Dhaka, Delhi renew pledge to settle issues

Bangladesh and India pledged to resolve ‘issues’ through dialogue and constant engagement on India’s 65th Republic Day on Sunday.

Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith said the relations between the two countries were based on “strong foundations” and would “prosper” in the days to come.

“We are neighbours, we all know neighbours quarrel and neighbours have problems.”

He hoped that “difficulties and quarrels” the two countries have would be resolved through “mutual consultations, mutual respect and mutual friendship”.

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Indian High Commissioner Pankaj Saran said they would look forward to building partnership based on the “principles of mutual respect, mutual benefit and respect for each other’s sovereignty”.

He said India attached high importance to its “broad-based and inclusive” relations with Bangladesh.

His country would remain “fully committed” to resolving all the issues between the two countries “through dialogue and constant efforts”.

Ministers, senior politicians, business leaders, educationists, cultural personalities, editors, members of the armed forces and the civil society joined the Republic Day reception hosted by the High Commissioner.

Jan 26 is celebrated as the Republic Day to mark the day when independent India’s constitution came into force, replacing the 1935 Government of India Act.

This year the day came months before the 16th Lok Sabha elections slated for mid-April. India also for the first time named a Bangladeshi, Prof Anisuzzaman, for its third highest civilian award ‘Padma Bhushan’.

Envoy Saran said India made steady progress in all spheres since its birth that he said unleashed the power of “individual freedom, free enterprise, creativity and pluralism”.

He said in the coming elections, approximately 780 million people would vote in the world’s largest elections and invited Bangladeshis to observe them.

“We are linked through ties of history, culture and civilisation,” he said and added that last few years the relations had grown and “we have broken new ground”.

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“There are many initiatives we have taken for the first time in more than 40 years.” He said India would remain a “sincere friend and well wisher of the people of Bangladesh”.

“We wish to see a democratic, peaceful, stable, and prosperous Bangladesh which can contribute to the wellbeing and harmony of the region,” he continued.

Saran observed that the “stability and prosperity” of the two countries were “inter-dependent and closely linked”.

Muhith cited the two neighbours’ historical association of “almost 5000 years” that he said was renewed in 1971 War of Independence when India helped Bangladesh.

“It would not be right to brush aside the problems that we had with India but these are problems between friends and between neighbours who are fond of each other and who will have to live together all the time to come.”

Both of them did not specify any problems. But despite growing relationships, the issues of Land Boundary Agreement ratification and Teesta water-sharing treaty have remained thorny along with border management problems.

The Finance Minister said the relationship between the two neighbours “strengthened” five years ago when Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina met her Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh and “renewed the relationship that existed between us”.

He expected the two countries would find “good solutions, acceptable solutions, and pleasant solutions for the people of this country”.

He said India’s economic growth was possible by its “dedication to democracy, dedication to non-communal idea, and dedication to the welfare of people”.

The minister also conveyed his best wishes to the people of India on the Republic Day.

Ruling Awami League’s General Secretary and LGRD AND Cooperatives Minister Syed Ashraful Islam, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed, Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu, Communications Minister Obaidul Quader, Prime Minister’s Political Affairs Adviser HT Imam, and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam attended the reception, among others.

Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad and Secretary General Ruhul Amin Hawlader, senior BNP leaders including Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury, Reaz Rahman, Sabih Uddin Ahmed and Mahbubur Rahman were also present.

Workers Party of Bangladesh chief Rashed Khan Menon, Advisory Council member of Communist Party of Bangladesh Monjurul Ahsan Khan and Krishak Sramik Janata League President Kader Siddiqui were among the senior politicians who joined the reception.

From the businesses, FBBCI President Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed and BGMEI President Atikul Islam also attended it.