Hasina for more fruitful relations with India
Tuesday, 12 January 2010
NEW DELHI, Jan 11 (UNB): Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina has said Bangladesh wants to have more fruitful relations with India than the existing friendly ties between the two next-door neighbours.
The PM made the remarks while talking to Indian and Bangladeshi media after she was given ceremonial state reception at Rashtrapati Bhaban here Monday morning.
On her arrival at the Rashtrapati Bhaban at 10am, Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh warmly received her.
Sheikh Rehana, younger daughter of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, was also present at the function.
Asked with what expectation she has come to India, the Bangladesh PM said Bangladesh wants to see its "great historic relation" with India more fruitful in the days ahead than the existing friendly relations.
Sheikh Hasina said she came to visit India with the message of friendship and best wishes of the people of Bangladesh.
"I have come here with best wishes of our people," the PM told the newsmen, hours before her official talks with the Indian government of Dr Manmohan Singh for updating the two countries' ties on all fronts.
The PM expressed deep gratitude to India and its people as they stood by Bangladesh during its 1971 liberation war under the leadership of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Sheikh Hasina recalled that during the liberation war, the then Indian government with its great Prime Minister Indira Gandhi not only gave shelter to Bangladeshi people on the Indian land but also helped the freedom-loving people of Bangladesh to attain the long-cherished independence.
The Bangladesh PM described poverty as the biggest enemy of the South Asian countries and called for combined efforts by the countries to fight out poverty from the region.
Sheikh Hasina also expressed her government's strong commitment to establish peace and stability across the whole of South Asia.
"A poverty-free and peaceful South Asia will bring prosperity and ensure development of all people living here," the Bangladesh PM said.
Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni, Water Resources Minister Ramesh Chandra Sen, advisers to the Prime Minister HT Imam, Dr Mashiur Rahman and Professor Dr Gowher Rizvi, Ambassador-at-Large Mohammad Ziauddin, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister MA Karim and Press Secretary to the Prime Minister Abul Kalam Azad were present.
Indian Foreign Minister SM Krishna, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Home Minister P Chidambaram, Foreign Secretary Niropoma Rao, Governor of Delhi Rajpal and high government officials were present from the Indian side.
Earlier, the PM arrived here Sunday evening to a warm welcome on a four-day trip for talks with the Indian government that are expected to break new ground in the Indo-Bangladesh relationship.
Meanwhile, India has been pressing Bangladesh for reopening of the transit routes and the issue is likely to come up for discussion again during the current visit of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to India and meeting with Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, reported daily Assam Tribune today.
"We are not expecting signing of any treaty in this regard during the current visit of the Bangladesh Prime Minister but some positive outcome is expected to ensure signing of such a treaty in the coming days," the daily quoted unnamed official as saying.
The PM made the remarks while talking to Indian and Bangladeshi media after she was given ceremonial state reception at Rashtrapati Bhaban here Monday morning.
On her arrival at the Rashtrapati Bhaban at 10am, Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh warmly received her.
Sheikh Rehana, younger daughter of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, was also present at the function.
Asked with what expectation she has come to India, the Bangladesh PM said Bangladesh wants to see its "great historic relation" with India more fruitful in the days ahead than the existing friendly relations.
Sheikh Hasina said she came to visit India with the message of friendship and best wishes of the people of Bangladesh.
"I have come here with best wishes of our people," the PM told the newsmen, hours before her official talks with the Indian government of Dr Manmohan Singh for updating the two countries' ties on all fronts.
The PM expressed deep gratitude to India and its people as they stood by Bangladesh during its 1971 liberation war under the leadership of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Sheikh Hasina recalled that during the liberation war, the then Indian government with its great Prime Minister Indira Gandhi not only gave shelter to Bangladeshi people on the Indian land but also helped the freedom-loving people of Bangladesh to attain the long-cherished independence.
The Bangladesh PM described poverty as the biggest enemy of the South Asian countries and called for combined efforts by the countries to fight out poverty from the region.
Sheikh Hasina also expressed her government's strong commitment to establish peace and stability across the whole of South Asia.
"A poverty-free and peaceful South Asia will bring prosperity and ensure development of all people living here," the Bangladesh PM said.
Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni, Water Resources Minister Ramesh Chandra Sen, advisers to the Prime Minister HT Imam, Dr Mashiur Rahman and Professor Dr Gowher Rizvi, Ambassador-at-Large Mohammad Ziauddin, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister MA Karim and Press Secretary to the Prime Minister Abul Kalam Azad were present.
Indian Foreign Minister SM Krishna, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Home Minister P Chidambaram, Foreign Secretary Niropoma Rao, Governor of Delhi Rajpal and high government officials were present from the Indian side.
Earlier, the PM arrived here Sunday evening to a warm welcome on a four-day trip for talks with the Indian government that are expected to break new ground in the Indo-Bangladesh relationship.
Meanwhile, India has been pressing Bangladesh for reopening of the transit routes and the issue is likely to come up for discussion again during the current visit of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to India and meeting with Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, reported daily Assam Tribune today.
"We are not expecting signing of any treaty in this regard during the current visit of the Bangladesh Prime Minister but some positive outcome is expected to ensure signing of such a treaty in the coming days," the daily quoted unnamed official as saying.