Dhaka to ‘raise major issues’ during Hasina-Modi Dec 17 Summit

Bangladesh will raise all the big issues, including water and border ones, during the virtual meeting between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi to be held on December 17, said Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Sunday, reports UNB.

“We’ll raise our major issues, which we usually raise,” he told reporters at his office adding that a number of “quick-impact” projects will be inaugurated, too.

Chilahati-Haldibari rail link, a pre-1965 connectivity line, will be inaugurated along with some other projects during the Summit between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Foreign Minister, however, said the month of Victory will come up in a big way at the meeting because it is also a victory for India as they helped Bangladesh achieve the victory. “We must acknowledge the contributions of the then Indian Prime Minister.”

Dr Momen said the relations between Bangladesh and India are historic and of blood. “And India is a time-tested friend of Bangladesh. So, India has reasons to be proud of our victory.”

He recalled the then governments of India and the United Kingdom for bringing Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman back home alive. “We must acknowledge it.”

The Foreign Minister said Bangladesh and India are witnessing a golden chapter in their relations. “[the] two countries have set an example by resolving issues like LBA and maritime boundaries through dialogue and discussions.”

He said they believe that the two countries can resolve all the issues through discussions. “Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has shown the leadership maturity in resolving problems.”

Responding to a question, Dr Momen said a Swadhinata Sarak will be opened marking the 50 years of Bangladesh’s independence on March 26 next year.

He said the road remains functional on the Indian side while it will be connected through Mujibnagar, Meherpur district. “It’ll help boost people-to-people contact between the two countries.”

Bangladesh has invited Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Bangladesh on March 26 in person to jointly celebrate the Independence Day of Bangladesh. The Indian side accepted the invitation in principle.

Bangladesh and India will chart out plans to take the "rock-solid and historic" Dhaka-Delhi relations to the next level expanding the areas of cooperation between the two countries with a number of engagements in the coming months, officials said.

In March this year, the two Prime Ministers joined a virtual meeting of Saarc countries on cooperation to deal with the Covid-19 situation in the region.