Trade, Investment recovered momentum which was lost during Covid: EAM Dr. Jaishankar during joint press briefing in Bangladesh
In a major push towards the strong people-to people connect, the External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar said that India is looking at resuming cross-border bus and railway services between India and Bangladesh, shortly after Eid.
The External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar announced the New Delhi’s decision during the Joint Press Interaction with his Bangladeshi counterpart Dr. A.K. Abdul Momen in Dhaka.
Hailing the bilateral progress between India-Bangladesh, the EAM said “It is also a matter of satisfaction for us that trade, disbursement of loans on bilateral projects, travel services and investment are at new heights and that they have recovered the momentum which was lost during the Covid.”
During his brief visit to Bangladesh, EAM Dr. S Jaishankar also called on Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Taking to the micro-blogging site, EAM said, “Thank Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her warm reception. Conveyed personal greetings of PM Narendra Modi. Our bilateral relations are moving from strength to strength under the guidance of the two leaders,” EAM Dr. S Jaishnakar.
During the high-level meeting, EAM Dr. S Jaishankar also extended invitation to Bangladeshi PM Sheikh Hasina on behalf of PM Modi to visit India in July this year. Along with the discussions over the India-Bangladesh ties, reportedly issues including defence cooperation, the current Covid situation, Russia-Ukraine crisis and other global and regional issues of mutual concern were discussed.
Further emphasizing on the enhanced connectivity between the two countries, the Bangladesh PM said, “It needs to enhance the connectivity between the two countries. If the connectivity is increased, the Indian North-Eastern states like Assam and Tripura can have access to the Chittagong seaport.”
The External Affairs Minister who arrived in Bangladesh on a day-long visit also held bilateral meeting with Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr. A.K. Abdul Momen. The leaders further expressed satisfaction about the ongoing New Delhi-Dhaka cooperation and stressed on regional stability for socio economic development.
Following his meeting with Bangladeshi counterpart, EAM Dr. S Jaishankar said, “Positive discussions with Bangladesh FM Dr. A.K. Abdul Momen. Agreed that our close neighbourly partnership is progressing steadily. Our shared endeavour would be to take it forward. Looking forward to hosting him for the Joint Consultative Commission.”
Bangladesh being India’s closest neighbor share a bonds of history, languages, culture, and multitude of other commanalities along with witnessing high-level regular engagements. Also, the ‘uniquely close’ bilateral relationship between India and Dhaka have seen a significant rise in the recent past. India time and again stood up on several occasion to help its on of the closest neighbor, that further resulted in stronger bilateral relations between the two countries in the present times.
The year 2021 also marked the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between the two countries, a partnership of half-a-century that has strengthened, matured and evolved as a model for bilateral relations for the entire region.
