DHAKA, Jan 25, 2023 (BSS) – Speakers at a function today stressed the need for further strengthening bilateral ties between Bangladesh and India to ensure mutual benefits for both the countries.
They underscored the need for implementing the initiatives taken by the two prime ministers of both the countries for taking the ties to a new height.
Bangladesh-India Friendship Society (BIFS) organized the function to accord reception to the newly appointed Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma in the city.
Chaired by President of the organisation Md Rashidul Alam, the function was also addressed, among others, by joint general secretary of Awami League (AL) Mahbub ul Alam Hanif, members of the AL advisory committee Mozaffar Hossain Paltu and Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed, former Ambassador Waliur Rahman, Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, editor of The Daily Observer, Samprity Bangladesh president Pijush Bandapathaya.
Besides, Managing Director and Chief Editor of the National News Agency-Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) Abul Kalam Azad and former President of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalist (BFUJ) Manjurul Ahsan Bulbul were present in the function.
In his address, Hanif said that India has always been pioneer in promoting the struggle of Bangalees for independence. “And when the war of liberation started they extended all out cooperation to ensure victory of Bangladesh against Pakistan,” he said.
Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma expressed that Bangladesh-India friendship society is a really the fact that carry the name of India and friendship in it in some way are the symbol of the true.
“We have a unique relationship. We share the relationship . . . as I said it builds people together and this friendly ties between our two countries since the war of liberation, in which is inspiration Bangladesh-India relationship,” he said.
“It is recognised as such as both India and Bangladesh and avenues for new year partnerships are expanding. I think the challenge before us to get inspired by the friendly history and build a more robust future of our cooperation,” the Indian envoy added.
He said, “I should talk about the future of the relationship we are working on it to shape the future of the relationship touch the lives of common people as engage with each other as the conductor of the economic relations".
Pranay Verma said that Bangladesh is graduating as the developing country from the least developed one which is to happen in 2026, adding, “This will really open up many more opportunities for us to economically engage with each other. We are already talking about and we are going to launch for a comprehensive economic partnership agreement.”
He said that the agreement will create the framework for taking advantage of the economic growth for both India and Bangladesh.
“We already have the example of the power plant in Rampal, the supercritical thermal power plant which was inaugurated during the visit of Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to India last September. We expect both units to be operated. We also have more power plants are being constructed for supply of power to Bangladesh and we also have an energy pipeline which will provide energy,” the envoy said.
Regarding issuing visas for Bangladeshi nationals, he said that visa issuing system will be smoother even more streamlined, adding, “We are working on it. Bangladesh is already one of the biggest visa service country that any Indian mission has anywhere in the world.”
General Secretary of Bangladesh-India Friendship Society (BIFS) Narayan Saha Moni moderated the programme.