Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that Bangladesh continues to be one of the significant pillars of India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy.
In a video conference with his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina, Modi said that his government concentrated on keeping strong relations with Dhaka ever since it came into power.
On the occasion, Hasina thanked Modi for accepting her invitation to visit Bangladesh in person in March 2021 to join events marking the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh’s independence and 50 years of Bangladesh-India diplomatic relations, said an official statement.
The two sides exchanged views on the situation of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in their respective countries.
Reiterating highest priority to the neighbouring country, Modi assured that COVID-19 vaccines would be made available to Bangladesh when produced in India. India also offered collaboration in therapeutics and partnership in vaccine production.
To strengthen and deepen our relations with Bangladesh has been a priority for me since the first day. It is true that because of the pandemic, this year has been challenging but in these challenging times, the relations between the two countries, have seen immense cooperation,” PM Modi said.
According to news agency PTI, India and Bangladesh have signed 7 agreements in areas of hydrocarbons, agriculture, textiles and community development and restored a cross-border rail link, which was in operation till 1965.
The summit is being held a day after India celebrated its 50th anniversary of the nation’s victory over Pakistan in the 1971 India-Pakistan War, also known as Bangladesh Liberation War.
“I pay deep homage to the three million martyrs who laid down their lives. I pay tribute to the members of the Indian armed forces martyred in the war and to their families. I pay my gratitude to the government and the people of India who extended their whole hearted support for the cause of our nation,” said Hasina.
