Dhaka-Delhi ties 'role model'
Says Krishna
Indian External Affairs Minister SM Krishna yesterday said India attaches highest importance to the relationship with Bangladesh.
The relation between the two countries could be a role model for others, he said.
"We are guided by the fundamental premise that a stable, prosperous, democratic and peaceful Bangladesh is our mutual interest. We are committed to pursuing such cooperation with Bangladesh that brings prosperity to our peoples and development to the two countries," he said.
Addressing a joint press conference at Hotel Sonargaon following an official meeting with his counterpart Dipu Moni, Krishna said there is no trust deficit between India and Bangladesh and Indian has total trust and confidence in Bangladesh."
Asked if the Indian government still holds Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's recent remarks that 25 percent population of Bangladesh are Jamaat-e-Islami and they are, many times, in the clutches of ISI, Krishna said the matter was also discussed during his meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday.
Avoiding a direct reply, he said, "It is Manmohan's consistent stand for looking forward towards Bangladesh as a friend and the relations between Bangladesh and India is a role model for other countries in the region."
About the official talks, Foreign Minister Dipu Moni said they discussed the entire range of bilateral issues between the two countries, including security, border management, boundary demarcation, trade, economic, connectivity and transit, water resources management, power, culture, education, people-to-people contact, visa and consular issues. We also discussed issues of regional and sub-regional interest, she added.
At the official meeting held at the foreign ministry, Bangladesh side was attended by Bangladesh High Commissioner in New Delhi Ahmed Tariq Karim, Foreign Secretary Mijarul Quayes, Home Secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikdar, Commerce Secretary Ghulam Hossain, Shipping Secretary Abdul Mannan Hawlader, DG (South Asia) of Foreign Ministry Mashfee Binte Shams and other high officials.
While Indian side was attended by Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Rajeet Mitter, External Affairs Ministry's Joint Secretary (BSM) Harsh Vardhan Shringla and Joint Secretary (XP Division) Vishnu Prakash, Indian Deputy High Commissioner in Dhaka Sanjay Bhattacharyya and Deputy Secretary (Bangladesh) at MEA Smita Pant.
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