India’s demonetisation affects ‘a large amount’ deposited in Bangladesh Bank: Shahriar Alam

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam has drawn India’s attention that New Delhi’s demonetisation of Rupees has “affected a large amount” currently deposited in Bangladesh Bank.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Nov 8 last year announced the demonetisation of all Rupee 500 and Rupee 1,000 banknotes in action being seen as a way of curtailing ‘shadow economy’ and crack down on the use of illicit and counterfeit cash to fund illegal activity and terrorism.

The state minister made the point when he met his counterpart MJ Akbar in Mumbai on Monday on the sidelines of the ‘Indian Geoeconomic Dialogue’, the foreign ministry said.

He also drew the attention of the recent anti-dumping measure imposed on Jute by India which he said created “difficulties” in imports from Bangladesh.

Akbar assured him that both “the countries could resolve issues with good will and existing good relations to take it to further deeper level”.

They, however, expressed “deep satisfaction” at the level of relations the two countries had been maintaining over the last eight years.

They noted that “tremendous progress” had been made in almost all sectors of cooperation including connectivity, power, trade and commerce, security, cultural exchange, tourism and people-to-people contact.

They also hoped that the “goodwill” generated by the peaceful and historic settlement of land boundary and maritime boundary issues provided “more confidence in the bilateral relations to deepen further”.

Terming 2017 as the ‘Landmark Year of our Relationship’, MJ Akbar said that they were “very eager” for the forthcoming visit of the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and looking forward to welcoming her in India.

Hasina was scheduled to visit India last year in December which was later postponed. Officials indicate that the visit might take place by April.

Meanwhile, Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Harsh Vardhan Shringla met Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque on Monday.

A senior official at the foreign ministry told bdnews24.com that the meeting took place ahead of a visit of Indian foreign secretary Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.

He is expected to come to Dhaka on Feb 23 when the issue of the prime minister’s visit also comes up.