India would provide allout support to Sheikh Hasina's government": Indian HC Harsha Vardhan Shringla

In this connection, Shringla referred to a recent meeting between Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Bangladesh State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam in New Delhi.

"India would provide allout support to Sheikh Hasina's government," the Indian envoy said, quoting Sushma Swaraj.

The Indian high commissioner made the comments when he paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her office here on Sunday morning.

After the meeting, PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters.

At the meeting, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina sought support of the neighbours to achieve her government's goal of establishing a poverty-free developed and prosperous Bangladesh.

"The aim of our government is to establish a poverty-free developed and prosperous Bangladesh ... we need support of our neighbouring countries to achieve the goal. In the present world, everybody is dependent on each other," she said.

While talking about the power and energy sector development, the Premier put emphasis on expanding the regional cooperation between Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Bhutan in the field.

Noting that her government has made the seaport free for use by the neighbours, Sheikh Hasina said Syedpur Airport could be used as a regional airport for further development.

Pointing out the Bangladesh-Bhutan, India-Nepal (BBIN) Motor Vehicle Agreement, the Premier said she took this initiative for boosting connectivity between the four nations.

In this connection, the Prime Minister said Bangladesh wants to revive the rail routes that were closed after the 1965 Indo-Pak war.

At the outset of the meeting, the Premier welcomed the Indian envoy and assured him of extending allout support during his stay in Bangladesh.

She extended her heartiest greetings to the Indian President and the Prime Minister through the high commissioner.

Sheikh Hasina recalled with deep gratitude the contribution of India during the Great War of Liberation in 1971.

She also expressed her gratitude to the Indian political leaders and parliament members for their overwhelming support to unanimously pass the historic LBA Bill in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

The Indian high commissioner highly appreciated Bangladesh's stunning development in the socioeconomic field under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina over the last seven years.

In this connection, Shringla particularly mentioned maintaining over 6.50 percent growth rate by Bangladesh over the last seven years. "It's 'extraordinary' and it's a country on the move," he said.

Pointing out the present government's "Vision 2021" and "Vision 2041", the Indian high commissioner said those are achievable.

Placing emphasis on setting up more checkposts on India-Bangladesh border, Shringla said movement of the people of both countries would be easier for it.

About the BBIN Motor Vehicle Deal, the Indian high commissioner said the four nations had a fruitful meeting in New Delhi recently.

Mentioning that there is scope for more investment in Bangladesh, Shringla said Indian companies are interested to make further investment in Bangladesh.

Referring to India's initiative for launching "SAARC Satellite", the Indian high commissioner said Bangladesh could join the initiative.

Shringla said initiatives have been taken to translate the book "Bangabandhu's Unfinished Memoirs" into Hindi and other Indian languages.

PM's International Affairs Advisor Dr Gowher Rizvi and PM's Principal Secretary Md Abul Kalam Azad were present at the meeting.

Shringla, who hails from Darjeeling of West Bengal, arrived in Dhaka on January 14 to take up his diplomatic assignment.

Former Indian High Commissioner Pankaj Saran departed from Bangladesh on the completion of his diplomatic job on December 19.

Shringla has held a variety of positions in New Delhi and in Indian missions in Paris, Hanoi and Tel Aviv in his more than 30 years of diplomatic career.

He has also served as counsellor in the Permanent Mission of India to the UN in New York and as consul general in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and Durban, South Africa.

In addition, he served as director of the Northern (Nepal and Bhutan) Division and as deputy secretary of the Europe West Division.