India stands beside BD: Hasan Mahmud
Staff Reporter :
The newly appointed Foreign Minister, Dr Hasan Mahmud, has said that India always stood beside Bangladesh to protect the country’s democracy despite all odds.
The remarks came during a meeting between Foreign Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud and Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma at the Foreign Ministry on Monday.
Responding to a question about the recent elections in Bangladesh and the relationship with India, Hasan Mahmud acknowledged India’s supportive role in upholding democratic values.
“There were many obstacles in the election. But the election was held in a free and fair manner. To protect the democratic continuity, India was beside us.
There were many talks about the elections in 2014 and 2018 to make it controversial.
But India was with us. You know about the role of India this time as well to protect our democracy,” he said.
Meanwhile, both Bangladesh and India, the two neighbouring countries tied with historical events, are ready to flourish the bilateral relationship in multifaceted arenas for the benefit of the two nations.
In addition, he announced that he was set to embark on his first official visit to India in a bid to boost the relations between the two nations to a new height.
“I have received an invitation for a visit to Delhi from the Indian side.
We are considering the timing that suits both my schedule and that of the Indian External Affairs Minister. We are working on it, and our aim is to make this visit the first bilateral one,” Hasan Minister Mahmud stated.
About the meeting, Hasan Mahmud said that his discussions with the Indian envoy included various subjects, particularly the issue of connectivity.
The talks covered the use of Chattogram and Mongla ports for transporting Indian goods, emphasising the development of infrastructure for smoother trade, he said.
Regarding the currency exchange between the Indian Rupee and the Bangladeshi Taka, the Minister highlighted ongoing discussions, stating, “If popularised, it will reduce the impact on the dollar and other currencies. It will be beneficial for both Bangladesh and India in terms of trade expansion.”
Discussions also touched upon the use of Chattogram port for transportation through Ramgarh and Akhaura once certain smaller issues are resolved.
The Foreign Minister further elaborated on the policy framework, stating that discussions on the proposed Teesta river project and the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) were yet to take place.
However, he assured that discussions on trade expansion had been initiated, particularly concerning the ease of doing business.
On the issue of China’s proposed Teesta river project and the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), the Minister clarified that detailed discussions had not taken place yet. However, he reassured that trade expansion discussions were ongoing.
On the other hand, Indian High Commissioner said the partnership with India would be strengthened further in the new term with the current government of Bangladesh.
“The collaboration between the two countries will become more dynamic, and developmental cooperation will intensify,” he said.
The Indian High Commissioner stated, “I have come here to have a face-to-face meeting with the new Foreign Minister.
I have conveyed my congratulations to him. There have been discussions on various bilateral issues in the meeting. We are committed to working more closely to advance our relationship.”
The High Commissioner stated, “We hope that during the tenure of the new government, our partnership will further flourish, which will be beneficial for the national interests of both countries.
We are always ready to assist the people of Bangladesh in their collaborative endeavors. Our commitment to cooperation and support is unwavering.”
