Fraught relationshipBeneath this symbolism and the spectacle of diplomatic camaraderie lurks a fraught relationship between the two countries. And the pivot of the relationship is the national election due in January, 2024. On the home front, the biggest opposition group, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), doesn’t seem to budge on its threat to boycott the polls. “We respect Bangladesh’s sovereignty, and we have never engaged in any conversations about taking over St. Martin’s Island. We strive to bolster our relationship by working together to promote democracy, including by supporting free and fair elections,” he said.

Source: The Hindu June 30, 2023 15:21 UTC