President Kovind asserts Bangladesh has 'special place' in India’s neighbourhood first policy

President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday assured top leership here that Banglesh has a "special place" in India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy and underlined that bilateral relationship based on sovereignty, equality, trust and understanding is mature enough to handle "most complex of problems".

President Kovind, who arrived here earlier in day on his maiden State Visit at invitation of his counterpart M Abdul Hamid to attend golden jubilee celebrations of Banglesh's independence from Pakistan in 1971, held delegation-level talks with him which was followed by a banquet.

"President Kovind @rashtrapatibhvn welcomed by Banglesh President HE Md. Abdul Hamid for ir bilateral meeting at Bangabhaban. Furr expanding bilateral ties based on sovereignty, equality, trust and understanding that transcend even a strategic partnership,” Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted.

During his meeting with Hamid, President Kovind "reiterated that Banglesh has a special place in India’s ‘neighbourhood first’ policy" and said that India’s development partnership with Banglesh is one of most comprehensive and wide-ranging ones, according to a statement issued by Indian President’s office.

"At same time, our relationship is mature enough to handle most complex of problems,” he said.

Speaking about tre and connectivity, President Kovind said that connectivity forms an important pillar of India-Banglesh relations. “ two countries have much to gain from ir geographical proximity,” he said.

Noting that Banglesh is one of India’s largest tre partners, he said that New Delhi looks forward to a more organised and seamless tre between two countries.

He noted that re is a lot of scope in partnering in areas like space, nuclear technology, defence, pharmaceuticals and or vanced science and technology fields. He said that a formal ‘Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement’ would give a significant boost to two-way tre.

After delegation-level talks, President Hamid hosted a banquet in his Indian counterpart's honour at Bangabhaban Presidential Palace.

Earlier, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina called on President Kovind and two leers discussed several issues of mutual interest and bilateral cooperation.

Both sides reviewed progress in multifaceted and comprehensive bilateral ties. two leers also recalled spirit of 1971 Liberation War and expressed satisfaction at joint celebration of Maitri Diwas on December 6, Bagchi said.

Foreign Minister Dr A.K. Abdul Momen separately called on President Kovind and "apprised him of excellent progress in bilateral cooperation and of future joint projects, including in area of connectivity," he said.

Briefing media later in evening, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said President Kovind’s discussion with Prime Minister Hasina was “comprehensive encompassing many areas of our multifaceted relationship, including jointly preserving legacy of Bangabandhu and 1971 war.” "We are aspirational nations. Today, we have achieved an incredible amount of synergies in terms of connectivity, joint manufacturing and cooperation. We have set stage for an exponential increase in ties,” he said.

Shringla said that Indo-Bangla Friendship Pipeline is progressing very well and “we would be in a position to inaugurate it next year." Responding to questions on situation of minorities in Banglesh and border issue, Shringla said discussions between two sides encompassed all issues of importance to both countries.

"Obviously those discussions did include issues that are important to both countries and it included questions that are topical and needless to say, I think, we are on same page on se issues," he said.

"We do appreciate that certain issues are internal matters for Banglesh. But y are important for both countries. We are handling se issues and in many senses, very satisfactory. And we do believe that whatever actions are being taken as a goal is in best interests of Banglesh, in best interest of our countries,” he ded.

On border issue, he said it was discussed briefly. “ idea is that many of se issues that involve border would be discussed at a higher level. We will try and work out how to resolve m,” he ded. "We have a comprehensive water management plan. Effective management of border is very, very critical. And this is something that we will be both working on." On issue of hydropower, he said, "We are fully with you on that issue. We have just issued a cross border power policy and this policy essentially allows India to be used as a transit point for exchange of power between our neighbours. And re are no regulatory issues regarding export of power from Nepal and Bhutan through India into Banglesh." "We also have a project to connect 716 kV line from norastern India through Banglesh which will provide scope for hydroelectric power also coming to Banglesh...And I think potential is huge.," he said.

On a question about purchase of defence related items by Banglesh from around world, Shringla said, “we have extended line of credit for defence items for (Banglesh) to USD 500 million and I am told that under this line of credit several items have been identified." “y're in fairly vanced stages of being processed and I think we will see certain defence items exports from India coming to Banglesh and this is something that we would like to see..Essentially, entire gamut of cooperation, wher it's training, exchanges, manufacturing, defence sector, this is something that we'd like to see enhanced." He also said that India has decided to review Nutan India-Banglesh Maitree Muktijoddha Sontan Scholarship Scheme for heirs of Banglesh's Muktijodhas. scheme was launched in April, 2017 during visit of Prime Minister Hasina to India.

On Rohingya issue, Shringla said that India has “always called for sustainable and speedy return of displaced persons to Rakhine state of Myanmar. We have always worked with Banglesh and Myanmar to resolve this issue." He said President Kovind will also inaugurate renovated Sri Ramna Kali Mandir, which was completely destroyed by Pakistani forces during Operation Searchlight in 1971.

On his part, President Hamid described India as “a very close and faithful friend” of Banglesh and recalled overall cooperation of India in 1971 Liberation War. He thanked government and people of India, according to Banglesh president’s press secretary M Joynal Abedin.

President Kovind called Hamid a “War Hero” and gifted him two replicas – a Russian me T-55 tank and Mig-21 vintage aircraft used during 1971 war, Abedin ded.

Hamid said over past one dece, relations between two countries have expanded in areas of security, border demarcation, power and energy, tre and commerce, infrastructure and communication and eventually relations between people of two countries have strengned.

Banglesh premier’s press secretary Ihsanul Karim said that President Kovind told Prime Minister Hasina that he was very happy to be part of celebrations of three mega events - birth centenary of Far of Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Golden Jubilee of Banglesh's independence and diplomatic relationship between countries.

Hasina described India as a “great friend” and recalled n Indian government and people’s crucial role during Banglesh’s War of Liberation in 1971.

"Exchange of visits between countries even amid COVID-19 situation is testimony of warm relationship between two countries," she said, acknowledging her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi’s “historic and successful” Banglesh tour in March this year when celebration of three events were opened.

Hasina said after 1965 India-Pakistan War, when Banglesh was Pakistan’s eastern wing, commutations between two countries were snapped in various routes and called for restoring those routes.

She expressed satisfaction over ongoing cooperation in various areas even in current pandemic situation.

Hasina told Indian leer that Banglesh believes in secularism and "all are free to perform ir own religious rites and rituals. re is no barrier here. Religion is for individuals, and festivals for all", Karim said.

President Kovind, who is here on a three-day visit, is only foreign he of state invited to join celebrations which also coincides with birth centenary celebrations of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and 50 years of Dhaka-New Delhi ties.

It is President Kovind’s first trip abro since outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic. He will represent India as guest of honour in Banglesh’s 50th Victory Day celebrations here.

In a reflection of close ties, India is also hosting a number of events to mark 50th anniversary of 1971 India-Pakistan war that led to liberation of Banglesh.