News Desk :
The visiting Indian President Ram Nath Kovind today described India-Bangladesh relationship as comprehensive and vibrant, saying, “We are focusing on connectivity.”
“Bangladesh is a development partner (of India). The partnership between India and Bangladesh is comprehensive and vibrant,” he said when Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid a courtesy call on him at his suite in Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel, reports BSS.
Indian President arrived here on Wednesday on a three- day visit to join the special celebrations of Mujib Borsho and the 50th Victory Day of Bangladesh’s Liberation. UNB reported: Terming Bangabandhu an ideal of pluralism and democracy, President Kovind also said Bangladesh is a development partner of his country. “Our partnership is comprehensive and vibrant,” he said. Bangladesh PM’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters after the meeting.
The Indian President said he is happy to be in Bangladesh as it marks three great occasions-Bangabandhu Birth Centenary, Golden Jubilee of Bangladesh’s Independence and 50 Years of Indo-Bangla Diplomatic Relations.
Talking about the pandemic, the Indian President said Covid-19 is an “unseen power” that destroyed everything. He said Bangladesh was the first country to receive Covid-19 vaccine from India and thanked Bangladesh for sending medicines to India to tackle the virus.
The Indian President hoped that Bangladesh will emerge as a more prosperous and developed country under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina. Appreciating Bangladesh’s support to India in different international forums, Kovind said the Bangabandhu-Bapuji joint digital exhibition was remarkable.
“And Bangabandhu Chair has been established in Delhi University,” he said, adding that India is focusing on connectivity between the two countries.
Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh considers India as a great friend and recalled the crucial role played by the Indian government and their people during Bangladesh’s War of Liberation in 1971 led by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
She described 2021 as a landmark year for Bangladesh as the country is celebrating the Birth Centenary, Golden Jubilee of Bangladesh’s Independence and 50th anniversary of the establishment of Indo-Bangla diplomatic relations.
Speaking about the enhancing contact, the PM said the communications between the two countries through various got snapped after 1965 India and Pakistan war and emphasized the need for restoring those.
She expressed satisfaction at the ongoing cooperation between the two countries in various areas despite the current pandemic situation. “Both the countries supported each other by sending medicines, vaccines and Covid-19 protective equipment as a goodwill gesture and symbol of cooperation.”
The Indian President also said that he feels very happy to be part of the celebrations of three mega events. “I am very happy to be present on this occasion when Bangladesh is celebrating three events-birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Golden Jubilee of Bangladesh’s independence and diplomatic relationship between the countries,” he said.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said 2021 is a landmark year for Bangladesh as the country is celebrating the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation, the Golden Jubilee of Bangladesh’s Independence and Indo-Bangla diplomatic relations.
She said Bangladesh considers India as a great friend, adding, “Exchange of visits between the countries even amid the COVID-19 situation is the testimony of warm relationship between the two countries.”
She recalled the crucial role played by the then government of India and their people during Bangladesh’s War of Liberation in 1971 led by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
The Indian President said that he is happy to be in Bangladesh, adding that this is his first foreign visit after Covid-19. He described Bangabandhu an ideal of pluralism and democracy and said that the Bangabandhu-Bapuji digital exhibition was remarkable. Bangabandhu Chair has been established in Delhi University, he mentioned.
He said Bangladesh was the first country to receive COVID-19 vaccine from India and also thanked Bangladesh for sending COVID-19 medicines to India. “COVID-19 is an unseen power that destroyed everything,” he added.
The Indian President hoped that under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina Bangladesh will be more prosperous and developed. He appreciated Bangladesh’s support to India in different international forums and thanked Sheikh Hasina for sending mangoes.
Upholding the secular character of Bangladesh, Hasina said: “Religion is for individuals but festivals for all; and all are free here to enjoy their own religious rights and perform rituals as there is no barrier in Bangladesh.
Indian State Minister for Education Subhash Sarker, Rajdeep Roy, MP, Indian President’s Secretary KD Tripathi, Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, Indian High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami were present from Indian side.
Agriculture Minister M Abdur Razzaque, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam, Principal Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen and PMO secretary M Tofazzel Hossain Miah were present from the Bangladesh side.
