Bangladesh and India yesterday reinforced their pledge “zero tolerance” policy against terrorism and extremism alongside reiterating their strong commitment to make borders peaceful and free from criminal activities as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina held talks with her counterpart Nardendra Modi in New Delhi, reports BSS.
“We both pledged ‘zero tolerance’ against terrorism and violent extremism and reiterated our strong commitment to make our borders peaceful and free from criminal activities,” Sheikh Hasina said in a statement after her official talks with the Indian premier.
The two premiers, she said, discussed the issues of water resources management including sharing of water of common rivers like Teesta, the Padma-Ganges Barrage Project and basin-wise management of the trans-boundary streams.
“I sincerely believe that we shall be able to get India’s support in resolving these issues expeditiously,” the Bangladesh premier said.
Sheikh Hasina described her meeting with Modi to be “productive” as they sat together to take Bangladesh-India excellent bilateral relations to newer height.
“We discussed all aspects of our ever growing relationship to enhance our understanding about mutual concerns and priorities,” she said calling India the “most important neighbour and one of key development partners of Bangladesh” also recalling its invaluable contribution to Bangladesh’s 1971 Liberation War for which “we are deeply grateful”.
Sheikh Hasina said she was happy to honour the 1971 martyrs of Indian Armed Forces during her current visit to Delhi.
The premier announced with appreciation that New Delhi has agreed to support Bangladesh’s efforts to obtain international recognition of ‘Genocide of 1971′ as Dhaka sought India’s assistance towards that end.
Sheikh Hasina said she agreed with her counterpart that greater connectivity was vital for the development of the two countries and the region.
She said the consensus on increased connectivity led the two neighbours’ to flag off new passenger bus services for Khulna-Kolkata route, trial run of Khulna-Kolkata 2nd Maitree Express and re-opening of Birol-Radhikapur railway route for freight.
“We have released Hindi edition of ‘Bangabandhu’s Asamapta Atmajiboni’,” Sheikh Hasina said.
The Bangladesh premier said Bangladesh and India have very good cooperation in power and energy sectors. “We have inaugurated supply of additional 60 MW power to Bangladesh from Tripura. We have also discussed cross-border electricity import from Nepal and Bhutan (through Indian Territory),” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said many other initiatives between respective organizations have been undertaken to further strengthen cooperation in the power and energy sectors.
She said her Indian counterpart was receptive to the issue of growing trade deficit and assured of his government’s concrete steps to address this.
“We have also discussed on the review of anti-dumping duties imposed on jute export from Bangladesh and resolved the issue,” the prime minister said.
To bring balance in trade between the two countries, she said, the government has decided to set up Special Economic Zones (SEZ) for India in Bangladesh on identified locations.
“We have discussed other issues to promote trade and investments between our two countries,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said the people-to-people contact is the strength of links between the two countries and “so, we have upgraded our Agartala Visa Office to Assistant High Commission and have also opened Assistant high Commission in Guwahati recently”.
The premier said India has opened more Indian Visa Application Centres (IVACs) in Bangladesh and this again reflects “our growing mutual confidence and shared commitment to expand our relationship.”
Sheikh Hasina said the two countries today signed a number of other bilateral documents, covering diverse areas of cooperation which included the economic cooperation, defense cooperation, peaceful use of nuclear energy, outer space, information technology and mass media.
The prime minister said India attained commendable economic development and is fast emerging as a powerhouse in the areas of education, science, technology and innovation.
“Now Bangladesh economy is growing at an impressive rate of over 7% (as) we have also made significant advancement in most of the MDGs in particular health, education and poverty reduction,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina extended her sincere thanks to the Indian premier for his dynamism and innovative ideas saying those initiatives were not only taking India forward rapidly but also add much value to bilateral relationship.
“Our vision for comprehensive and enduring relationship is outlined in the Joint Declaration. We now have to translate the declaration into concrete deliverables,” she said.
The prime minister extended her greetings to the people of both countries in Bangla on the occasion of Bangla Nababarsho 1424.
