Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen on Monday said Bangladesh is positioned to be a “regional connectivity hub” and India being the closest neighbour can reap the benefits of the connectivity outlook, as envisioned by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Momen also mentioned the actions taken by Sheikh Hasina and her government for exerting “zero tolerance” towards terrorism, radicalism and insurgency, which ultimately paved the way in establishing “peace and stability” of the north-eastern states of India.
During his meeting with the foreign minister, Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay K Verma said India, under its presidency of G20, expects active participation of Bangladesh in the G20 meetings to promote the issues of mutual interest in the global discourse.
The foreign minister reaffirmed that Bangladesh considers India as the closest and the most important neighbour and termed the relations as “solid and unique one.”
Momen underscored the exemplary economic growth of Bangladesh under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Hasina and added that Bangladesh’s economic development is complementing the economic development of India in many ways.
Concerning the Indo-Pacific region, Momen stressed the need for international rules and norms based on free and fair connectivity amongst the countries of the region.
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The Indian high commissioner said working in Bangladesh is a matter of honour and privilege and reiterated his commitment to work on the issues of mutual interest for further strengthening the excellent relations existing between the two countries.
He put emphasis on working together in the multilateral arena in supporting the candidatures floated by either country.
He urged all concerned to work towards bringing the border killings to zero, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Both the foreign minister and the high commissioner emphasised increasing the engagements between Bangladesh and the Indian north-eastern region to invigorate the connectivity and age-old relationship.
Momen emphasised that more than 1.1 million forcibly displaced Rohingyas from Myanmar are being sheltered by Bangladesh.
While Bangladesh has been sheltering them on humanitarian grounds, it has now become a huge challenge and big burden for the country.
He sought the support of India in the early repatriation of Rohingyas to their country of origin Myanmar.
The high commissioner in reply informed that India is also keen to have an acceptable solution to this issue and will continue to work to ensure speedy, safe, sustainable and dignified repatriation of Rohingyas to Myanmar.
Foreign Minister Momen said both countries are inextricably linked by historical, cultural, social and economic ties and over the last 50 years, the Bangladesh-India relationship has reached an unprecedented height under the visionary leadership of the prime ministers of both countries.
He also recalled the crucial role played by the people and government of India during the Great War of Liberation of Bangladesh in 1971 led by the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
