Sheikh Hasina stresses fraternity among SA nations for prosperity

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NEW DELHI, April 10, 2017 (BSS) – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today stressed friendly relationship among South Asian nations to free the region from poverty and ensure prosperity of teeming millions as she was accorded a reception by India Foundation at the fag-end of her four-day New Delhi visit.

“Friendship always gives a good opportunity for the people’s wellbeing,” she said in reply to the reception, joined, among others, by India’s former Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Advisory Group of ruling BJP LK Advani.

The Bangladesh premier said in developing harmonious relations it matters little which country is big and which is small since “we are sovereign countries and so we always do honour each other and give priority to friendship as nothing can be achieved from quarrel but friendship”.

Union Minister of Commerce and Director of India Foundation Nirmala Sitharaman and Advani also spoke on the occasion.

The Foundation accorded her the reception for her outstanding role in development of relations between Bangladesh and India and her leadership in making real difference in politics in the region.

Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh strongly believe that common water resources of the two countries must act as a uniting force while a comprehensive, basin-wise approach with an in-built solution to water sharing of all the common rivers “holds the key to our common future”.

She, however, noted that her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi reiterated his government’s strong resolve to conclude the Teesta water sharing treaty at the soonest.

“Once it happens, the face of Indo-Bangladesh relations would undergo another transformation, she said.