Modi praises Hasina’s zero tolerance policy on terrorism

Describing Bangladesh as a role model in maintaining religious harmony, India yesterday highly praised the “zero tolerance” policy of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina against any forms of terrorism and religious extremism.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said experts should visit Bangladesh to witness how the Bangladeshi people were living together in peace and religious harmony.

His comment came when Bangladesh Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan paid a courtesy call on him at his official residence in New Delhi.

The minister arrived in the Indian capital on Tuesday to attend the 7th Bangladesh-India home minister level talks.

During the meeting, Modi congratulated Hasina for becoming the prime minister of Bangladesh for a third consecutive term.

He appreciated Bangladesh’s policy of not allowing use of its territory by extremists and insurgents for perpetrating violence in other countries, including India.

About the Rohingya issue, Modi said India already raised the issue with the Myanmar authorities as his country thought that the crisis must be resolved.

He assured the Bangladesh minister of discussing the issue again with Myanmar to ensure smooth and peaceful repatriation of the Rohingyas.

About the border management issue, the Indian PM assured Asaduzzaman that the two countries would work together for a secured and effective border by fighting drug smuggling and cross-border terrorism.

He also said the BIMSTEC could play a crucial role in maintaining peace and development in the region.

Modi expressed his country’s eagerness to be a partner of programmes taken up by the Bangladesh government to observe the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.