While Indian and Bangladesh have addressed major issues including cross-border terrorism and land boundary and maritime disputes in the last few decades, they have enormous opportunities for further cooperation with several areas requiring more attention -- such as water sharing, border killings and Rohingya refugee crisis. Indian High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami speaks at length in an exclusive interview with The Daily Star’s Porimol Palma.

TDS: Bangladesh celebrates its Golden Jubilee of Independence, as well as diplomatic relations with India, this year. How do you evaluate Bangladesh’s progress and the diplomatic relations between the two countries?

Doraiswami: First and foremost, the Independence of Bangladesh is the story of the Bangladeshis who basically fought the war. We assisted in it, but we must always remember that we supported the desire of the Bangladeshi people to assert their own identity. Secondly, we have a relationship of 50 years. It was somewhat derailed after the assassination of Bangabandhu. With that direction of the relationship, it did not go as expected.

However, we have moved forward. There is recognition today in both countries and we believe broadly that it is in the fundamental national interests of both the countries to remain closest friends and partners. Our friendly relationship is by far the best thing that we can do to help our own countries grow. This people-centric friendship between the