Outgoing Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Vikram Kumar Doraiswami has said India wants Bangladesh to be happy, prosperous and successful in its democratic journey. “Your democracy is for you (Bangladeshis) to develop,” he told reporters at National Martyrs’ Memorial in Savar today. The Indian diplomat said he is not here to say that they will support this person or that person, noting that this is not a place to talk about politics.   Read: Doraiswami: PM Hasina’s India visit "extremely successful" with "strong deliverables" “The relationship (Bangladesh-India) is strong….we will always stand with Bangladesh and the people of Bangladesh,” he said on his last day in Bangladesh.  Doraiswami visited the memorial and paid tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Liberation War of 1971. He observed a minute-long silence and signed the visitors’ book there after placing the wreath.   “In everlasting memory of those who laid down their lives so that Bangladesh could live,” reads the message written on the wreath on behalf of the High Commissioner and all personnel.  The diplomat said India's relationship with Bangladesh is now stronger with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's recent visit to India. Read: Under Sheikh Hasina’s leadership, India-Bangladesh ties will reach new heights: Doraiswami He said the people of Bangladesh are very good-hearted people. “As a result, I have performed my duties well in this country so far.” Doraiswami, who has been appointed as High Commissioner of India to the United Kingdom, is scheduled to leave Bangladesh tomorrow. Earlier at a farewell reception on Thursday evening, Doraiswami said Bangladesh-India relationship is like a “train” and that train must keep moving to do more great things together. Read "Bangladesh-India are connected through the heart" Doraiswami said people of Bangladesh and India are connected through souls and hearts, and it is stronger than blood ties. “We always have faith in that connection.”

Bangladesh and India have agreed to start negotiations within this year – for signing the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi directed trade officials on both sides to complete the negotiations of CEPA at the earliest and in time for Bangladesh’s graduation from LDC status. The two leaders welcomed the recent finalization of a joint feasibility study which recommended that CEPA will be beneficial for both countries, according to the joint statement issued today (September 7, 2022). Read: Indian investors can set up industries in Bangladesh through buy-back arrangement: PM Modi on Tuesday said Bangladesh is India’s largest development partner and their largest trade partner in the region. “Today, India is the largest market in Asia for Bangladesh’s exports. To further accelerate this growth, we will soon start discussions on the bilateral Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement,” he said. With the expansion of connectivity between the two countries, and the development of trade infrastructure on the border, the two economies will be able to connect more with each other, support each other, Modi said, adding that their bilateral trade is growing rapidly. Read: Dhaka to list Indian Oil as G2G supplier of refined petroleum products During Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to Bangladesh from March 26 to 27 last year, both sides discussed the prospects of entering into a CEPA. To enhance trade between the two countries, both Prime Ministers underscored the need for removal of non-tariff barriers. President of India-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IBCCI), Abdul Matlub Ahmad, has said the CEPA will be a win-win for both the countries. Read CEPA to be win-win for both countries: IBCCI President Reiterating the importance of facilitating trade between the two countries, Hasina and Modi stressed the urgent need for upgradation of infrastructure and facilities at the land customs stations, and for removal of port restrictions and other non-tariff barriers, according to the joint statement. The Indian side reiterated its request for at least one major land port without port restrictions or negative list of restrictions, on the border with northeast India, for easier market access, starting with ICP Agartala-Akhaura. Both leaders welcomed the progress made on India’s proposal to fund the development of a second freight gate at Petrapole-Benapole ICP and directed the officials to complete the work at the earliest. Read Stakeholders urge for inclusion of a proposal in CEPA for setting up joint testing laboratory

