Indian External Affairs minister Dr S Jaishankar who arrived in Dhaka on April 28 met with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and held meeting with his Bangladesh counterpart Dr AK Abdul Momen.
“(I) conveyed that we look forward to her (Sheikh Hasina) visit to India at a time of her convenience,” he told media at a short joint briefing after holding a meeting with foreign minister Dr AK Abdul Momen at Foreign Service Academy here.
Jaishankar added that during his call on with Bangladesh premier, a number of issues came up as “we reviewed bilateral ties as well as rational and global issues”.
The Indian external affiars minister said he also conveyed Modi’s personal greeting and good wishes to his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina .
Jaishankar said he was also looking forward to welcome Momen to join the seventh round of Joint Consultative Commission meeting in New Delhi, which he said “will provide a good opportunity to lay the ground for the next level of our relationship”.
“My visit, today is aimed at continuing the (bilateral) progress in deepening of our engagements . . . the regularity, informality and cordiality of our interaction is a very good reflection of trust and confidence, (while) our leaders have remained in touch,” Jaishankar said.
He said the connectivity between the two neighbours went back to pre-Covid level and New Delhi would resume cross borders bus and railway services shortly after the Eid.
“India is a large producer and consumer of energy and we are very glad to work with our neighbors in that regard including in the BBIN (Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal) framework,” he added.
Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her official Ganabhaban residence on April 28.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that initiative has taken to resume various cross-border routes between Bangladesh and India that were stopped in 1965, stressing the need for enhancing connectivity between the two countries for mutual benefits
"We have to increase connectivity. If the connectivity between the countries is increased, India's North Eastern provinces - Assam and Tripura - can have access to Chattagram port," she said.
PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed newsmen after the call on.
During the meeting, they expressed happiness at the current state of the existing bilateral relations between the countries.
In this connection, the Prime Minister said the high-level visits between the countries will give impetus to carry forward the relations.
The Indian Minister said the bilateral issues between the countries are being reviewed and progressing well.
Defense sector cooperation, water sharing of Kushiara and Feni rivers, current Covid -19 situation and impacts of Russia-Ukraine war on the global economy prominently came up in the discussion.
The Prime Minister said the Covid-19 situation is well in Bangladesh while Jaishankar said the normalcy is bringing back in India.
Foreign Senior Secretary Masud Bin Momen, PMO Senior Secretary Md Tofazzel Hossain Miah and Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Vikram Kumar Doraiswami were present.
Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar left Dhaka this morning after ending an 18-hour brief visit.
Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen saw him off at Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) Bangabandhu Base in Kurmitola before the Indian foreign minister flying to Bhutan by an Indian Air force special flight at around 8:30 am.
