Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Sunday held a farewell meeting with outgoing Indian High Commissioner to Dhaka Pranay Verma at the Prime Minister’s Office in the Cabinet Division at the Secretariat.
The meeting took place in the afternoon as the Indian envoy prepares to complete his diplomatic assignment in Bangladesh.
Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman was also present during the farewell call.
During the meeting, the two sides discussed issues related to bilateral relations and diplomatic cooperation between Bangladesh and India. The envoy also reflected on broader regional perspectives and the future direction of ties between the two countries.
In a separate farewell message, Pranay Verma described Bangladesh and India as increasingly capable, confident, connected and aspirational societies. He said both countries are important stakeholders in ensuring peace, stability and development in the shared region.
He emphasised that cooperation between the two neighbours is essential to address common challenges, including climate change and environmental sustainability. As the two largest economies in the region, he said Bangladesh and India should serve as anchors for deeper regional integration.
Highlighting the need for a renewed framework of engagement, the envoy said both countries require a “future-oriented agenda” aligned with changing national priorities, evolving capacities and mutual interests. He stressed that such an agenda should be driven by shared cultural and economic linkages and based on mutual benefit, respect and understanding.
Pranay Verma noted that geographical proximity should be seen as an opportunity rather than a constraint, adding that it can be transformed into new avenues of cooperation and growth for both countries.
Reflecting on his tenure, he said his nearly four-year stay in Dhaka was longer than usual and included several political transitions. He described his time in Bangladesh as both challenging and rewarding, calling it a deeply enriching diplomatic experience.
The envoy also expressed personal gratitude for the warmth and hospitality received during his posting, saying the relationships built in Bangladesh would remain long-lasting. He added that Bangladesh-India relations are uniquely shaped by shared geography, history, language, cultural affinity and the legacy of the 1971 Liberation War.
He further said the two countries are bound by strong interdependence, where progress in one supports the other. Pranay Verma is set to take up his next assignment as India’s Ambassador to Belgium and the European Union.
