New Delhi (India), 8 September: Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, paid a State Visit to India from 05-08 September 2022 at the invitation of Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi. She began her visit with prayer at Nizamuddin Auliya Dargah.
The holy Sufi shrine has been an important pilgrimage site for both PM Hasina and her father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman for more than half a century. ‘Bangabandhu’ Sheikh Mujibur Rahman used to come to meet his grandfather — Syed Mohamad Miya Nizami, and his father, Kabir Uddin Nizami.
Ahead of her visit to India, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina praised the then-Indian PM Indira Gandhi for providing her shelter after the assassination of her family in 1975.
She said, ‘me and my sister Sheikh Rehana were given security when they were going through an emotional upheaval’.
Remembering the searing trauma that had plagued her for years, Sheikh Hasina said that her father, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rehman was arrested and her mother was in custody and she was expecting her first baby during that time. However, irrespective of every atrocity, she didn’t forget the people, government and armed forces stood by her in crisis.
“For the people of my country, I will only say that…our people struggled with whatever resources were available for the liberation war to make the country independent. And close to us, the people and armed forces of India fought in the war and gave their blood along with our people,” said Hasina, speaking in Bengali.
“We should never forget that their people, government and armed forces stood by us,” added Hasina, who is the daughter of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, regarded as the father of the Bangladeshi nation.
She made the remarks after giving away the first Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Student Scholarships to descendants of 10 Indian military personnel who were either killed or seriously injured in the war that led to the creation of Bangladesh.
A total of 200 scholarships — 100 each for students of class 10 and class 12 — will be awarded by the Bangladesh government.
During her four-day state visit to India, Sheikh Hasina also made the pitch to attract Indian investors to Bangladesh at a business event organised by the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) on Wednesday.
Bangladesh is uniquely located to export its products to North East India, Bhutan and South East Asian countries and several initiatives have been taken to increase connectivity,” she said.
Speaking at the meeting of select CEOs organized by CII, the Bangladesh Prime Minister said, I would urge Indian investors to consider possible investments in infrastructure projects, manufacturing, in energy and transport sectors. Indian investors and business houses can set up industries in Bangladesh through Buy-Back arrangements by reducing time, cost and resources.
She further highlighted, Bangladesh is uniquely located to enable Indian investors to export their products to not only the Northeastern states of India, but also to Nepal, Bhutan, and to South East Asian countries”.
Hasina stressed that Bangladesh has the most liberal investment regime in the region with a wide array of facilities, attractive incentive policies, and consistent reforms.
Earlier to this CEO’s meet, FICCI and FBCCI also had business meeting for Industrialists and Investors of both sides.
Tipu Munshi, Minister of Commerce of Bangladesh and Salman F Rahman, Private Industry and Investment Adviser to Hon’ble Prime Minister of Bangladesh were also present on this occasion.
While addressing the business delegation of both countries, Salman F Rahman, Private Industry and Investment Adviser to Hon’ble Prime Minister said that agriculture has been one of the many success stories of Bangladesh and in today’s world after the pandemic, food security has been critical for every country. “We want to further capitalize on our manufacturing capabilities along with agro processing business in Bangladesh,” he added.
Private Industry and Investment Adviser to Hon’ble Prime Minister , Rahman said that the industry should also look at improving the markets in the North-eastern region in India. “When you (industry) look at the Bangladesh market, don’t just look at this market but combine it with the North-east market. Both, Bangladesh and North-east market offers good transit facility including road, railway and waterways and it will be a win-win for both Bangladeshi and Indian businesses,” he added.
However, the Minister of Commerce, Tipu Munshi stated that there is a need to further improve the connectivity to facilitate trade. Bangladesh has very progressive and industry friendly policies. “We both should work together for mutual benefit. Business can really take us to a level where everybody can see a better life both in India and Bangladesh,” he asserted.
