Bangladesh PM to talk with Modi while in India to boost ties
NEW DELHI (AP) — Bangladesh’s prime minister was welcomed to India with a ceremony in the capital, New Delhi, on Tuesday during a four-day visit aimed at boosting bilateral ties.
Sheikh Hasina shook hands with her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Presidential Palace, and officials said the two leaders later in the day are expected to discuss deals on connectivity, energy, food security, and trade.
Hasina said the two countries enjoy a friendly relationship focused on alleviating poverty and economic advancement. “We can work together so that people not only (in) India, Bangladesh, and also the South Asian people, they can get better life. That is our main focus,” she said.
In Bangladesh, her visit is seen as politically significant as it comes ahead of general elections next year. Hasina, who has maintained a warm relationship with India since becoming prime minister in 2009, will push to bolster investment and trade as well as make progress on long-standing issues such as water-sharing of common rivers, observers say.
Over the weekend, Bangladesh’s foreign minister told reporters that the two countries are likely to ink seven agreements covering science and technology, water management, and information and broadcasting.
“We hope the visit will be very successful. It will help achieve our goals,” Dr AK Abdul Momen was quoted as saying by The Daily Star newspaper.
The relationship between the neighbors is crucial, with India being Bangladesh’s largest trading partner in South Asia. While China is involved in almost all major infrastructure development schemes in Bangladesh, India is also more eager to take up joint projects.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh runs a significant trade imbalance with India, an issue that may be discussed during Hasina’s...