Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday put emphasis on holding dialogues to overcome the challenges that Bangladesh and India are facing in economic development.
“We could exchange our experiences, and the challenges we are experiencing for our economic development, we could resolve those by dialogues,” she said while Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar called on her at her place of residence here.
Principal Secretary M Tofazzel Hossain Miah said this while briefing reporters after the call on.
He said that both of them discussed ways to advance the partnership between the two neighbouring countries as they have new governments.
“Two new governments have come to power taking fresh mandates. So new visions will be added in the ties between the two countries,” he said.
Jaishankar told the PM that in the last ten years the relations of Bangladesh and India reached such a height from where it could be taken to a new chapter.
“And that would be done in areas of trade,” Tofazzel quoted Indian FM as saying.
He mentioned that India wants to work with Bangladesh in a deeper way in the sectors of logistics, energy and connectivity.
Jaishankar congratulated Awami League and its president Sheikh Hasina on the diamond jubilee of the party which will be celebrated on June 23.
Jaishankar urged PM Hasina to take a new role for BIMSTEC and he hoped that she will be present in the next meeting of BIMSTEC in September in Thailand.
Both agreed that strengthening of BIMSTEC would be beneficial for Bangladesh economically, trade, connectivity and digitalisation.
“Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina wants to go beyond South Asia. That means we have to simultaneously look for South East Asia also to work with,” he said, said Tofazzel.
He said the prime minister also wants to work closely for the improvement of digital programmes like tax collection, revenue collection through digital system and improvement of public delivery system.
“She also put emphasis on completion of the projects of the two neighbouring countries in faster and easier ways. Both agreed on this issue,” Tofazzel said.
On Rohingya issue, the principal secretary said that border areas of Bangladesh and India are being affected due to the ongoing infighting between Myanmar government and various groups.
PM’s press secretary M Nayeemul Islam Khan said, “Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar said If necessary we will avoid Myanmar in BIMSTEC and other member countries could cooperate with each other and advance the cooperation. Because India is also affected because of Myanmar.”