Kamal waters down Indo-Bangla tensions
FE REPORT | Tuesday, 3 November 2020
Finance minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said on Monday the relations between Bangladesh and India have not strained.
"…we are working very closely. I don't think there is any problem (between us)," the minister said.
He told reporters after a virtual meeting with newly-appointed Indian higher commissioner in Dhaka Vikram Kumar Doraiswami.
The minister said they discussed various bilateral issues, including historic relations, formation of Bangladesh, Indian cooperation, among other issues.
Mr Kamal said when the East India Company was formed back in 1601, the Indian economy was top in the world.
Some 35 per cent of the world economy belonged to India at that time while England's share was only 10 per cent.
"It signifies how biggest the Indian economy was," he said.
"Now I believe, if Bangladesh and India work together and if we can align our course of action, and we try to go for helping each other… we will be able to move forward," he said.
Terming India Bangladesh's trusted friend, Mr Kamal said, "Now Bangabandhu, India, and Sheikh Hasina's Sonar Bangla, all are synonymous."
Replying to a query, the minister said he did not discuss the progress on the projects financed under the Indian credit line during the meeting.
He, however, said the issue will come up for discussion shortly in the days to come.
Echoing the minister, the Indian envoy said the two countries are working closely together not because of having any problem rather to take the advantage of future opportunities.
"The world of finance, the world of trade, the world of money is changing very rapidly. And counties like India and Bangladesh have every opportunity and every reason to cooperate more closely," he said.
Mr Doraiswami said the collaboration is to secure the interest of own people and to find ways of cooperating in the new environment for the benefit of both economies.
"There is nothing contradictory between Bangladesh's growth ambitions and Indian growth ambitions. If we work together, if we grow together, it is in the best interest of both of us," he noted.
"We want to work closer together for the future," he added.