Prime Minister's Office
08-April, 2017 15:41 IST
Press Statement by Prime Minister during the State visit of Prime Minister of Bangladesh to India
Excellency,
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,
Members of the media,
It is a true pleasure to welcome Her Excellency Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to India.
Excellency,
Your visit to India comes at an auspicious time, just before the advent of पोयला बोइशाख. I take this opportunity to wish you and the people of Bangladesh शुवो नबा बर्षो Your visit marks another शोनाली अध्याय (golden era) in the friendship between our people and our nations. The extraordinary transformation in our relationship and achievements of our partnership are a clear recognition of your strong and decisive leadership.
Your decision to honour Indian soldiers who laid down their lives in the Liberation War of 1971 has deeply touched the people of India. Every Indian takes pride in the knowledge that Indian soldiers and बीर मुक्तिजोधा fought together to liberate Bangladesh from the reign of terror.
Friends,
Today, Excellency Sheikh Hasina and I held productive and comprehnsive discussions on the full range of our partnership. We agreed that the agenda of our cooperation has to remain focused on purposeful action. We specifically looked at charting new avenues and tapping fresh opportunities in advancing our relationship. We want to build cooperation in new areas, especially some high-technology areas, that have a deeper connect with the youth in both our societies. These would include working in the fields of Electronics, Information Technology, Cyber Security, Space exploration, Civil Nuclear Energy, and others areas.
Friends,
India has always stood for the prosperity of Bangladesh and its people. We are a long-standing and trusted development partner of Bangladesh. India and Bangladesh are also determined that the fruits of our cooperation must benefit our people. In this context, I am happy to announce a new concessional Line of Credit of 4.5 billion dollars for the implemntation of projects in priority sectors for Bangladesh. This brings our resource allocation for Bangladesh to more than 8 billion dollars over the past six years. Energy Security is an important dimension of our development partnership. And, our energy partnerhship continues to grow. Today, we added an additional 60 Mega Watt of power to the 600 Mega Watt of power already flowing from India to Bangladesh. The supply of another 500 Mega Watt has already been committed from the existing inter-connection. We have also agreed to finance the diesel oil pipeline from Numaligarh to Parbatipur. Our companies are entering into a long-term agreement for the supply of high speed diesel to Bangladesh. We have also agreed on a time table for regular supply till the pipeline is constructed. We are encouraging private sectors in both our countries to enter this space. Several agreements for investments in the energy sector in Bangladesh are expected to be signed by the Indian companies in the coming days. India will continue to be a willing partner in meeting the energy needs of Bangladesh, and its goal of achieving ‘Power for all by 2021’.
Friends,
Connectivity is crucial for the success of bilateral development partnership, sub-regional economic projects and for the larger regional economic prosperity. Today, together with the Honourable Chief Minister of West Bengal , we have added several new links to our growing connectivity. Bus and train links between Kolkata and Khulna, and राधिकापुर-बीरोल have been restored today. In-land water-ways routes are being optimized. And, steps are being taken to put into operation the Coastal Shipping Agreement. We are also happy to see the progress being made in two-way trans-shipment of goods. We look forward to early implemntation of the B.B.I.N. Motor Vehicles Agreement. This would usher in a new era of sub-regional integration.
Friends,
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and I recognize the need to diversify our commercial engagement. Not just to forge wide-ranging business partnerships between our two economies. But also for greater regional benefit. In this, a major part of the effort has to be from the business and industry of the two countries. We are happy to receive the high powered business delegation accompanying the Prime Minister. Our agreement to open new Border Haats will empower border communities through trade and contribute to their livelihoods.
Friends,
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and I have noted the success of our capacity building and training initiatives. The training of 1500 Bangladesh civil servants in India has almost concluded. We would undertake training along similar lines for 1500 Judicial Officers of Bangladesh in our judicial academies.
Friends,
While our partnership brings prosperity to our people, it also works to protect them from forces of radicaliztion and extremism. Their spread poses a grave threat, not just to India and Bangladesh but to the entire region. We have the greatest admiration for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s firm resolve in dealing with terrorism. Her Government’s ‘zero-tolerance’ policy towards terrorism is an inspiration for all of us. We agreed that peace, security and development for our people and for the region will remain central to our engagement. Today, we have also taken a long overdue step by signing an agreement on close cooperation between our armed forces. I am also happy to announce a Line of Credit of US dollars 500 million to support Bangladesh’s defence related procurement. In implementing this line of credit, we will be guided by Bangladesh’s needs and priorities.
Friends,
Our two countries share one of the longest land boundaries. During my visit to Dhaka in June 2015, we had concluded the Land Boundary Agreement. Its implemntation is now underway. Along with our shared land boundaries are our shared rivers. They sustain our peoples and their livelihoods. And, the one that has attracted the greatest attention is the Teesta. This is important for India, for Bangladesh and for India-Bangladesh relationship. I am very happy that the Chief Minister of West Bengal is my honoured guest today . I know that her feelings for Bangladesh are as warm as my own. I assure you and the people of Bangladesh of our commitment and continuing efforts. I firmly believe that it is only my government and Excellency Sheikh Hasina,your government, that can and will find an early solution to Teesta Water Sharing.
