Bangladesh, India set model in cooperation
Visiting Indian foreign secretary tells Hasina
Indian Foreign Secretary Subrahmanyam Jaishankar yesterday said Bangladesh and India set a “model” in bilateral cooperation.
"The model is being highly appreciated in India," he said while meeting Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her official residence the Gono Bhaban yesterday evening.
PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters after the meeting.
While talking about Indian commitments made during its Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Bangladesh in June last year, the secretary said eight out of the 14 pledges had already been fulfilled.
"We've been able to make a good progress as eight commitments have already been fulfilled in nearly one year and we're vigorously working to meet other pledges," he said.
Jaishankar pointed out that there had also been a good progress in the power and LNG/LPG sectors cooperation by the two countries.
He said a number of Indian companies showed interest in setting up a deep seaport in Bangladesh.
Over the matter, Hasina said the deep seaport could be established through a consortium.
Jaishankar thanked the Bangladesh government for its support to India in its initiatives for launching a Saarc satellite.
Hasina also expressed satisfaction over the progress in fulfilling the pledges made during the visit of Narendra Modi.
"The bilateral ties between the two neighbouring countries reached a new height following the visit of Narendra Modi...we're in fact enjoying the best of relations," she said.
Referring to the ratification of the Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) by Indian parliament, Hasina thanked the Indian government, particularly members of Lok Shabha and Rajya Shabha, for passing the bill unanimously.
"It has set an example for others," she said.
Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Syed Moazzem Ali, PM's Principal Secretary Abul Kalam Azad, Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque and Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Harsha Bardhan Shringla and Deputy High Commissioner Adarsh Swaika were present on the occasion.