‘Neighbour’s First’ policy going strong, India and Bangladesh unanimously evolve relation in security, defence, space

NewsBharati    08-Feb-2019
Total Views |

New Delhi, February 8: Discussing a gamut of bilateral issues of mutual interest, India and Bangladesh has grown and developed relations nurturing ‘Neighbours First’ policy. Taking a step ahead with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina coming back into power in the country, the relations have grown considerably close.

 

With Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr. A K Abdul Momen making his first outdoor official visit to India, the two countries sought to discuss wide range of bilateral relations. Bangladesh Foreign Minister Abdul Momen and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in the meeting took stock of progress in security, defence, trade and connectivity, development partnership, water, power and energy sectors and consular and cultural cooperation.

 

The two ministers welcomed the fact that the relationship was now broadening to include new and high technology areas for partnership, such as space, nuclear energy, IT and electronics. The Ministers tasked their accompanying officials to develop a forward-looking roadmap for bilateral cooperation to make the partnership irreversible. In particular, they desired that partnership-building efforts should be enhanced in a manner commensurate with commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh's Liberation.

 

Three MoUs were signed to further strengthen the existing multifaceted cooperation between the two countries:

(i) MoU on mid-career training of 1800 Bangladesh civil servants,

(ii) MoU between AYUSH and the Ministry of Health of Bangladesh on cooperation in the field of medicinal plants,

(iii) MoU between Anti-Corruption Commission of Bangladesh and Central Bureau of Investigation of India.

 

The External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj expressed appreciation for the humanitarian gesture of Bangladesh in supporting a large number of displaced persons from the Rakhine region of Myanmar and assured the Foreign Minister of India’s continued support for safe, speedy and sustainable return of the displaced persons to Myanmar.

Foreign Minister Momen called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and conveyed the greetings of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and her appreciation for the fact that Prime Minister Modi was the first foreign leader to congratulate her upon the victory in Bangladesh’s parliamentary elections in December 2018. Prime Minister Modi conveyed his good wishes to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her success in this third consecutive term in office, and reaffirmed India's abiding commitment to remain Bangladesh's most committed partner for security and development.