India seeks to cement ties with BD: Fakhrul

Indian envoy calls on him

FE REPORT | September 23, 2024 00:00:00

An Indian delegation, led by High Commissioner Pranay Verma, had a meeting with BNP leaders, led by Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, at the BNP chairperson's Gulshan office in the capital on Sunday. — Collected

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) secretary-general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said on Sunday that India sought to strengthen bilateral relations with Bangladesh.

He said this while talking to the media after Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma called on him at the BNP chairperson's political office at Gulshan in the capital.

"We've had a cordial discussion with them (Indian envoy and his delegates). We've discussed how to strengthen and make deeper the Indo-Bangla ties," Mr Fakhrul said.

"We (BNP) have discussed our problems like water sharing, border killings and security issues."

"They (India) informed us (BNP) that they (India) are working on how to resolve those problems," he maintained.

Their (India) main focus was that they wanted to strengthen their ties with Bangladesh, the BNP secretary general stated.

"After the political changeover (in Bangladesh), they (Indian envoy) said they have communicated with the interim government," said Mr Fakhrul.

"They also laid emphasis on working together aiming to strengthen relations between political parties of the two countries," he mentioned. Among others, BNP standing committee member Salah Uddin Ahmed and vice-president Nitoy Roy Chowdhury were present at the meeting.

Meanwhile, BNP vice-chairman Shamsuzzaman Dudu said on Sunday that the interim government must take initiatives for holding a free and fair national election. The countrymen will stand beside the interim government for implementing that initiative (for holding a free and fair election), he added.

He also said that the countrymen would be able to choose their own candidates through free and fair national polls.

Mr Dudu requested the interim government for proper treatment for the injured persons in the student movement.

He made the call at a discussion and doa for the victims in the movement organised by Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Nagorik Dal at the National Press Club in the capital.

"It has been over 50 years since Bangladesh got independence (December 16). Many also said that the country was liberated again on 5th August in 2024.

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