Indo-Bangla relations should not be held hostage to domestic politics, former Indian high commissioner to Bangladesh Pankaj Saran said yesterday.

"If the relationship changes with the changes in government, then it is fragile. If the relationship survives even with the changes in the government, it is mature and sustainable," he said.

He was speaking at the Zahur Hossain Chowdhury Memorial Lecture-2023 on "Bangladesh-India: Role Model of Relation to Neighbouring Country" hosted by the daily Bhorer Kagoj at a city hotel. Bhorer Kagoj Editor Shyamal Dutta moderated the event.

Saran, also convener of Delhi-based think-tank Centre for Research on Strategic and Security Issues, said there are short-term and long-term strategic aspects of relationship, and that while dealing with short-term goals, they should not lose sight of the long-term strategic issues.

He said Indo-Bangla relation has significantly improved over the last decades as they settled many disputes, including the Tin Bigha Corridor, land and maritime issues, and signed the Ganges water treaty. The cross-border crimes and insurgency were also largely addressed, and those were possible because of the political will from both sides.

Though the two countries have advanced in the areas of trade, economy and sub-regional integration, a number of issues require more focus. Those include poverty and unemployment and water resources management, he added.

Saran said the two countries need to find some innovative solutions to balance trade, which is quite imbalanced today.

He said there should be always readiness to communicate each other directly whenever there are any issues, instead of going to any third party. There will always be some unfinished agenda but both the sides should focus on what they have.

Tariq A Karim, former Bangladesh high commissioner to India, said not only Bangladesh and India, the entire Bay of Bengal countries need to come together to save their coasts and the mangrove forest.

In response to a question regarding the election, Saran said it is the people of Bangladesh and its institutions that will decide how the polls will be held, not anyone else.