The G20 summit concluded successfully with the announcement of the conclusion of the assembly. The summit was well-organized. The closing ceremony was also declared. I have seen very few international conferences with such tight security and meticulous arrangements as I witnessed in Delhi before this summit. India had never hosted a G20 summit before.

This is the first time that a G20 summit has been held in India. The NAM conference was held during Indira Gandhi's tenure. At that time, many world leaders had come to India, starting from Fidel Castro.

Delhi was dressed up in various ways. It displayed colorful images from the Ramayana and Mahabharata epics. All of this is external. Now the main question after the conclusion of this assembly is, what did we achieve from G20?

First, it is worth acknowledging that although China's President Xi Jinping and Russia's President Putin sent representatives to the G20 summit, their absence has dampened the hype surrounding the event. While Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi did meet with President Joe Biden of the United States, who attended the summit, White House National Security Advisor Campbell was present at Biden's side throughout the trip.

Campbell occupied a seat at the White House and was the chief architect of India's policy. During this trip, he was always with President Biden. Even during the meeting between President Biden and Prime Minister Modi, Campbell was present.

For the delegation that came with President Biden, a press briefing was arranged. During that briefing, Campbell stated that India was somewhat dissatisfied since China and Russia's leaders were not present at the summit.

The warmth of the Modi-Biden bilateral meeting, the discussions and understanding between India and the United States, and the recent tensions between the United States and Bangladesh - all of this has been resolved. President Biden himself made it very clear in one statement.

Joe Biden told Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their bilateral meeting that much needs to be done in our bilateral relations to take both countries further. He doesn't believe in one country just lecturing the other. Kurt Campbell, the National Security Councilor for Indo-Pacific Affairs, said that Biden informed Modi about this.

The same complaint has been raised multiple times from Bangladesh's side. The election in Bangladesh is, after all, a domestic election of a sovereign state. How it will be conducted and how it won't be is for them to determine. The United States has sent its delegation to Bangladesh multiple times, even to the Election Commission, creating various kinds of pressure. Besides this, the United States has also mentioned visa issues, saying who will not be given visas and who will be, considering it based on Bangladesh's pre-election situation. Biden has conveyed that this applies not just to India but also to every neighboring country, even to the subcontinent in particular.

The most talked-about topic at the G20 Summit's media center this time has been the absence of the presidents of China and Russia. However, journalists from China and Japan were present at the media center. Among journalists, various topics were being discussed. Japan was closely watching China's actions. Still, China's President did not attend, and the way they portrayed Arunachal Pradesh and the Himalayan border issue on their maps, and the lack of assurance regarding the withdrawal of their troops in the Himalayas, all led to a significant increase in global geopolitical complexity, rather lessened it.

From Narendra Modi's side, there was no effort to provoke China. Narendra Modi stated, "When a guest comes to our house, we let them sit on the main sofa. And if needed, we sit on a small chair beside them."

Before inviting China to attend, Modi had officially requested China at the G7 Summit held in Japan. At that time, the Chinese Foreign Ministry had stated that they had received the invitation from India, and that was enough. India has done its part as a host. Not creating a confrontation with a powerful state like China in the era of nuclear weapons is not the characteristic of a wise leader.

This is a clear indication. A consensus proposal was also accepted. That proposal did not include any specific statements from Russia and China regarding ending the Ukraine conflict. It was not expected either. And it's not clear how an anti-war proposal would be possible when there is no sign of stopping the war.

We, the journalists, often cannot interpret the G20 as something beyond Russia-China and the Ukraine conflict. Before the G20 Summit, the Business20 Summit took place. Various countries formed committees there. There were various kinds of meetings. There, representatives from the United Nations, the IMF, the World Bank, and the European Union were present. A huge effort is underway. Climate, defense, economic development, how many issues! Even the long-pending agreement between India and the United States on drone purchases has been sealed in the midst of all this. The African Union became a new member of the G20. The G20 turned into G21 in silence. Isn’t that a big thing?

Now let's talk about Bangladesh. Sheikh Hasina arrived, observed, and achieved victory. The respect and recognition that Bangladesh has received at the G20 Summit this time are truly unprecedented! Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had a one-on-one meeting with Narendra Modi for over an hour during the summit.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina strongly emphasized at the G20 Summit the need to strengthen global solidarity and concerted efforts to combat global challenges. During the G20 Summit, she made four specific recommendations in line with this.

On Saturday, September 9th, during her speech at the "One Earth" session of the summit, she first stated, "G20 and international economic institutions have a significant role to play here, and Bangladesh is ready to cooperate to prepare effective recommendations to address the crisis."

The upcoming elections in Bangladesh make the meeting between these two heads of state extremely timely and significant. India has made it very clear that it has no intentions of interfering in the internal elections of any other country. Regardless of what has happened in the past or what hasn't, Narendra Modi has remained consistent on this matter. The world is changing, and today no country can control another country's elections in the manner it may have done in the past, be it the United States, India, or China. The elections in Bangladesh will be decided by the people of Bangladesh, and India, however, has repeatedly conveyed its concerns, not ambiguously but straightforwardly, to both the United States and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, about not allowing any elements involved in the assassination of Mujib to take control of Bangladesh's governance again.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, since taking office, has been combating terrorism. Despite being a victim of terrorism herself, she has not shied away from addressing this issue vigorously. She has also not allowed Bangladesh's soil to be used for anti-India militant activities.

The way Sheikh Hasina has been honored by India at the G20 Summit is remarkable. Moreover, it is noteworthy how she has effectively utilized this global platform to advance her country's interests and establish Bangladesh on the world stage. Sheikh Hasina has raised the Rohingya issue on the G20 platform, garnering international attention and exerting pressure on India and other countries. She has presented four key issues on this G20 stage, encompassing economic, climate, counterterrorism, and the use of modern technology.

Within this G20 framework, there have been three bilateral agreements between India and Bangladesh. The most modern of these agreements is the digital payment mechanism, which has been established between Bangladesh Bank and the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). As a result, the commercial ties between the two countries will become stronger and more progressive.

Additionally, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) has been signed between the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council, symbolizing cooperation in the field of agriculture. Furthermore, a bilateral cultural agreement for 2023-25 has also been signed. There is no doubt that these international gains, along with bilateral gains between India and Bangladesh, are not insignificant for Bangladesh.

In conclusion, it's worth noting that any international summit is not merely a success or a failure; in other words, labeling the summit as an "unproductive labor pain" would not be appropriate. Rather, through thorough analysis and evaluation, the constructive elements of G20 can be gathered to pave the way for Bangladesh-India and global friendship along a prosperous path, as expected from a responsible global citizen.

Writer: Special Correspondent of Kaler Kantho in New Delhi.