Bangladesh's interim government has rejected India's invitation to attend the 150th-anniversary celebrations of the India Meteorological Department citing current restrictions on non-essential foreign travel at state expense.

Mominul Islam, the acting director of the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, or BMD,  earlier, confirmed receiving invitation from IMD.

The relationship between India and Bangladesh has touched a new low following the fall of former PM Sheikh Hasina-led government on August 5, 2024, amid violent protests against her regime.

The bond between the two neighbours passed through a rough patch ever since Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus-led government took charge of the interim government after Hasina's ouster from the South Asian nation.

Denying rift, Mominul told bdnews24.com: “The India Meteorological Department invited us to their 150th anniversary celebrations. We maintain good relations and continue to collaborate with them.”

"We are not going to the event as there is an obligation to limit non-essential foreign trips funded by the government," he said.

 India had invited Pakistan and Bangladesh, among other neighbouring countries to participate in an 'undivided India' seminar that is being organised to commemorate 150 years of the India Meteorological Department, said reports.

The Indian government has taken up the initiative to keep differences aside and celebrate the shared history of the subcontinent in unison.

The Narendra Modi government has sent invitations to Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. Besides the subcontinent, invitations have been sent to officials from the Middle East, central and Southwest Asia too.