Deep-sea port to benefit all neighbours: Hasina

Deputy Leader of Parliament Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, Finance Minister AMA Muhith and Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury receive Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in the city yesterday on her return from China. Photo: PID

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said Bangladesh's proposed deep-sea port in the Bay of Bengal would benefit all neighbours, including China.
"We planned to develop the deep-sea port which would benefit all the countries in the region, including China," Prime Minister's Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad quoted her as saying as Governor of Chinese Yunnan Province Qin Guangrong met her ahead of her departure for Bangladesh yesterday morning.
She added that the intensified cooperation between the countries like China, India, Myanmar and Bangladesh would accelerate development of the region while she stressed enhanced connectivity for mutual economic benefit.
"Bangladesh is ready to put in its best efforts to increase regional connectivity and fight against poverty and other regional problems," she said.
Sheikh Hasina said Beijing had proposed the construction of the Chittagong-Kunming Highway through Myanmar which Bangladesh wholeheartedly welcomed but added that because of its economic capability, Beijing would have to take the lead responsibly for the implementation of the proposal.
Being the nearest Chinese region to Bangladesh, Yunnan province authorities also has a significant role to play to set the direct link between Bangladesh and China, she said.
The governor termed the Bangladesh premier's China visit as "very fruitful" to add a new dimension in Dhaka-Beijing ties while he recalled Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's Beijing visit in 1960s.
Qin Guangrong also referred to Hasina's China tour during the previous 1996-2001 tenure in government and commented that her family had a deep-rooted relation with China throughout three generations, including the premier's son Sajib Wajed Joy.
He highly appreciated Sheikh Hasina's emphasis on regional cooperation between India, China, Bangladesh and Myanmar saying poverty and other problems of the region could be removed through concerted efforts among these neighbours.
The prime minister expressed her concern over the present drought in the Yunnan province and expressed the hope that like in the past, the Chinese authorities and its people would overcome the situation soon.
She expressed her happiness that she came to know that a business forum has been set up between China and the South Asian countries, secretariat of which will be set up in Kunming.