State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam has said that a prosperous next door neighbor, Bangladesh can significantly contribute to the greater development and prosperity of India as Dhaka’s relationship with India is surely at its best in decades.
“While Bangladesh and India are enjoying best of relations at the intra-government level, we encourage all track one point five, track two initiatives to further cement the ties between the two countries,” he said.
Alam said this while presenting a key-note speech at the two-day 8th Round of India-Bangladesh Friendship Dialogue inaugurated by Chief Minister of Assam Sarbananda Sonowal on Sunday in Guwahati.
India Foundation, Bangladesh Foundation for Regional Studies, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Institute of Asian Studies (MAKAIS), State Innovation and Transformation Aayog (SITA) and Assistant High Commission of Bangladesh in Guwahati jointly organized the event, according to a message received here on Monday.
Shahriar Alam said the relations and engagements between the two friendly countries have to be rooted in our peoples than the states and to be based on mutual trust, mutual respect as also equitable sharing of benefits.
In this connection, he underlined the need for sharing common water resources, getting market access for Bangladeshi products and increasing physical connectivity for the greater benefits of the two peoples.
He also mentioned that opening up a new diplomatic mission of Bangladesh in Guwahati is a clear demonstration of the part of Sheikh Hasina’s government in recognizing the importance of the North East of India.
In his opening address, the Chief Minister of Assam emphasized greater connectivity between India and Bangladesh and hoped for multi-sectoral cooperation between Bangladesh and the North East of India.
Stressing the need for working together to counter terrorism, he said Bangladesh and India will never be a safe harbour for terrorists.
State Minister for External Affairs of India M J Akbar, in his address, highlighted the existing bilateral relations between Bangladesh and India and mentioned that the two countries have been enjoying best ever bilateral relations.
High Commissioner for Bangladesh to India Syed Muazzem Ali, Finance Minister of Assam Himmanta Biswas, Pankaj Deb Nath, MP, National General Secretary of BJP and Director of India Foundation Ram Madhab, Director, India Foundation Alok Bansal, Director of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Institute of Asian Studies Sreeradha Dutta and Vice-President of Friends of Bangladesh, India Chapter Satyam Roychoudhury were present among others.
On the sidelines of the dialogue, Shahriar Alam had a luncheon meeting with his Indian counterpart M. J. Akbar.
He had also a meeting with the Chief Minister of Assam where they discussed a wide range of bilateral issues and future cooperation including dredging of Brahmaputra river and introducing a shipping connectivity between Assam and Bangladesh.
During the meeting, the Assam Chief Minister inquired about the possibility of a direct flight on the Dhaka-Guwahati route.
A colourful cultural program was organized during the inaugural ceremony where Chintak Theatre from Bangladesh and an Assamese cultural team performed spectacular dances portraying the rich cultural heritages of the two countries.
