Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen has said US President Joe Biden and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina held talks in a very cordial and warm atmosphere, reflecting that bilateral relations between the countries are deep-rooted.
"He [Biden] has all the intention to build a good relationship with Bangladesh," Momen said on Saturday while briefing reporters over Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's engagements in New Delhi.
The Bangladesh prime minister arrived in New Delhi on Friday to attend the G20 Leaders’ Summit at the invitation of her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.
She addressed two sessions of the summit, had talks with US President Joe Biden and had meetings with several leaders on the sidelines of the summit.
Sheikh Hasina, who is returning home today, had bilateral meetings with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Argentine President Alberto Angel Fernandez, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, and the United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Replying to a question, Momen said, "It [talks among Biden, Sheikh Hasina, Sheikh Rehana and Saima Wazed on two separate occasions including in dinner in a very cordial environment] is the evidence that we have deep and solid relations with Washington and we will make it stronger in future."
He said the US is very keen to further consolidate the relationship with Bangladesh for which they are sending their people and holding talks. "They [the American government] are not exerting any pressure on us rather the media do so."
The foreign minister said Joe Biden, Sheikh Hasina and her daughter Saima Wazed had a 15-minute talk at Bharat Mandapam International Exhibition Centre in Pragati Maidan in the Indian capital on the sidelines of the G20 summit.
"When our prime minister was talking to President Biden, he was seen very happy and fully enthusiastic and the discussion happened in a very cordial and warm atmosphere. It [the discussion] was around 15 minutes and so."
He said when the Bangladesh prime minister and her daughter Saima Wazed were talking to Joe Biden, PM’s Ambassador-at-Large Mohammad Ziauddin took out his cellphone to take a picture of that moment. "President Biden took his own cell phone and took a selfie," he added.
During the talks, the Bangladesh prime minister apprised the US president about the measures she has taken to give the people of Bangladesh a beautiful and improved life, Momen said.
"Bangladesh is my family as I have lost my father, mother and brothers as they were brutally killed on August 15 in 1975. I am doing everything possible for their welfare," the prime minister was quoted as saying.
Sheikh Hasina said she has taken an initiative to give every homeless and landless a house at government expense as part of the move to ensure that none will remain homeless in Bangladesh.
The US president said he knew her efforts taken for Bangladesh's overall development and praised Sheikh Hasina's leadership for it, said Momen.
The prime minister invited the US president to visit Bangladesh at his convenient time and Biden accepted the invitation, he said.
About chats with Sheikh Hasina’s daughter and autism expert Saima Wazed with Biden, the foreign minister said Saima told the US president that she has been working with autism and had worked in Florida.
The US president has shown his interest in Saima's work and wanted to know about the types of her work, Momen said, adding that Saima then gave her business card to Biden. Biden invited Saima to visit the USA.
Momen said the US president had also cordial chats with Prime Minister Hasina and her younger sister Sheikh Rehana in the presence of Indian Prime Minister Modi.
At that time, Sheikh Hasina had praised Biden for his speech in the G20 summit, he said.
Replying to another question, the foreign minister said Sheikh Hasina had cordial talks with other global leaders that included Japanese and Italian prime ministers, German chancellor and Egyptian president.
"The people of Bangladesh should be proud of Sheikh Hasina," he continued.
He said it would be very sad if any question arose regarding the talks between Joe Biden and Sheikh Hasina.
Asked if any political subject was discussed between the prime ministers of Bangladesh and India, Momen said, "When we were there, there was no political talk."
But, the prime ministers mentioned that elections will be held both in India and Bangladesh next year, said Momen.