Friends,
Bangabandu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was a dear friend of India and a towering leader. As a mark of our respect and deep admiration for the father of Bangladesh, a prominent road in our capital city has been named after him. We have also agreed to jointly produce a film on the life and works of Bangabandhuwhich will be released on his birth centenary year in 2020. Along with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina ji, I am also honoured to release the Hindi translation of Bangbandhu’s ‘Unfinished Memoirs’. His life, struggle and contribution to the creation of Bangladesh will continue to inspire future generations. To mark the Golden Jubilee Year of Bangladesh’s independence in 2021, we have agreed to jointly produce a documentary film on the Liberation War of Bangladesh.
Excellency,
You have successfully carried forward the vision and legacy of Bangabandhu Today, under your leadership, Bangladesh is marching on a trajectory of high growth and development. We in India rejoice in our ties with Bangladesh. Ties that have been forged in blood and generations of kin-ship. Ties that seek a better and secure future for our people. With these words, Excellency, I once again welcome you and your delegation to India.
Thank you.
Thank You very much
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The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi and the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Ms. Sheikh Hasina at the joint media briefing, at Hyderabad House, in New Delhi on April 08, 2017.
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi and the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Ms. Sheikh Hasina witnessing the exchange of MoUs between India and Bangladesh, at Hyderabad House, in New Delhi on April 08, 2017.
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Ms. Sheikh Hasina and the Chief Minister of West Bengal, Ms. Mamata Banerjee at Hyderabad House, in New Delhi on April 08, 2017.
By:
PTI | Petrapole | Published:April 8, 2017 3:13 pm
The trial run of passenger train between Kolkata and Khulna began today (Representational Image/ Sandipan Chatterjee Photo)
http://indianexpress.com/article/in...off-trial-run-of-indo-bangla-passenger-train/
The trial run of passenger train service between Bangladesh’s Khulna city and Kolkata began today with the arrival of a train at Petrapole here along the Indo-Bangla border. Prime Minister
Narendra Modi, his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina and West Bengal Chief Minister
Mamata Banerjee jointly flagged off the train service through video link from New Delhi.
Regular service between the Kolkata station and Khulna will commence in July, Railway officials said. Indo-Bangla rail corridor through Petrapole was reopened in January 2001 for goods trains.
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http://indianexpress.com/article/in...-modi-sheikh-hasina-india-bangladesh-4604849/
Prime Minister
Narendra Modi, his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina and West Bengal Chief Minister
Mamata Banerjee jointly inaugurated, via video conference, the trial-run of a passenger train service between Khulna city in Bangladesh and Kolkata. The regular service will begin in July. According to PTI, the existing
‘Maitree Express’ that runs between Dhaka and Kolkata will be made fully air-conditioned as well.
The leaders also inaugurated a new railway link between Radhikapur and Birol on which goods trains will run.
India will also finance a diesel oil pipeline from Numaligarh to Parbatipur and Indian companies will enter a long-term deal with Bangladesh for the supply of high-speed diesel.
A bus service between Dhaka – Khulna – Kolkata was also inaugurated via video conference by the three leaders.
The inauguration took place at the joint briefing of the two leaders after they held extensive bilateral talks to strengthen partnership. A total of 22 pacts on various sectors were signed although the Teesta pact remained elusive.
Prime Minister
Narendra Modi and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina addressed the gathering at the Manekshaw Centre for Sommanona Ceremony to honour Indian soldiers martyred in 1971 war. Speaking on the occasion, PM Modi said
, “I would like to pay respects to all those who lost their life during the liberation battle for the betterment of humanity.” Earlier in the day, giving an impetus to their ties, India and Bangladesh on Saturday inked nearly two dozen agreements in strategic areas of defence and civil nuclear cooperation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi held extensive discussions with his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina on ways to strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries.
India and Bangladesh are together because 140 crore people of both countries are together, says Modi.
PM Modi & Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina at Sommanona Ceremony to honour Indian soldiers martyred in 1971 war
PM Modi & PM Hasina with then Major Ashok Tara & his wife, Tara rescued Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s family from imprisonment in 1971
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india...vice-begins/story-QNk94HLgDTCDPwVlmWmZQP.html
The trial run of the Kolkata-Khulna-Dhaka bus service began in Kolkata on Saturday with an aim to take forward Indo-Bangla bilateral relations.
The trail was launched a day after Bangladesh Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina arrived in India for a four-day official tour.
Three buses were flagged off from ‘Nabanna’, the West Bengal secretariat, as a part of the trial run for a service that will be operational from June, official sources said.
Senior state ministers Partha Chatterjee, Subrata Mukherjee and Firad Hakim flagged off the buses.
The bus will travel 409 km in around 13 hours to reach Dhaka, sources said, adding the price of ticket is yet to be finalised.
The total time to reach Khulna in Bangladesh, including security checks, at the border will be around seven hours, he said.
Earlier bus services were introduced on the Kolkata-Dhaka-Agartala and the Kolkata-Dhaka routes.
Three buses were flagged off from West Bengal to Bangladesh as part of a trail run for a new bus service between the two neighbours.(Twitter/ ANI Photo)
