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PMs Press Confce On India Visit

Those who say I am selling out the country were on Pak side in 1971: Hasina

Published : Wednesday, 26 June, 2024 at 12:00 AM  Count : 309
Staff Correspondent
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, also President of Awami League (AL), on Tuesday said she always protected the interests of the nation and would never sell out the country or its interests to anyone.

"Sheikh Hasina does not sell the country or its interests to anyone. It should be remembered that we (AL) have made this country independent. Those who are talking about selling the country were on the side of Pakistan in 1971," she said in response to criticism regarding providing a rail transit facility to India at a press conference held at her official residence Ganabhaban to brief the media on the outcomes of her June 21-22 state visit to the country.

Sheikh Hasina visited New Delhi on June 21 for a two-day state visit to India at the invitation of her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.

This was the first bilateral visit by any head of government to India after the BJP-led alliance formed its government for the third consecutive term following the Lok Sabha elections.

The Prime Minister assured that there is no harm in allowing transit between countries.

"I have a question. How are the sales weighted? If something is sold, isn it measured by weight? Now there are electronic machines. Earlier it was measured on scales. So, what is being sold and how is the sale?" she questioned.

Recalling Indias role in Bangladeshs Liberation War, Sheikh Hasina said, "Bangladesh is an independent country. We gained independence by fighting in the Liberation War. Those who criticize should know that there is only one allied force that stood with us and shed their blood to make this country free in the War of Liberation in 1971. Our freedom fighters got trained there. India is an exception here. They have fought alongside us as allies. But whenever Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman wanted the Indian soldiers to return to their country, the then Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi immediately agreed and took them back."

Sheikh Hasina criticized her detractors, saying, "Even then, those who say that the country will be sold to India, how can they say this? In fact, those who are saying this, have sold themselves to India. We have seen that whenever military dictators came - Ziaur Rahman, Ershad, and Khaleda - they were anti-Indian in speech but sat on the feet of India. These are my own experiences."

Raising questioned over the harm in giving transit facilities, she said, "The railways which were closed (with India), are slowly being reopened. It is making a huge contribution to the economy. Do we close the door in Bangladesh? Look at Europe, there are no borders. Is one country selling itself to another country in Europe?"

Reiterating her governments stance, the Prime Minister stated, "Our country is an independent, sovereign country. I have opened all communication systems, and the common people will benefit from it. Trade and commerce will thrive."

In the written speech, the Prime Minister said, "I paid a state visit to India on June 21-22 at the invitation of Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. This was my first bilateral visit to a country after the formation of our new government through the 12th Jatiya Sangsad elections in January 2024."

At the same time, this was also the first bilateral visit by a Head of State or Head of Government to India after the formation of the government following the 18th Lok Sabha elections, she said adding, "It is certainly a great honour for me and the people of Bangladesh. Besides, it is an expression of Indias cooperative special relationship with Bangladesh."

India is Bangladeshs biggest and closest neighbour, trusted friend and regional partner. Bangladesh has been putting special importance on the relationship that started in 1971 through the great Liberation War. In recent years, the two countries have continued communication and cooperation at the high levels, including at the highest level of state, she stated.

She said, "The swearing-in ceremony of the three-time elected Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi and his newly formed cabinet was held on June 9. I visited New Delhi from June 8 to 10 to attend the ceremony. Many dignitaries including heads of state and government of neighbouring countries were invited there."

"During that visit, I exchanged pleasantries with the political personalities of India as well as exchanged views with several heads of government from South Asia and other countries who were invited at that ceremony. Besides, bilateral meetings of the heads of government of Bhutan and Sri Lanka with me were held separately. These discussions and meetings will be conducive to strengthen our mutual relations."

Stating about the state bilateral visit on June 21 and 22, she said, "It is an unprecedented incident for me to visit Delhi twice as the head of the government in the same month. All these bear testimony of our two countries working closely with each other."

