Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali said Tuesday the relations between Bangladesh and India are on the 'right track', and described the first-ever meeting between the two top leaders of the two neighbouring countries as result-oriented one, reports UNB.
"The results of the meeting (between two PMs) were very good. We're delighted and everything with India is on the right track," he told a press conference at his ministry.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi held their maiden meeting on the sidelines of the 69th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York Saturday last.
Mahmood Ali said the Indian prime minister conveyed that his government has been working 'actively' and 'sincerely' to resolve the two pending issues-Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) and Teesta water-sharing deal between the two countries very quickly.
A questioner wanted to know the exact duration of the meeting between the two prime ministers as Indian media and Indian Ministry of External Affairs Ministry came up with different time figures.
In response, Mahmood Ali said, "It's not important at all. We look into the results of the meeting. Surely, the meeting was held for a longer time, not for 15 minutes. I'm sure you understand what the result is."
Asked about the language of their conversation, he said it is not important what language they used for conversation but Modi felt comfortable in speaking Hindi. "English, Bangla and Hindi, all languages can be used. We do it always. If I know the language I do it, too. Nothing is wrong with it."
As a questioner wanted to know about the justification of PM's large delegation , the foreign minister smiled and handed over the microphone to the foreign secretary to clarify the matter.
In such events, eminent personalities accompany the prime minister and it happened this time too as there had been a good number of side events at the UNGA, Shahidul Haque said.
No discussion on midterm
polls with UN chief
The foreign minister said there had been no discussion on midterm election in Bangladesh during the meeting between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in New York.
The foreign minister said the midterm election issue was not even there in the UN chief's message issued marking the 40th anniversary of Bangladesh's gaining membership in the United Nations.