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi today (September 6, 2022) said rising energy prices are presently posing a challenge to all developing countries and fruitful talks between Bangladesh and India are underway on connecting power transmission lines.  “The unveiling of the first unit of Maitree Thermal Power Plant today will increase the availability of affordable electricity in Bangladesh,” he said after his “extensive discussions” with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on bilateral, regional and international issues. The Indian PM said his country is the largest market in Asia for Bangladesh's exports and to further accelerate this growth, they will soon start discussions on the bilateral Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).  Read: Hasina, Modi jointly unveil Rampal Power Plant’s unit 1 The Indian PM said he had a “fruitful conversation” with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on enhancing cooperation in relation to flood mitigation. He said India has been sharing flood-related data with Bangladesh on a real-time basis and they have also extended the period of data sharing. There are 54 rivers that pass through the Indo-Bangladesh borders, and have been linked to the livelihood of the people of the two countries for centuries. Read: Dhaka, Delhi sign 7 MoUs; unveil projects “These rivers, folk tales about them, folk songs, have also been witness to our shared cultural heritage. Today, we have signed an important agreement on sharing water of the Kushiyara river. This will benefit southern Assam in India and Sylhet region in Bangladesh,” Modi said. In realizing the vision of a stable, prosperous and progressive Bangladesh that Bangabandhu had seen, Modi said, India will continue to walk step by step with Bangladesh. “Our conversation today was also an excellent opportunity to reiterate this core commitment.” “Today, we also stressed on cooperation against terrorism and radicalism. To keep the spirit of 1971 alive, it is also very important that we fight together against such forces, which want to attack our mutual trust,” he added. Read “Differences can be resolved through dialogue, Bangladesh-India do precisely that” Modi said Bangladesh has made remarkable progress under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. In the last few years, he said, their mutual cooperation has also increased rapidly in every field. “Today, Bangladesh is India's largest development partner and our largest trade partner in the region.” Modi said their close cultural and people-to-people relations have also steadily grown. He said they both believe that by taking lessons from the COVID pandemic and recent global developments, they need to make the economies stronger. Read Cargo vessel carrying Indian transit container arrives in Chattogram port “We also decided to increase cooperation in sectors like IT, space and nuclear energy, which are of interest to our younger generations. We will also continue to cooperate on climate change and on preserving a common heritage like the Sundarbans,” Modi said. He said the inauguration of the railway bridge over the Rupsha River is a remarkable step towards enhancing connectivity. This bridge is an important part of the new railway line being built between Khulna and Mongla Port under India's Line of Credit. Modi said India will continue to extend all support for the development and expansion of Bangladesh's railway system. Read Dhaka to list Indian Oil as G2G supplier of refined petroleum products

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said there can be differences but those should be addressed through dialogue – noting that in a number of areas, Bangladesh and India have done precisely that. PM Hasina, during an interview with Indian news agency ANI, referred to the neighbouring country as a “tested friend”, and said that India stood by Bangladesh in its hour of need, first in 1971 and then at later times as well. “We always recall their contribution during the 1971 (Liberation) war. In 1975, when we lost our family members, the then Prime Minister gave us shelter in India… We are neighbours, close neighbours, and I always give priority to friendship with our neighbouring countries,” she said. Hasina lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initiative towards rescuing Bangladeshi students who were stuck in eastern Europe, when the Russia-Ukraine war broke out. Read: PM’s India Visit: Bilateral instruments on water management, defence, railway likely to be signed In a free-wheeling television interaction with ANI, Prime Minister Hasina, who is set to visit India tomorrow (September 5, 2022), also lavished praises on the Modi government’s gesture of providing Covid-19 vaccines to neighbouring countries under its “Vaccine Maitri” programme when the pandemic was at its peak. The Bangladesh prime minister emphasized on closer cooperation between the two neighbours. She marked out two areas for special praise where the Indian government’s support helped Bangladeshi citizens. “I would like to express my thanks to Prime Minister (Modi)… during this war between Russia and Ukraine, many of our students were stuck and they went to Poland for shelter. When they evacuated your students, Indian students, they also brought our students back home... You have shown a clearly friendly gesture. I thank the Prime Minister for this initiative,” Hasina said. Read: Teesta mainly depends on India: PM Hasina tells ANI She was responding to a question about remarks often made, especially by western observers, that there was a lack of cooperation among SAARC nations. To another question about the Indian government’s Vaccine Maitri programme, Hasina said it was a “prudent” initiative taken by Prime Minister Modi. “I really thank Prime Minister Modi for this initiative, and the way he... you know, contributed vaccines to not only Bangladesh, but also other South Asian countries, and it’s been really very helpful.” “…Besides, we bought vaccines with our own money, and also many other countries contributed,” Hasina said. Hasina also gave details about her country’s vaccination programme. Bangladesh has administered Covid-19 vaccines to 90 percent of its population. Read Bangladesh is building a modern transport system: PM “Usually, people from our country, especially at the village level, even in some towns also, I found many people very reluctant to take the vaccine. They don’t want to take the... you know... the prick of the needle, so... we had to pursue them. We told them that this is nothing, it will save your life… this Vaccine Maitri itself... very good initiative,” she said. The relationship between the two countries should be for the betterment of their citizens, she said. Hasina said even during the Covid 19 period, Indian leadership had shown their positive intentions as both the then President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Bangladesh as it celebrated its Independence Day. “I thank Prime Minister Modi and also your honourable president. Both of them visited Bangladesh when we were celebrating the birth centenary of our Father of the Nation and also 50 years of our independence, and our friendship with India. India recognised Bangladesh early on, so that bond, I think that is our main priority. That their visit at such a time, even that time there was a Covid-19 pandemic but beside that both of them honoured us, honoured our people,” Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina said during her interview with ANI. Read “Not only Bangladesh, in India minorities suffered too at times”