PM for better co-op with neighbours
Says it’s needed for regional development as outgoing Indian envoy makes farewell call
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday stressed the need for better cooperation with neighbouring countries for the development of the people of this region.
"We always think that better cooperation is needed with the neighbouring countries firstly for the development of the people of the region as our foreign policy is 'friendship to all and malice towards none'," she said.
The PM made the remarks when outgoing Indian High Commissioner Riva Ganguly Das called on her at the Gono Bhaban.
After the meeting, PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters.
Hasina added that the neighbouring countries can use Chattogram, Sylhet and Saidpur airports for their convenience.
Ihsanul said the PM and the high commissioner discussed bilateral issues.
The Covid-19 situation and the Rohingya crisis also came up during the talks, he said.
Riva said the two countries are working together to combat the virus.
She also appreciated the steps Bangladesh has taken under the leadership of Hasina to contain the spread of coronavirus.
The high commissioner lauded Bangladesh's economic development under the PM's leadership amid the pandemic.
Hasina said people of all classes and professions are working together during this crisis.
She mentioned that large-scale programmes had been taken on the occasion of the "Mujib Barsho". "But we couldn't celebrate many programmes due to the coronavirus outbreak," she said.
The PM said alongside the government's tree plantation campaign, her party has taken a programme to plant 10 million trees across the country during the "Mujib Barsho".
The high commissioner handed over a letter from Indian PM Narendra Modi in which he greeted Hasina on the occasion of her 74th birthday.
The high commissioner also wished Hasina on the occasion of her birthday.
Hasina thanked Modi and Riva for greeting her, the press secretary said.
She recalled India's contributions to Bangladesh's Liberation War in 1971.
Hasina said the people of India and its political parties extended overwhelming support to Bangladesh's Liberation War and in the same way they supported the historic land boundary agreement with Bangladesh.
The Indian high commissioner informed the prime minister that the foreign ministers of the two countries are likely to hold talks virtually on Tuesday.
PM's Principal Secretary Ahmad Kaikaus and Indian Deputy High Commissioner in Dhaka Bishwadip Dey were present on the occasion.