship with India on the basis of reciprocity and mutual respect. Our position remains unchanged,” he said, noting that they – no one from the interim government - never said they do not want good relations with India.

The Foreign Adviser made the remarks when a reporter wanted to know whether they see the presence of Indian medical team in Bangladesh as a positive indicator towards better relations between the two neighbors.

A team of burn-specialist doctors and nurses with necessary medical support from India arrived in Dhaka on Wednesday night to treat aircraft crash victims.

The specialised team consists of doctors and nurses from Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital and Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi, which are the two top hospitals in India specialising in burns and plastic surgery.

They began their work at a designated hospital treating these patients from Thursday morning.

Their visit follows Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s assurance to extend all possible assistance and support to Bangladesh in the wake of the tragedy.

They are making an assessment of the condition of patients with recommendation for further treatment and specialised care in India as necessary.

Additional medical teams may also follow depending on their preliminary assessment and treatment.

On July 21, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences at the loss of lives in the tragic air crash in Dhaka and had conveyed assurances of support and assistance.

Earlier, the Indian High Commission in Dhaka formally wrote to the government of Bangladesh asking for sharing information on any critical medical support that may be needed to be arranged in India for those injured in the tragic incident.

The Indian High Commission on Tuesday said it will extend all necessary facilitation.

The communication came as a follow up to the message from the Indian prime minister, expressing condolence on the tragic Milestone School plane crash and offering all possible support and assistance.

“India stands in solidarity with Bangladesh and is ready to extend all possible support and assistance," Indian Prime Minister Modi said in a message on Monday.