Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu, MP, said yesterday that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s upcoming trip to India would open up the “Golden Door” of opportunity in the relationship of the two neighboring and friendly countries.
The minister was talking to journalists from India at his office yesterday afternoon.
Asked by the journalists what makes him so optimistic about the PM’s trip to India, he said that the many delays indicated thorough ground work which had created “Great Expectation” in the country.
The minister also recalled the great contribution of India during our Liberation War and said “Many Indians even do not know that 8,000 of their soldiers laid down their lives for the liberation of our country.” “So we have decided to make an audio-visual documentary on it through a joint venture with India,” he added.
Asked if it was a film or docu-fiction, he said “It will not be a docu-fiction as for films, nothing has been decided; only that it will be an audio-visual documentary. Nothing more can be said at this point.”
Asked about the Teesta water sharing possibility, he said “We are
hopeful. The Indian government has promised us a fair deal. We see no reason not to believe it.”
Delving on the Teesta issue he said “We share 54 rivers between us. And water is our soul. We need a comprehensive GMB (Ganges-Meghna-Brahmaputra) deal to solve the water issues of the region. It will generate 80,000 Megawatts of electricity, promote tourism and uplift the lives of 400 million people of the region who still live in poverty.”
Referring to the information sector, he said that we already have four MOUs; we would like a comprehensive MOU. Already Doordarshan (DD) has a slot for BTV and a similar agreement is on the anvil with All India Radio. We already have the “Maitree” program in Akash-Vani.
He also referred to the many commonalities of interest between the two countries and said that the home ministries of both countries had established a nodal which was open 24/7 round the year for exchange of all terror-related incidents. He was responding to a question about the recent Sylhet incident.
“Our position is against terrorism and cross-border terrorism, so our cooperation is at the best possible level, “he said.
Referring to growing relations with China, the minister said “India is a neighbor and friend, while China and other countries are development partners.”