Md Jashim Uddin, President, Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry; Mr Manoj Chug, Chair, FICCI South Asia Regional Council and President- Group Public Affairs & Member of the Group Executive Board, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd; Mr Abdul Matlub Ahmed, President, India-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr Arun Chawla, Director General, FICCI, Mr Shubhransh Srivastav, General Manager- Corporate Affairs Subcontinent, DP World; Mr Anurag Mehrotra, Vice President, International Business & Strategy, Commercial Vehicles Business Unit, Tata Motors and Mr Jithu Jose, VP-International Business Development, Apollo Hospitals Group also graced this event with their presence.
This high-level business delegation led by Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI) was in India for enhancing bilateral trade relations.
During the India visit, PM Sheikh Hasina called on the President of India, Droupadi Murmu and the Vice President of India, Jagdeep Dhankhar. External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar and Minister of Development of North Eastern Region Shri G. Kishan Reddy called on her.
However, earlier to these high level business engagement programmes, on second day of Sheikh Hasina’s visit in India, both the Prime Ministers held a restricted meeting and tête-à-tête followed by delegation level talks on 6 September 2022. The meetings were marked by great warmth and cordiality. The two Leaders expressed satisfaction at the excellent state of bilateral relations, based on deep historical and fraternal ties and shared values of democracy and pluralism, which is reflected in an all-encompassing bilateral partnership, based on sovereignty, equality, trust and understanding that transcends even a strategic partnership.
In their bilateral meeting in Delhi, the entire gamut of bilateral cooperation, including political and security cooperation, defence, border management, trade and connectivity, water resources, power and energy, development cooperation, cultural and people-to-people links were discussed.
They also agreed to collaborate in new areas of cooperation, such as, environment, climate change, cyber security, ICT, space technology, green energy and blue economy.
Recognizing the importance of water management in the bilateral relationship, the Leaders appreciated the decision of Joint Rivers Commission for widening the area of cooperation by including additional number of rivers for prioritising the exchange of data and formulating the framework of the interim water sharing agreements. Reiterating the importance of facilitating trade between the two countries, they also stressed the urgent need for up-gradation of infrastructure and facilities at the Land Customs Stations/Land Ports, and for removal of port restrictions and other non-tariff barriers at identified Land Custom Stations.
Both Leaders looked forward to the early launch of the jointly-produced film on Bangabandhu (Mujib: the Making of A Nation).They also agreed to work towards other initiatives including operationalisation of “Shadhinota Shorok”- the historic road from Mujib Nagar in Bangladesh to the India-Bangladesh border in Nadia, West Bengal, and production of a documentary on the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971. The Bangladesh side also proposed joint compilation of rare video footage on the Liberation War of Bangladesh.
During her India visit, PM Sheikh Hasina, signed seven Memorandums with India in the areas of railways, science and technology, space technology and broadcasting among others.
MoU between the Ministry of Jal Shakti, MoU between the Ministry of Railways (Railway Board), MoU on Scientific and Technological Cooperation,MoU on Cooperation in the Areas of Space Technology, MoU between the Prasar Bharti and Bangladesh Television (BTV), MoU between the National Judicial Academy were the main among seven MoUs and agreements.
Apart from the above, the PMO also provided details about the projects between the two countries that were yet to be announced/inaugurated. These included the unveiling of the Maitree power plant, inauguration of the Rupsha bridge and the Khulna Darshana railway line link project among others.
On her last day of her state visit to India, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheik Hasina paid obeisance at the dargah of Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti in Ajmer on Thursday afternoon. She was given a red carpet welcome at the dargah amid tight security arrangements. Hasina performed ziyarat at the shrine.
Before leaving Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the warm and generous hospitality of the Government and the people of India. Prime Minister Hasina extended a cordial invitation to Prime Minister Modi to visit Bangladesh and the two Leaders looked forward to continuing interactions at all levels and fora.
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-Dr. Shahid Siddiqui,
: You can reach the journalist via Email ID: [email protected] & Follow via Twitter @shahidsiddiqui
