Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said the existing relations between Bangladesh and India have been strengthened further through her just-concluded visit to India.
“Bangladesh and India are two closest neigbouring countries and I think through this visit the existing ties between the two countries have been further consolidated,” she said in her written speech at a crowded press conference at her official Ganabhaban residence here this afternoon, reports BSS.
The prime minister also said Bangladesh Bhaban established at Shantiniketan will take forward further the existing cultural bond of the two countries.
The press conference was convened to brief journalists about the outcomes of her just-concluded visit to India.
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader and Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali were present on the dais, while PM’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim moderated the press conference.
Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu, PM’s advisers HT Imam, Dr Moshiur Rahman and Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam were present, among others.
Sheikh Hasina said, on the first day of her two-day official visit, she along with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi joined the convocation ceremony of the Bisva Bharati University at Shantiniketan in West Bengal.
Later, she said, they jointly inaugurated the newly constructed Bangladesh Bhaban built on Bisva Bharati University campus.
The Prime Minister said primary discussion on constructing Bangladesh Bhaban began during her previous visit to Shantiniketan in 2010.
The issue of building the Bhaban financed by Bangladesh government was mentioned in the joint communique during the visit of the then Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to Bangladesh in 2011, she said.
Later, an announcement was made in this regard during the visit of Indian President Dr Pranab Mukherjee to Bangladesh in 2013, Sheikh Hasina said.
In light of the announcement, she said, education and cultural ministries and Architecture Department of Bangladesh jointly constructed the eye-catching Bangladesh Bhaban at a cost of 25 crore Indian Rupees.
In this regard, she mentioned that a one-time corpus fund equivalent to Rs 10 crore would be formed for the maintenance of the building and for conducting its activities.
From the dividend of the fund, fellowship would be awarded to 10 students of Bangladesh for doing MPhil and PhD research at Bisva Bharati University, Sheikh Hasina said.
As a citizen of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina said, she was overwhelmed at the establishment of ‘Bangladesh Bhaban’ on the premises associated with the memories of Rabindranath Tagore.
She said a memorandum of understanding was signed in this regard on 25th of May last between Bangladesh’s Secondary and Higher Education Division and Bisva Bharati University.
Sheikh Hasina said, in his speech at the inaugural function of Bangladesh Bhaban, the Indian premier thanked the government and people of Bangladesh and opined that the two neighbours are enjoying a golden era of their bilateral relations.
Putting emphasis on further strengthening bilateral relations to ensure political stability and economic development, the Indian Prime Minister expressed optimism that Bangladesh Bhaban will further advance the cultural bond between the two countries.
Narendra Modi also greeted the people of Bangladesh for launching Bangabandhu Satellite into the space and pledged to extend cooperation for the development of space technology between Bangladesh and India.
Sheikh Hasina said India will stand beside Bangladesh as a partner for materialising the dream of becoming a developed country while the Indian Prime Minister gave assurance of providing necessary cooperation in this regard.
In her speech there, the Prime Minister said, she had also recalled great contribution of the government and people of India to liberating Bangladesh.
Sheikh Hasina said she also sought more cooperation of India regarding sustainable and quick repatriation of the forcibly displaced Rohingya people with safety and dignity to their homeland in Myanmar.
About her meeting with the Indian Premier at Shantiniketan, Sheikh Hasina said they discussed issues of bilateral concerns including strengthening cooperation and water sharing of common rivers.
The Prime Minister said she had received honorary Doctor of Literature degree at a special convocation of Kazi Nazrul University on May 26 and dedicated the degree to the entire Bangalee nation.
On that day, the birth anniversary of poet Kazi Nazrul Islam was being observed in India, she said adding that receiving of the D’ Lit Degree at a University named after Kazi Nazrul Islam is a matter of happiness and dignity.
Sheikh Hasina said she visited Jorasanko Thakurbari, the residence of Biswa Kabi Rabindranath Tagore, and Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Museum at Kolkata. During the visit of Netaji’s museum, Sheikh Hasina said a digital copy of an audio message of Bangabandhu was handed over to her, adding that Bangabandhu had sent the message on 23rd January of 1972 on the occasion of the birthday of Subhash Chandra Bose.
The Prime Minister said a delegation of the Kolkata chamber leaders also called on her where she highlighted prevailing business friendly environment in Bangladesh and urged them to invest more for mutual benefits.
Besides, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and a number of members of Loksabha and Bidhansabha elected from the West Bengal also called on her at her place of residence, she said.