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Modi, Hasina discuss bilateral issues, security at Santiniketan meet
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SME Times News Bureau | 26 May, 2018
The Prime Ministers of India and Bangladesh on Friday discussed a number
of bilateral issues, including security and politics, in the sylvan
surroundings of the Visva-Bharati University here founded by Nobel
Laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore - the composer of both countries'
national anthems.
The half-hour talks were preceded by two events
- the 49th convocation of the university, as also the inauguration of
the Bangladesh Bhawan on its campus by Indian Prime Minister Narendra
Modi and his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina.
The two
leaders, accompanied by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee,
spent over three hours at this campus housing the university and located
in Birbhum sub-division of West Bengal's Birbhum district, 160 km from
Kolkata.
Modi set the tone for the talks during his address at
the inauguration of the Bhawan, when he remarked that the two countries
have scripted the golden chapter in their relations over the past few
years.
He mentioned the Land Boundary Agreement and the
resolution of the sea border dispute, saying "complex bilateral issues
which seemed impossible to be resolved even some time back, have been
solved now. In roads, rail, waterways, coastal shipping, we are moving
fast in the areas of connectivity."
On the other hand, Hasina
paid glowing tributes to India, and its then Prime Minister Indira
Gandhi for its role during her Bangladesh's liberation struggle, and the
shelter that she provided to her after the assassination of her father
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman - the leader of the Bangladesh
liberation war and first president of independent Bangladesh.
She
also expressed happiness over the two countries implementing the LBA,
after the Indian parliament "unanimously passed the bill concerned", and
thanked Modi and Banerjee.
Asked about the talks at the
Bangladesh Bhawan after the inauguration ceremony, a Bangladesh minister
said bilateral issues were discussed.
"I was not there when they
held the talks. But, suffice to say bilateral issues, issues related to
regional security and politics were discussed," said Minister of State
for Foreign Affairs Mohammed Shahriar Alam.
On Hasina seeking
cooperation from everybody to put pressure on Myanmar to take back the
1.1 million Rohingya refugees, who have taken shelter in Bangladesh, he
said his country was on the "same page" with India on the issue.
Alam
referred to the assurances from Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma
Swaraj during her visit to Myanmar and said "she articulated India's
views so that the Rohingya refugees could return safely and in a
dignified manner".
He said track two dialogue was on regarding the Teesta water sharing issue.
Earlier,
during her speech at the Bangladesh Bhawan, Hasina did not mention the
contentious Teesta water sharing issue, but hoped that the two countries
will be able to resolve all their problems amicably.
"We always
want to walk together as neighbours. There can be issues between
neighbouring countries," she said in the presence of Banerjee, known for
her firm opposition to the treaty.
"We have resolved many
issues. Maybe there are a few left. I don't want to raise the issue and
spoil this beautiful function. But I do hope whatever the problem is, it
can be solved amicably," Hasina said.
Both Modi and Hasina
repeatedly referred to the shared cultural ties between the two nations,
with Tagore coming up repeatedly in their speeches.
Modi thanked
Hasina for building the Bangladesh Bhavan here, and said India on its
part was renovating the Kuthibari - the house of Tagore - in Kushthia
district of Bangladesh.
Praising Hasina and the people of
Bangladesh "from my heart", Modi referred to the country launching its
first satellite 'Bangabandhu'.
He said India was now using space
technology to improve the standard of living of the poor and introduce
more transparency and exuded confidence the sector will open new vistas
of cooperation with Bangladesh.
Averring that the constant
connect between him and Hasina was giving a further momentum to the
bilateral relations, Modi also referred to challenges like climate
change.
"Climate change is before us, if the burning sun is a
challenge for us it can also be of advantage to us. PM Hasina has come
up with a vision of 'power for all' by 2021, while in India we have set
up a target of electricity to every home by next year."
Comparing
the journey of development of the two countries to a beautiful garland
with which both are attached, Modi said: "In the last few years the
eternal truth emerged before us is that the friendship between India and
Bangladesh is must for progress, prosperity, peace and stability,
happiness and cooperation."
Banerjee expressed her government's desire to build a Bangabandhu Bhavan in the memory of Mujibur Rahman.
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