Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri briefed the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of External Affairs today, two days after concluding his visit to Dhaka. During his visit, he held discussions with top leaders of Bangladesh’s interim government, including Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus.
The briefing took place at the parliament annex building in New Delhi and lasted over two and a half hours. Shashi Tharoor, chairman of the committee, described the session as “thorough and comprehensive.”
Speaking to the media after the meeting, Tharoor said, “The foreign secretary, fresh from his trip to Dhaka, was able to give us a detailed briefing.” While he refrained from disclosing specifics, he noted that “all the important questions you can imagine were asked by the MPs.” A strong turnout of 21-22 members actively participated in the discussion, raising numerous queries.
Tharoor added that Misri addressed the questions “comprehensively and candidly.” He also mentioned that the committee would prepare a report for parliament on the outcomes of the meeting, as the topic is officially within its purview. This report is expected to be finalized next year.
“For now, the discussions will continue, and a very good beginning has been made,” said Tharoor, a Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram.
Misri’s visit marked the first high-level diplomatic engagement between New Delhi and Dhaka since the removal of Sheikh Hasina from power on August 5. It was also the first structured meeting in the form of Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) since the political transition in Bangladesh.
During his Dhaka visit, Misri held discussions with Chief Adviser Yunus, Foreign Adviser Touhid Hussain, and his Bangladeshi counterpart Jashim Uddin, underscoring the ongoing diplomatic engagement between the two neighboring countries.