Bangladesh PM plans to visit India in Feb

The Bangladesh prime minister wants to visit India in the first half of February next.
Sheikh Hasina disclosed this when Indian Minister of State for External Affairs M J Akbar paid a courtesy call on her yesterday.
Briefing reporters after the meeting, PM’s press secretary Ihsanul Karim said officials of the two countries would work out to finalise the schedule of the tour.
About the Bangladesh prime minister’s visit to India, Akbar said: “New Delhi is looking forward to the tour and is eagerly waiting to welcome her.”
While talking about the bilateral issues, Hasina said there may be problems between two neighbouring countries, but these should not affect the friendship and co-operation.
The prime minister reiterated her government’s zero-tolerance policy against terrorism and militancy and said none would be allowed to use Bangladesh’s soil for terrorist acts against any country.
“We won’t tolerate any sorts of terrorism and militancy and won’t allow our land to be used for carrying out terrorist acts against any country,” she said.
The prime minister recalled with gratitude the contribution of Indian armed forces to Bangladesh’s War of Liberation in 1971.
She also mentioned that Indian allied force returned to their country immediately after independence of Bangladesh. “It has created a history as no allied force in the world did return home immediately after the victory,” she said.
They also discussed the construction of water reservoirs on both sides of the two countries for ensuring water security.
Referring to different incidents like Dhaka bakery seize on July 1 this year and attacks on temples in various parts of the country, the prime minister said these incidents were staged to destabilise the country’s development and progress.
Akbar said Narendra Modi and Sheikh Hasina have taken India-Bangladesh bilateral relations to a new height. “The horizon of bilateral relations has been widened due to pragmatic steps of the two leaders,” he said.
The Indian state minister said there are vast areas of co-operation between Bangladesh and India particularly in the field of hydroelectricity and energy.
Praising the dynamic and visionary leadership of the Bangladesh premier, Akbar said the contribution of Prime Minister Hasina to ensuring stability in the region is historic.
About settlement of problems between the two countries, Akbar said that when there is goodwill, any problem could be resolved.