Bangldesh, India see further consolidation of ties

NEW DELHI, June 10: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi hope the bilateral relations between the two neighbouring nations will be strengthened further in future, reports BSS.

"The two leaders are confident that existing bilateral relations between Bangladesh and India will be deepened further in the days to come," foreign minister Dr Hasan Mahmud told a news briefing on Monday.

The expectations came at a one-to-one meeting between the two premiers after the swearing-in of the Modi-led cabinet at Rashtrapati Bhaban on Sunday evening.

During the meeting held in a very warm atmosphere, Hasina invited her Indian counterpart to visit Dhaka at his convenient time, according to Mr Hasan.

The bilateral relations between Bangladesh and India have reached a new height under the prudent leadership of Sheikh Hasina and Narendra Modi, he said.

The two leaders later attended a banquet hosted by Indian President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhaban.

Senior Indian ministers, the Bangladesh delegation, and other heads of government and state attended the dinner. There, they exchanged pleasantries and had brief interactions.

About expectations from both leaders, Mr Hasan said Bangladesh and India have multifaceted relations. "Many issues are involved… As both governments continue, there are some benefits in doing work together."

"Our multi-dimensional deep relations will spread and be consolidated further in future," he hoped.

Bangladesh high commissioner to India Md Mustafizur Rahman and PM's press secretary Nayeemul Islam Khan, among other, were present at the briefing.

Hasina also held separate meetings with Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Indian union minister and former external affairs minister Dr S Jaishankar in her place of residence on Monday morning.

She sought Sri Lankan investment in Bangladesh's tourism sector for mutual benefits of both the countries, reports UNB from New Delhi.

Both leaders also discussed mutual cooperation in agriculture and maritime sectors, said Mr Hasan. "The meeting was just a courtesy call. But the entire gamut of bilateral relations was discussed elaborately."

Wickremesinghe thanked Hasina for helping his country financially in their critical time. She invited him to visit Bangladesh.

In another development, Indian union minister Jaishankar has paid a courtesy call on PM Hasina.

Hasina congratulated Jaishankar on his being chosen as a minister in Modi's third-term cabinet and invited him to visit Bangladesh.

They expressed their desire to elevate the Indo-Bangla relations further in the days to come, cited Mr Hasan.

"We, the two countries, have been working to elevate and promote the relations further," he quoted Jaishankar as telling Hasina.

Hasina also met senior Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

Foreign secretary Masud Bin Momen and the press secretary were present during the meetings.

Taking to X, the Congress posted photographs stating: "CPP Chairperson Smt Sonia Gandhi ji, former Congress President Shri Rahul Gandhi and General Secretary Smt Priyanka Gandhi Vadra ji called on the Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina Wazed ji this afternoon in New Delhi."

The ties between Sheikh Hasina and the Gandhi family have deep roots, tracing back to their predecessors.

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding leader of Bangladesh and father of Sheikh Hasina, shared a warm relationship with Indira Gandhi, the prime minister of India during the early 1970s.

The premier returned home on Monday evening.

A special flight of the Biman Bangladesh Airlines carrying the prime minister and her entourage members landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 7:15 pm.

Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Md. Mustafizur Rahman saw the PM off at the airport in New Delhi. The PM went to New Delhi on Saturday to attend the oath-taking ceremony of the new Indian government at the invitation of Narendra Modi.