Sheikh Hasina thanked Ravi Ganguly Das for his contribution to strengthening India-Bangladesh relations.
Dhaka:
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday said South Asian neighbors should have “better cooperation” for the benefit of their own people as the outgoing Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Riva Ganguly Das gave him a farewell visit.
“We still believe that better cooperation with neighboring countries is first necessary for the development of the populations of the region”, declared Ms. Hasina’s press secretary, Ihsanul Karim, quoted to Ms. Das during the meeting. at the Prime Minister’s official residence in Ganobhaban.
“Our foreign policy is friendship to all and nastiness to no one,” Ms. Hasina said as questions of bilateral interests were raised during their discussion.
The Indian envoy delivered a letter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to his Bangladeshi counterpart greeting his birthday and also presented him with a bouquet on his behalf.
“Please accept my warm wishes and warm congratulations on your anniversary … Your visionary leadership (Ms. Hasina) has helped Bangladesh achieve immense social and economic transformation, and your contributions to our bilateral relationship have also been extremely impressive,” we read in the letter of PM Modi.
During the meeting, the Indian envoy reiterated the importance of Bangladesh in India’s “neighborhood first” policy and “recounted the progress made in bilateral relations under the visionary leadership” of the first two. ministers, said a press release issued by the Indian. mission to Dhaka.
He said the celebration of the Golden Jubilee of the 1971 Liberation War and the fiftieth anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations next year were also included in their meeting.
The Indian envoy presented him with a collection of rare images of Ms Hasina’s father, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, visiting India in 1972.
She thanked Mr. Das for his contribution to strengthening India-Bangladesh relations.
Ms Hasina said neighboring countries could use Bangladesh’s Chattogram, Sylhet and Syedpur airports for their convenience. Mr Karim said the COVID-19 situation and the Rohingya crisis had also been discussed.
Mr Das’ call came as officials said Bangladesh Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen was set to join his Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Tuesday via a virtual platform. Mr. Momen recently described bilateral relations with New Delhi as “rock solid”.