She said on June 21, she was welcomed at Delhi Palam Airport with a colourful reception and cultural programme. In the evening on that day, Indias External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar called on her. Besides, an Indian business delegation called on the Prime Minister and discussed the possibilities and ways for expansion of bilateral trade. On the occasion, the Prime Ministers entourage business also participated in the discussion.

On June 22, she was accorded a formal state reception by the Indian Prime Minister at Rashtrapati Bhavan. She was given a guard of honour in presence of the Indian Prime Minister there. Afterwards, she paid my tributes to Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of Indian Nation, at his mausoleum at Rajghat.

In the afternoon, she had several meetings with Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi. A bilateral meeting between Bangladesh and India was held at the historic Hyderabad House. She led the Bangladesh delegation while Narendra Modi led the Indian delegation, she added.

During the meeting, Prime Minister Modi said Bangladesh-India relations are constantly flourishing and progressing rapidly.

Emphasizing good relations with neighbours and regional cooperation amid ongoing global instability and uncertainty, he said, they are interested in working more deeply with Bangladesh. Bangladesh is at the centre of their Neighbourhood First, Act East, SAGAR and Indo-Pacific policies, she said, adding that they discussed ways and means of mutual cooperation and engagement between the two countries. They have agreed to cooperate sincerely for the welfare of the two countries and people.

"During the meeting, we discussed politics and security, peaceful and secured border management and curbing border casualty to zero level, trade and connectivity, sustainable management of common rivers and water sharing, energy and regional and multilateral cooperation, among other issues of mutual interest," Sheikh Hasina added.

She informed that she had invited Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to pay a bilateral visit to Bangladesh as soon as possible at his convenient time.

"After the meetings, five new memorandums of understanding (MoUs) were signed and exchanged and three renewed MoUs were signed and exchanged between the two countries. In addition, two Vision Statements were signed and exchanged. In the meeting, 13 joint programmes as areas of future work were announced," she stated.

According to the Prime Minister, the important aspects of the tour were - both countries have adopted a Vision Statement to ensure a peaceful and prosperous future. In addition, both sides agreed to work with two integrated visions of Digital Partnership and Green Partnership for Sustainable Future.

The five MoUs were signed on rail connectivity, maritime cooperation and green economy, cooperation in information technology sector, satellite and military education cooperation. Through the memorandums of understanding on railway connectivity, passenger and freights trains communication will be established with Bangladesh and various cities of India as well as Nepal and Bhutan, she added.

The three MoUs have been renewed for cooperation in health and medicine, disaster management, resilience and mitigation and cooperation in fisheries.

They have also discussed the renewal of the Ganges River Water Sharing Agreement and Indias assistance in the Teesta River Water Management and Water Conservation Project in Bangladesh. However, this has no link with the long-standing unsettled issue of Teesta water sharing, she informed.

She stated that introduction of e-Visa for patients travelling from Bangladesh for medical purposes in India and establishment of new Assistant High Commission of India in Rangpur. This will allow critical patients to process their visas faster than before and travel in lesser time.

Introduction of new train service between Rajshahi and  Kolkata; new bus service between Chattogram and Kolkata and freight train service between Gede-Darshana and Haldibari-Chilahati to Dalgaon. This will enhance communication and economic activities between the two countries further. The construction of Inland Container Depot (ICD) at Sirajganj under grant assistance was also discussed, she added.

The issues of importing 40 MW electricity from Nepal to Bangladesh through the Indian grid, which will further enhance regional power cooperation and making expenditure capped at Tk 8 lakh for patients seeking treatment under the Muktijoddha scheme and training for Bangladeshi police officers were also discussed there, Sheikh Hasina said.

She said that discussion on introduction of Rupee card in Bangladesh and Taka-Pay card in India in order to start the use of UPI was also held.

After exchanging the MoUs, she paid a courtesy call on Indian President Droupadi Murmu and Vice-President Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar. During the meeting with the Indian President and Vice President, they emphasized the friendship and cooperative relations between the two countries. They praised the unprecedented socio-economic development and stability of Bangladesh in the last 15 years.



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