Relations with Bangladesh a priority: Modi
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asserted that Bangladesh remains a "significant pillar" of his country's Neighbourhood First policy.
Addressing the Bangladesh-India virtual summit, Modi told his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina that his government focused on maintaining strong relations with Bangladesh right from day one it came to power in May 2014.
"It has been a priority of my government to bring depth and strength in ties with Bangladesh," he said and pointed to the resolution of the land boundary issue and enhanced cross-border connectivity.
Modi lauded Hasina's leadership, which he said "reflected the traits of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman".
Cooperation between India and Bangladesh has been good notwithstanding coronavirus pandemic, the Indian PM observed.
Seeking to strike an emotional chord with Bangla-speaking people, Modi greeted Hasina by speaking in Bangla -- "Bijoy dibosher onek onek abhinandan aar poush parbon-er shubhechcha" -- before he began his speech.
Modi said it was a matter of pride for India to celebrate with Bangladesh the latter's victory over anti-liberation forces. He paid tributes to those who sacrificed their lives to win the Liberation War.
He congratulated Hasina on behalf of the people of India on the birth centenary of Bangabandhu and thanked her for inviting him to visit her country next year. He said it would be a matter of pride for him to pay tributes to Bangabandhu at that time.
The Indian premier said Bangabandhu's messages are eternally relevant.
The two leaders jointly opened the "Bangabandhu-Bapu (Mahatma Gandhi) Digital Exhibition".
Referring to the inauguration of the exhibition, Modi expressed hope that the two leaders would inspire the youths of the two countries.
The Digital Exhibition, which pays tribute to Bangabandhu and Mahatma Gandhi, will initially be on display in New Delhi before travelling to different locations in Bangladesh and the UN and culminating in Kolkata in 2022.
The two prime ministers also inaugurated the Chilahati-Haldibari rail link between India and Bangladesh, reviving a connectivity that was snapped by the India-Pakistan war in 1965. The move will help strengthen movement of people and goods between Bangladesh and West Bengal and north-eastern Indian states.
Initially, the link will be used to transport goods. Movement of passengers will start once the infrastructure is ready.
The two countries have already reopened four out of six rail links that were suspended in 1965: Petrapole- Benapole, Gede-Darshana, Singhabad-Rohanpur and Radhikapur-Birol. The Haldibari-Chilahati link was part of the main broad gauge route between Kolkata and Siliguri.
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