Amid concerns over Citizenship Amendment Bill, Bangladesh foreign minister cancels India visit

Officially, the Bangladesh government has conveyed to India that the foreign minister had to cancel his visit due to domestic celebrations to commemorate the country's victory day. What is significant is that the Bangladesh government has also expressed its inability to send its junior minister for foreign affairs Shahriyar Alam.

Speaking to the media, the spokesperson for the ministry of external affairs has said any attempts to link the cancellation of the visit with the Citizenship Amendment Bill would be unwarranted. “Bangladesh foreign minister has conveyed to us that they had to cancel the visit due to domestic engagements,” he said.

Also read: The difference between Citizenship Amendment Bill and NRC, explained

Dhaka has expressed concerns about the passage of the Citizenship Amendment Bill. Senior officials from the country hope that the move would not harm relations between India and Bangladesh. Sources in the Bangladesh Foreign Office said that their foreign minister will now travel to India for the Raisina Dialogue in January 2020.