Describing what Bangladesh has been able to achieve from India, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said that her recent visit to the neighbouring country didn’t end with nothing, reports UNB and BSS.
“Bangladesh is going to get fuel from India. The (fuel) oil will be transported from Assam’s Numaligarh to our depot in the north through a pipeline which will also be built by India. Once the supply of fuel starts, the economic activities of north Bangladesh and the wellbeing of the people living there will get a boost.”
She said this during a press conference held on her recent visit to India, at her official residence Ganabhaban on Wednesday afternoon.
During the briefing, Hasina termed the assurance of getting oil and gas from India as a big accomplishment of her recent India visit.
Replying to a question, the Prime Minister said what Bangladesh achieved from India depends on one’s perception.
She added that Bangladesh has also discussed the issue of LNG import with India.
“Khulna region faces an acute gas crisis from time to time. We’re thinking of importing LNG from India through that region so that people living in that part of the country can be directly benefited,” she added.
Hasina said the people of both countries will be benefited from the cooperation in all the areas identified during her India visit and the decisions taken to solve the existing bilateral problems.
“I think that my visit has opened a new horizon in Bangladesh-India relations. All aspects of Bangladesh-India relations were discussed during my visit.”
Sheikh Hasina said both the counties highlighted sincerity and pledged to continue cooperation between the two countries based on equality and respect as good neighbours.
She said Teesta water sharing, cessation of border killings, trade expansion, withdrawal of anti-dumping duty on Bangladesh jute products, repatriation of the Rohingyas, and import of electricity from Nepal and Bhutan via India, were discussed.
The people of both countries will be benefited from the cooperation in all the areas identified during this visit and the decisions taken to solve the existing problems, she added.
Sheikh Hasina said, “India is our closest neighbour and friendly country. Our relationship with India is historic. Our relations have been deepened due to similarities in language and culture. Apart from this, the support during the Liberation War and cooperation after the independence have reached this friendship at a special level.”
Bd-pratidin English/Golam Rosul
