A mark of enduring friendship: Momen

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen yesterday said leaders of Bangladesh and India pledged on the noble vision of inclusive socioeconomic development, scripting a golden chapter in partnership over the past few years.

"Over the last few years, India and Bangladesh have scripted a golden chapter in partnership under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi," he said during a virtual handing over ceremony, where 10 broad gauge (BG) locomotives were virtually flagged off to Bangladesh by Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and Minister of Railways and Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal.

Bangladesh Railways Minister Md Nurul Islam Sujan and Indian Minister of State for Railways Angadi Suresh also joined, reports UNB.

Dr Momen thanked India for offering Bangladesh 10 broad gauge diesel locomotives as a mark of enduring friendship.

Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Muhammad Imran and Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Riva Ganguly Das also joined the event.

"We are indeed enjoying the best of relations," Dr Momen said, mentioning that this week, for the first time, 50 containers loaded with FMCG cargoes and fabrics arrived in Bangladesh from India through Benapole-Petrapole rail link. Last week, the first transshipment of goods (iron and pulses) from Kolkata to India's North-East took place though Bangladesh's Chattogram port.

Connectivity in the region will unpack numerous opportunities for the people of South Asia, said the minister.

Railway Cooperation

The handing over of these locomotives, under grant assistance from India, fulfills an important commitment made during the visit of Sheikh Hasina to India, in October 2019, said the Indian High Commission in Dhaka.

In keeping with the requirements of Bangladesh Railway, the locomotives have been suitably modified by the Indian side.

Speaking on the occasion, Indian External Affairs Minister Dr Jaishankar highlighted the depth of time tested India-Bangladesh ties, based on mutual trust and respect. He expressed happiness that the Covid-19 pandemic had not slowed down the pace of bilateral cooperation, and conveyed that he looked forward to more such milestones in the ongoing historic Mujib Barsho.

With 72 percent locomotives of Bangladesh Railways already crossing their economic life, the government took initiatives last year to hire locomotives from India for the first time.