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Bangladesh-India Virtual Summit

Hasina for further integrated economies
Bss, Dhaka
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday suggested further integrating the economies of Bangladesh and India to consolidate the global and regional value chains cashing on the available synergies.
“I believe both our countries can move up the global and regional value chains by further integrating our economies taking advantage of available synergies,” she told her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi in an India-Bangladesh virtual summit.
Describing the ongoing connectivity initiatives between the two next-door neighbours as catalysts in this regard, Hasina said a prime example was the resumption of Chilahati-Haldibari rail link which was inaugurated yesterday.
The PM led the Bangladesh delegation from the Gono Bhaban in Dhaka while Modi led the Indian delegation from New Delhi.
Talking about the growing dependency of economies of the two friendly countries, the premier said, “We happily recognise the growing mutual dependency of the economies of Bangladesh and India. A good number of Indian nationals are employed in the manufacturing and service sectors of Bangladesh and are remittance earners for India. On the other hand, India receives its highest number of tourists and medical patients from Bangladesh.”
Hasina said Bangladesh-India relations have embarked on a landmark moment. “Yesterday [Wednesday], Bangladesh celebrated 50 years as an independent nation. Bangladesh and India have also stepped into the 50th year of establishment of diplomatic relations.”
Bangladesh is also celebrating the 100th birth anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, she said. “Just a few months ago, we concluded celebrations of the 150th birth anniversary of your Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi.”
The PM recalled her last meeting with Modi at the grand Hyderabad House in New Delhi in October last year. “Much has changed since then. The world has witnessed an upheaval and mankind’s ability to counter the unknown has been put to the test. Millions of lives have been lost, livelihoods destroyed, economies slowed down, societies disrupted.”
She said throughout 2020 Bangladesh and India witnessed a number of initiatives such as trade through rail routes, high level visits and meetings, capacity-building initiatives, the first trial run of Indian cargo from Kolkata to North-East India and cooperation on Covid-19.
Hasina paid rich tribute to the members of Indian armed forces martyred in the 1971 Liberation War and the Indian government and people who extended their whole-hearted support for the cause of Bangladesh’s liberation.
Going down memory lane, the premier said, “Today [December 17] is a special day for us. My mother, younger sister Sheikh Rehana, Russell, four-month old little Joy and I were under the captivity of Pakistani occupation forces. Col Ashok Tara, who was then major, of India freed us from captivity in the morning of December 17, 1971.”
She expressed her sincere gratitude to Col Ashok Tara.
The PM also paid deep homage to the three million martyrs who laid down their lives and more than two hundred thousand women who sacrificed their honour for Bangladesh’s independence in 1971.
After their opening remarks, the two premiers jointly unveiled a commemorative stamp issued by Indian postal department in honour of Bangabandhu.
They also jointly opened the Bangabandhu-Bapu Digital Exhibition in New Delhi to show respect to the contributions of the two greatest leaders --Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Mahatma Gandhi -- of the last century.
Relations with Bangladesh a priority: Modi
Our Correspondent, New Delhi
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asserted that Bangladesh remains a “significant pillar” of his country’s Neighbourhood First policy.
Addressing the Bangladesh-India virtual summit, Modi told his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina that his government focused on maintaining strong relations with Bangladesh right from day one it came to power in May 2014.
“It has been a priority of my government to bring depth and strength in ties with Bangladesh,” he said and pointed to the resolution of the land boundary issue and enhanced cross-border connectivity.
Modi lauded Hasina’s leadership, which he said “reflected the traits of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman”.
Cooperation between India and Bangladesh has been good notwithstanding coronavirus pandemic, the Indian PM observed.
Seeking to strike an emotional chord with Bangla-speaking people, Modi greeted Hasina by speaking in Bangla -- “Bijoy dibosher onek onek abhinandan aar poush parbon-er shubhechcha” -- before he began his speech.
Modi said it was a matter of pride for India to celebrate with Bangladesh the latter’s victory over anti-liberation forces. He paid tributes to those who sacrificed their lives to win the Liberation War.
He congratulated Hasina on behalf of the people of India on the birth centenary of Bangabandhu and thanked her for inviting him to visit her country next year. He said it would be a matter of pride for him to pay tributes to Bangabandhu at that time.
The Indian premier said Bangabandhu’s messages are eternally relevant.
The two leaders jointly opened the “Bangabandhu-Bapu (Mahatma Gandhi) Digital Exhibition”.
Referring to the inauguration of the exhibition, Modi expressed hope that the two leaders would inspire the youths of the two countries.
The Digital Exhibition, which pays tribute to Bangabandhu and Mahatma Gandhi, will initially be on display in New Delhi before travelling to different locations in Bangladesh and the UN and culminating in Kolkata in 2022.
The two prime ministers also inaugurated the Chilahati-Haldibari rail link between India and Bangladesh, reviving a connectivity that was snapped by the India-Pakistan war in 1965. The move will help strengthen movement of people and goods between Bangladesh and West Bengal and north-eastern Indian states.
Initially, the link will be used to transport goods. Movement of passengers will start once the infrastructure is ready.
The two countries have already reopened four out of six rail links that were suspended in 1965: Petrapole- Benapole, Gede-Darshana, Singhabad-Rohanpur and Radhikapur-Birol. The Haldibari-Chilahati link was part of the main broad gauge route between Kolkata and Siliguri.