Dhaka for fixing issues thru talks

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Thursday said the problems between neighbouring countries should be resolved through discussions and negotiations.

“There might have problems among the neighbouring countries. We believe that the problems should be resolved through discussions and negotiations,” PM’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim quoted the premier as saying.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said this when visiting Indian External Affairs Minister Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar paid a courtesy call on her at the latter’s official Ganabhaban residence in the capital.

The Indian minister, however, praised the Prime Minister for the graduation of Bangladesh to a developing nation from the least developed one under her dynamic leadership.

Jaisankar quoted as saying, “It’s a great achievement. The development of Bangladesh is miraculous.”

He informed the Prime Minister that they had fruitful talks with his Bangladeshi counterpart Dr AK Abdul Momen regarding India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Bangladesh to join the celebration of the Golden Jubilee of the country’s independence.

He also said, “It’s a great honour for India to join the celebration of the Birth Centenary of the Father of the Nation and Golden Jubilee of Bangladesh’s independence.”

Regarding the Covid-19 onslaught, the Indian minister said, “We all of this region face difficulties owing to the Covid-19 pandemic.

He reaffirmed India’s commitment to cooperate with Bangladesh to face the coronavirus situation.

The Prime Minister, however, appreciated the support received from India on the Covid-19 vaccine.

Mentioning that the nationwide vaccination in Bangladesh started last month, Sheikh Hasina said that they have taken prompt measures to successfully face the pandemic by engaging all including the government agencies such as armed forces, police, Border Guard Bangladesh and her party leaders and workers.

Due to the government’s timely measures, she said that the economy of Bangladesh is progressing despite facing the Covid-19 pandemic, flooding and cyclone.

The Prime Minister gifted seven volumes of the Secret Documents of the Pakistani intelligence branch to the Indian minister.

While Jaisankar gifted two books including a book titled “Liberation War of Bangladesh” written by his father K Subrahmanyam, who was an Indian civil servant.

The Indian External Affairs Minister came to Dhaka on Thursday morning on a brief official visit at an invitation of Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen.

PM’s International Relation Affairs Adviser Dr Gowher Rizvi, PM’s Principal Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus and Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Vikram K Doraiswami were present.