Home ›› 29 Apr 2022 ›› Front
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday said the India’s northeastern states like Assam and Tripura can use Bangladesh’s Chittagong seaport by strengthening the connectivity between the two neighbouring countries.
“If the connectivity is increased, the Indian northeastern states -like Assam and Tripura- can have access to the seaport in Chattogram,” she said.
The premier said this when visiting Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met her at her official residence Ganobhaban on Thursday afternoon.
PM’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters after the meeting.
Hasina said an initiative has already been taken to reopen the cross-border routes which had been shut down in 1965.
During the meeting, both of them expressed happiness at the state of the existing bilateral relations between the two countries.
Hasina said high-level visits between the two countries give impetus to carry forward the relations.
Jaishankar said the bilateral issues are being reviewed and it’s progressing well.
Besides, different issues including defence cooperation, water sharing of Kushiara and Feni Rivers, current Covid situation and impacts of Russia-Ukraine war on the global economy came up for the discussion.
Jaishankar arrived here on a day’s visit on Thursday. Meanwhile, the Indian External Affairs Minister said the “regularity, informality and cordiality” of interactions between Dhaka and Delhi is a very good reflection of the trust and confidence, noting that leaders of the two countries remain in touch.
“My visit today is aimed at continuing the progress and deepening our engagement and it is in keeping with the strength and spirit of our bilateral ties,” he told reporters at the Foreign Service Academy at a j media briefing jointly with his Bangladesh counterpart AK Abdul Momen.
Despite the challenges of Covid pandemic, Jaishankar said they have remained regularly in touch and made good progress in bilateral relations with Bangladesh.
“Our connectivity today is back to pre-Covid levels and we are looking at resuming cross border busses and train services shortly after Eid,” said Jaishankar who last visited Bangladesh in March 2021.
Foreign Minister Momen said in working together the two countries resolved some major problems.
He said both sides renewed commitments to resolve the pending issues as they have the spirit to work together.
Jaishankar said he conveyed to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina the personal greetings and good wishes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “We look forward to her visit to India at a time of her convenience”
At the invitation of Hasina, the Indian PM paid a state visit to Bangladesh in March last year to join the celebrations of the Golden Jubilee of the Independence of Bangladesh, the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and 50 years of establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Bangladesh.
At the invitation of President Abdul Hamid, Indian President Ram Nath Kovind also paid a state visit to Bangladesh from December 15 to 17 last year to attend the 50th Victory Day celebrations here as the guest of honour.
