Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that India would continue to walk “step by step” with Bangladesh in realizing “the vision of a stable, prosperous and progressive Bangladesh that Bangabandhu had seen”.
“Our conversation today was also an excellent opportunity to reiterate this core commitment,” he said after the bilateral talk with his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina in New Delhi.
The prime minister reached New Delhi on Monday on a four-day state visit at the invitation of Modi.
She was warmly received by Modi with a ceremonial guard of honor before the meeting.
“And I am confident that in the Amrit Kaal of the next 25 years, India-Bangladesh friendship will touch new heights,” Modi said as Prime Minister Hasina’s visit is taking place during the ‘Amrit Mahotsav’ (75 years) India’s independence.
Last year both countries celebrated together the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh's independence, the golden jubilee of diplomatic relations, and the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. On December 6 last year, both countries also celebrated the first 'Maitri Diwas' together all over the world.
“Bangladesh has made remarkable progress under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina ji. In the last few years, our mutual cooperation has also increased rapidly in every field. Today, Bangladesh is India's largest development partner and our largest trade partner in the region,” the Indian prime minister said.
“Our close cultural and people-to-people relations have also steadily grown. Today, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina ji and I had extensive discussions on all bilateral, regional and international issues. We both believe that by taking lessons from the COVID pandemic and recent global developments, we need to make our economies stronger.
“With the expansion of connectivity between our two countries, and the development of trade infrastructure on the border, the two economies will be able to connect more with each other, support each other. Our bilateral trade is growing rapidly.”
The two leaders also witnessed the exchange of seven MoUs signed between the concerned authorities of the two countries including the Kushiyara river water sharing and jointly announced the inauguration of five projects including Rampal Power Plant.
“Today, India is the largest market in Asia for Bangladesh's exports. To further accelerate this growth, we will soon start discussions on the Bilateral Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement,” Modi said.
“We also decided to increase cooperation in sectors like IT, space and nuclear energy, which are of interest to our younger generations. We will also continue to cooperate on climate change and on preserving a common heritage like the Sundarbans.
“Rising energy prices are presently posing a challenge to all developing countries. The unveiling of the first unit of Maitree Thermal Power Plant today will increase the availability of affordable electricity in Bangladesh.
“Fruitful talks are also underway between the two countries on connecting power transmission lines. The inauguration of the railway bridge over the Rupsha River is a remarkable step towards enhancing connectivity. This bridge is an important part of the new railway line being built between Khulna and Mongla Port under India's Line of Credit. India will continue to extend all support for the development and expansion of Bangladesh's railway system.
“There are 54 rivers that pass through the Indo-Bangladesh border, and have been linked to the livelihood of the people of the two countries for centuries. These rivers, folk tales about them, folk songs, have also been witness to our shared cultural heritage. Today, we have signed an important agreement on sharing water of the Kushiyara river. This will benefit Southern Assam in India and Sylhet region in Bangladesh,” he said.
“I and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also had a fruitful conversation on enhancing cooperation in relation to flood mitigation. India has been sharing flood-related data with Bangladesh on a real-time basis and we have also extended the period of data sharing. Today, we also stressed on cooperation against terrorism and radicalism. To keep the spirit of 1971 alive, it is also very important that we fight together with such forces, which want to attack our mutual trust,” said the Indian Prime Minister.