Bangladesh maintains its official bilateral relations and communications exclusively with the central government of India, rather than with any individual state, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed confirmed. The minister clarified the state’s diplomatic stance while addressing journalists during a press briefing at the Secretariat on Monday afternoon (11 May).
The briefing followed a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, which focused on improving the living standards of domestic salt farmers and reviewing the strategic goals of the national salt industry.
Border Security and Relations with India
During the press conference, reporters raised questions regarding the recent initiatives by the West Bengal state government to install barbed-wire fencing along its borders. In response, the Home Minister stated that the installation of fencing within Indian territory is entirely an internal administrative matter of the West Bengal government.
Minister Ahmed emphasised that Bangladesh does not interfere with the domestic decisions of neighboring countries. However, he reassured the public that the government remains fully vigilant regarding national security. To maintain law and order along the frontier, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has been instructed to remain alert and maintain a strict vigil against any untoward incidents.
Development of the Salt Industry and Farmers’ Welfare
The primary agenda of the session chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman was the comprehensive development of the domestic salt sector. The Home Minister noted that the government is actively formulating policies to achieve complete self-sufficiency in salt production, thereby reducing reliance on imports and fulfilling domestic demand through local resources.
Furthermore, the government is focusing on enhancing the capacity of marginal salt farmers. Efforts are underway to establish a framework that ensures fair market pricing for their produce. The administration aims to modernise the infrastructure of the salt-growing regions to guarantee sustainable livelihoods for the workers involved in this sector.
The core areas of discussion from the Secretariat meeting and the designated objectives for the respective sectors are detailed in the table below:
The Home Minister concluded by stating that securing national borders and empowering marginal economic sectors remain simultaneous priorities for the current administration. While the BGB maintains its defensive readiness along the borders, administrative channels are being mobilised to protect the economic rights of local producers and stimulate domestic industrial growth.