DHAKA, Aug 10, 2023 (BSS) - Awami League Presidium Member Dr Abdur Razzaque today said Bangladesh's relations with India has reached a new height now as bilateral visits make the ties more strengthened.

"Now our relationship with India is very deep. The relationships have been further strengthened due to bilateral visits," he told a press conference at the AL President's Dhanmondi political office here.

An AL delegation visited India from August 6 to 9 at the invitation of ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

AL presidium member Dr Abdur Razzaque led the delegation. The other members of the delegation were AL Joint General Secretary and Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud, AL organising secretary Sujit Roy Nandi, its central committee member Prof Marina Jahan and Aroma Dutta, MP.
 
Dr Razzaque, also the agriculture minister, said the Indian prime minister in a written statement claimed that the relationship between the two countries is passing a golden chapter.
 
"This was a party tour. JP Nadda (Central BJP President) said like the past, they will work together to fight terrorism and militancy. We also told them that we attach an immense importance to India in bilateral relations," he said.

Terming India a friendly country of Bangladesh, the AL presidium member recalled that India helped Bangladesh with money and arms during its liberation war.

"After the liberation war, the relations with India have gone through ups and downs. And now India's relationship with Bangladesh is very high," he added.

Razzaque said BJP wants to see political stability in Bangladesh and apart from maintaining political stability, the party is also hopeful that there will be an acceptable election in Bangladesh.

He said BJP assured of providing all kinds of cooperation at the international level.

The agriculture minister said during the visit, they discussed political stability and prevention of militancy.

"BJP wants to strengthen bilateral relations with the Awami League. They give importance to the Awami League. They think that if the two political parties work together, the future of both countries will be better," he added.

Speaking at the press conference, Dr Hasan Mahmud said India and Bangladesh will work together to maintain political stability in the region.

They (India) are satisfied with the role of the Bangladesh government in maintaining peace, political stability and communal harmony in the region, he added.

The AL joint general secretary said India wants a stable political situation in Bangladesh.

BJP leaders informed that they were worried during the BNP's regime when 10-truck arms were brought, Hasan said.

Claiming that the minorities are in better position in Bangladesh during the ruling Awami League government's period, he said India is satisfied with the stance of the AL government against terrorism as it announced that extremists would not be allowed to use the soil of Bangladesh to carry out attack on the neighbouring countries.

AL organising secretary Sujit Roy Nandi, office secretary Barrister Biplab Barua, deputy publicity secretary Syed Abdul Awal Shamim, deputy office secretary Sayem Khan, its central committee member Prof Marina Jahan and Aroma Dutta, MP, were, among others, present at the press conference.