Dhaka, Oct. 4 -- Former Indian Minister of State for External Affairs MJ Akbar on Sunday said temporary "clouds or storms" cannot erase the long-standing ties between Bangladesh and India, describing the two countries as civilisational states with deep historical and cultural links.

"I never think that passing clouds or passing storms can ever remove the sunshine of Indo-Bangladesh ties," said the eminent writer, journalist and politician while addressing the Bay of Bengal Conversation 2026 in Dhaka, inaugurated by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Saturday.

Akbar said there would be ups and downs in the relationship between the two countries, but the issues between them should be approached by looking beyond what is considered immediate...