No way for India other than keeping good terms with Bangladesh: Muhith

India has to maintain good relations with Bangladesh for its own interest, Finance Minister AMA Muhith has said.

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“It’s not possible for India not to have good terms with Bangladesh,” he told reporters on Wednesday after a meeting with the visiting Asian Development Bank Vice President, Bindu N Lohani.

Muhith said they had discussed ways to prop up regional connectivity.

“There’s a great deal of land connectivity between the two countries. Besides, India is the second largest importer to Bangladesh, which means there is huge bilateral trade,” he told the press.

The minister claimed that Bangladesh’s importance in the global economic scenario was growing.

“Hence, it’s quite normal that there is good relation with India as a neighbouring country,” he added.

Asked on the BNP’s claim that the government was in power with Indian help, Muhith said: ”No one can be in power with anybody’s help; people’s mandate is the only thing required.

“Awami League is in power by dint of its strength at home. If you are strong, foreigners will be with you; if not, they will not stand by you.”

Dependency is part of the BNP’s character, said the finance minister.