India is with Bangladesh in fight against terror: Modi tells Hasina

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reaffirmed that his country will extend all help to Bangladesh in its fight against terrorism.

“You are not alone in your fight against terror. India will always fully support you in all your efforts to fight this menace,” said Modi while inaugurating the Petrapole Integrated Checkpost on Thursday.

Modi and his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina jointly opened the facility through a video call.

Modi began his speech by extending Eid greetings and conveying condolences for the Sholakia terror attack.

“I extend Eid greetings to Bangladesh PM and its citizens…I condemn the terror attack on Eid congregation in Kishoreganj,” he said.

The opening of the Petrapole check-post will not only promote bilateral trade but also help economic growth in both countries, Modi observed.

He said eight such integrated control points would be set up along the India-Bangladesh border.

“…Linking nations, connecting destinies,” said Modi during the tele-inauguration of the Petrapole checkpost with Hasina and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Petrapole-Benapole is the biggest land port in South Asia. The check-post will facilitate smooth movement of people, goods, and transport vehicles.

Trade worth more than Rs 150 billion (Tk 175 billion) is enabled through the Petrapole ICP and close to 1.5 million people and 150,000 trucks pass through it.

India's Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj and Bangladesh High Commissioner in India Syed Muazzem Ali  were with Modi during the programme.

[1 Indian Rupee =  1.17 Bangladeshi Taka]

Hasina said, “Today is a significant and memorable day for the India-Bangladesh bilateral ties. It also bears special significance in terms of mutual exchange.”

Modi spoke of plans to set up more such integrated check-posts at several places along the Bangladesh-India border.

Benapole-Petrapole is South Asia’s biggest land port. The integrated check-post is expected to ease the movement of people and goods of the two countries. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, too, spoke in the video conference.

‘This is a historic day. The relationship between India and Bangladesh is for all times and runs deep,” she said.

Mamata stressed the importance of links of various parts of India with Bangladesh and other neighbouring countries. “This will deepen relations and increase trade,” she observed.

Sheikh Hasina said: “Inter-country trade is one of the key drivers of domestic economy. It is of immense importance to the bilateral relations between Bangladesh and India.”

She said the governments of the two countries had taken several steps to make trade relations between them strong and sustainable.

“As a result, they are contributing a lot to increasing our trade and business and people-to-people contact,” said the Bangladesh prime minister.

She spoke of the need to start railway and river communication between the two countries and recalled India’s contribution to Bangladesh’s Liberation War.

 “The relationship between the two neighbouring countries will always remain pleasant and cordial, and we will resolve any problem through bilateral talks as we have always done,” said Hasina.

 “This connectivity was essential for the two friendly countries for the well-being and interest of their people.”

Sheikh Hasina also emphasized the importance of regional connectivity besides India-Bangladesh linkages.

“We have established regional connectivity among Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and India. On the other side there is Myanmar, India, Bangladesh, China. I believe people of this region will benefit the most from this connectivity, and the economies of our two countries will stand on firmer ground.”

After inaugurating the integrated check-post through the video call with Modi and Mamata, Sheikh Hasina held discussions with the Benapole administration and people’s representatives.

She said friendly relations should be maintained with neighbours for the sake of the country’s socio-economic development.

She urged everyone to fulfil their individual responsibilities for the smooth functioning of the Benapole land port.

“Do not do anything that will earn our country a bad name,” she said.

Referring to recent terrorist attacks, the prime minister said, “All of us must take initiatives in our own areas, in every neighbourhood and moholla. We must find out who or whose children are linked with terror or have become accomplices of terrorists, and must prevent impressionable boys from treading that path.”

She said militancy and terrorism were hampering the country’s economic progress.