Bangladesh and India want to achieve more through “mutual cooperation and discussions” so that people get more benefits in the next 50 years with “solid stability” in the entire region.
“Good relations between Bangladesh and India are an example for other countries. In the next 50 years, we hope to reach our higher development goals by mutually helping each other,” Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen told reporters after his meeting with visiting Indian President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday.
He arrived in Dhaka on a three-day State visit as a “unique example” of the existing good relations between the two neighbouring countries.
At the invitation of President Abdul Hamid, the Indian President will attend the 50th Victory Day celebrations of Bangladesh, closing ceremony of the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and 50 years of Bangladesh-India diplomatic relations.
A special Indian Airlines flight carrying Kovind and his entourage members landed at Hazrat Shahjalal (R) International Airport (HISA) at 11:10 am.
President Hamid along with his wife Rashida Khanam received his Indian counterpart with a bouquet at the airport.
In his maiden tour to Dhaka, Kovind is being accompanied by Indian first lady Shrimati Savita Kovind and their daughter Swathi Covind, India's education minister and two parliament members alongside several senior officials.
The 14th Indian president is the only foreign dignitary participating in the event of December 16 here at the invitation of his Bangladesh counterpart Abdul Hamid to represent India at the celebrations as a guest of honour.
This is the first foreign visit of Kovind since the Covid-19 onset.
He paid homage to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Bangabandhu Memorial Museum, the place which bears the testimony to the life and work of Bangabandhu.
Bangabandhu’s daughter Sheikh Rehana accompanied President Kovind to visit the museum at Dhanmondi 32.
He signed the visitors' book kept there after paying respect to Bangabandhu.
Rehana also presented Kovind with a set of books.
President Kovind also visited the National Martyrs' Memorial in Savar and placed wreathes there, paying tributes to the brave hearts of the Liberation War of Bangladesh.
He is scheduled to present a T-55 tank and a MiG-29 fighter jet used during the Great Liberation War of Bangladesh to the President for preservation and display at the Bangladesh National Museum.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid a courtesy call on him at his suite in Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel.
During his meeting with the Indian President, foreign minister Dr Momen discussed bilateral issues and both sides reiterated their wish to further consolidate the existing friendly ties between the two countries.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md. Shahriar Alam and Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen were also present at the meeting with the Indian President.
Dr Momen apprised him of the excellent progress in bilateral cooperation and of future joint projects, including in the area of connectivity.
While talking to reporters, the State Minister said the continued cooperation between the two countries established peace and stability in the region and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina conveyed to the Indian President that this cooperation will go a long way.
He said the two countries resolved many issues while pending issues will be resolved through discussions.
Shahriar said the Prime Minister conveyed to the Indian President that Bangladesh does not treat anybody as a minority rather everyone enjoys equal rights in the country.
On the third day of his visit on Friday, the President of India will inaugurate and inspect the newly renovated section of the “Kali Mondir” at Ramna.
He expressed his interest in exchanging views with the members of the relevant committee of the temple.
Earlier, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had paid a State visit to Bangladesh from March 26 to 27, 2021 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.
Dr Momen said such a high-level visit between Bangladesh and India in 2021 will be mentioned in gold letters as a milestone chapter in the existing relations between the two countries.
According to the Indian external affairs minister, Bangladesh is a “major pillar” of India’s Neighbourhood First Policy.
“India and Bangladesh share progressive, comprehensive and substantial cooperation in diverse areas ranging from security, border management & defence, water resources, trade, transport & connectivity, health, culture & people-to-people ties, energy & power to development partnership and sub-regional cooperation. Both countries have closely cooperated in addressing challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
The President’s visit on this historic occasion is a reflection of the high priority that both countries attach to the bilateral relationship, the external affairs ministry earlier said.
“It also reaffirms the shared desire of both countries to further consolidate and strengthen the multifaceted and irreversible partnership, based on historical and cultural ties, mutual trust and understanding.”
The Indian President will leave Dhaka for Delhi on Friday noon.