Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud has said that no matter what BNP says, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s recent India visit has been successful as Bangladesh has finally received long-cherished transit facility during her visit.
“Under the facility, Bangladesh will be able to export goods, including RMG products, to third countries using Indian territory without any cost. I sincerely thank the PM for getting a lot of facilities for Bangladesh during her India visit,” said Hasan.
The minister said this while speaking as the chief guest at a check distribution program organized by Chattogram Union of Journalists (CUJ) at the S Rahman Hall of Chattogram Press Club on Friday.
He added that the relations between Bangladesh and India are based on equality.
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“It’s the AL government which has achieved everything from India. In 1974, we signed the enclave exchange agreement with India under the leadership of Father of The Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. It was again the AL government headed by PM Hasina under which the enclaves were finally exchanged. Besides, Bangladesh also settled the maritime boundary issue with India under the AL government. These developments prove that Bangladesh views India as its equal,” added Hasan.
Hasan, also the Joint General Secretary of the ruling AL, also said that the Bangladesh-India ties have reached a new milestone due to the wholehearted efforts by PM Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.
“India has provided duty-free excess to almost all of our products except only 20 items including drugs. They’ve also given us the opportunity to transport goods to other countries using their territory without any taxes or tarrifs. India has also agreed to share the water of Kushiyara river with us, which the BNP had failed to achieve during their tenure. All of these show the excellent relations that Bangladesh is enjoying with India right now,” Hasan said.
The program was presided over by CUJ President Mohammad Ali and moderated by Joint Secretary Sobur Shuvo. Suvash Chandra Badal, Managing Director of Bangladesh Journalists’ Welfare Trust and Ali Abbas, President of Chattogram Press Club, among others, spoke at the event as special guests.