Small border issues can be resolved through BGB-BSF talks: Shringla

Visiting Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Wednesday said some small issues happening along the Bangladesh-India border can be settled through holding meetings between the border forces of the two countries.

“Bangladesh and India have settled all major issues through discussions; some small incidents happening along the border between the two countries can be solved through holding meetings between BGB and BSF,” Shringla said when he met Sheikh Hasina at her official residence Ganobhaban.

PM’s press secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters after the meeting. “We want this issue to be resolved,” he quoted the Indian Foreign Secretary as saying.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also agreed with Shringla, said Karim.

Covid-19 Issue 

The Indian Foreign Secretary said normalcy is coming back in India after the recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic setback.

Shringla said all are alert and aware about the Omicron variant of Covid-19 as 21 cases have been detected so far in India.

Covid-19 has mutated 15 times before transforming into Omicron variant, said Shringla adding that the variant has been detected in many countries in Europe apart from African countries.

He conveyed the greetings of Indian Prime Minister Modi to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Hasina also greeted her Indian counterpart through the Indian Foreign Secretary.

The Indian Foreign Secretary appreciated the economic progress of Bangladesh despite the Covid-19 pandemic and said there is good growth in India as well.

Shringla thanked Sheikh Hasina for inviting the Indian President to join the 50th Victory Day celebrations and said it is a manifestation of special bond between Bangladesh and India. “There has been much progress under the leadership of both the Prime Ministers of India and Bangladesh,” Shringla said.

He added that India will commemorate of the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujbur Rahman, Golden Jubilee of Bangladesh’s Independence and 50th anniversary of establishment of Bangladesh-India diplomatic relation across the globe in their missions and will project Bangabandhu among the local people of the respective countries.

Shringla expects to hold a joint photo exhibition on Bangabandhu by India and Bangladesh at the United Nations after the Covid-19 situation.

He also talked about the cooperation in the IT sector sharing new technologies and investment in renewable energy in Bangladesh.

He also laid emphasis on reestablishing Shiliguri-Parbotipur, Dhaka-Shiliguri and Dhaka-Jolpaiguri railway connectivity.

Hasina said Bangladesh is also returning to normalcy gradually tackling the Covid-19 pandemic shock.

She also recalled the days of her and family members’ captivity during the Liberation War and mentioned that the recognition by India had overwhelmed them. Hasina underlined the need for generating hydroelectricity in Nepal and Bhutan, which will be beneficial for the two countries as this will be clean and cheap.

In Bangladesh, 99 percent people have been brought under electricity coverage, she said, adding, “The government is providing solar energy support where there’s no grid line.”

Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Vikram Kumar Doraiswami and India’s Policy Adviser to the Ministry of External Affair Ashok Malik were present from the Indian side.  Principal Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus was present from Bangladesh side.