PM Hasina’s statement in Delhi

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that she discussed the issues of water resources management including sharing of water of common rivers like Teesta, the Padma-Ganges Barrage Project and basin-wide management of common rivers.

`I sincerely believe that we shall be able to get India’s support in resolving these issues expeditiously,’ she said in her statement following the bilateral talks between Bangladesh and India at Hyderabad House in New Delhi Saturday.

Following is her full statement

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim

His Excellency the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Members of the Media,

It is indeed a great pleasure to be in New Delhi again.

2. India is certainly our most important neighbour and one of our key development partners. India made invaluable contribution in our War of Liberation for which we are deeply grateful. Today in the afternoon, we are happy to honour the martyrs of Indian Armed Forces who lost their lives for our war of liberation in 1971. We sought support of India in our efforts for recognition of ‘Genocide of 1971’ by the international community. India agreed to support us.

3. India has attained commendable economic development and is fast emerging as a powerhouse in the areas of education, science, technology and innovation. Now Bangladesh economy is growing at an impressive rate of over 7%. We have also made significant advancement in most of the MDGs in particular health, education and poverty reduction.

4. We both reiterated our strong commitment to make our borders peaceful and free from criminal activities. We also pledged ‘zero tolerance’ against terrorism and extremism.

5. This morning, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and I had a productive meeting. We sat together to take our excellent bilateral relations to newer height. We also discussed all aspects of our ever growing relationship to enhance our understanding about mutual concerns and priorities.

6. Prime Minister Modi and I agree that greater connectivity is vital for the development of the two countries and for the region. We have also flagged off new passenger bus services for Khulna-Kolkata route, trial run of Khulna-Kolkata 2^nd Maitree Express and re-opening of Birol-Radhikapur rail route for freight.

7. Prime Minister Modi was receptive to the issue of growing trade deficit and assured of his government’s concrete steps to address this. We have also discussed on the review of anti-dumping duties imposed on Jute export from Bangladesh and resolved the issue. To bring balance in trade between the two countries, we have decided to set up Special Economic Zones (SEZ) for India in Bangladesh on identified locations. We have discussed other issues to promote trade and investments between our two countries.

8. We have very good cooperation in power and energy sectors. We have inaugurated supply of additional 60 MW power to Bangladesh from Tripura. We have also discussed cross-border electricity import from Nepal and Bhutan. Many other initiatives between respective organizations have been undertaken to further strengthen cooperation in the power and energy sectors.

9. We discussed the issues of water resources management including sharing of water of common rivers like Teesta, the Padma-Ganges Barrage Project and basin-wide management of common rivers. I sincerely believe that we shall be able to get India’s support in resolving these issues expeditiously.

10. Today, we have signed a number of other bilateral documents, covering diverse areas of cooperation. These include economic cooperation, defense cooperation, peaceful use of nuclear energy, outer space, information technology, mass media, and so on.

11. People-to-people contact is the strength of our links. We have upgraded our Agartala Visa Office to Assistant High Commission and have also opened Assistant high Commission in Guwahati recently. India has opened more Indian Visa Application Centres (IVACs) in Bangladesh. This again reflects our growing mutual confidence and shared commitment to expand our relationship.

12. Our vision for comprehensive and enduring relationship is outlined in the Joint Declaration. We now have to translate the Declaration into concrete deliverables.

13. Lastly, I would like to sincerely thank Prime Minister Modi for his dynamism and innovative ideas, which are not only taking India forward rapidly but also add much value to our bilateral relationship.

I thank the friends from media present here for their time and patience.

Thank you all.