Dhaka, March 13 (www.bdnews24.com): Indian President Pranab Mukherjee has invited Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to stay at Rashtrapati Bhavan during her upcoming visit to New Delhi in April.
It’s exceptional because no head of government stays at Rashtrapati Bhavan,” Indian High Commissioner Harsh Vardhan Shringla said on Monday after his meeting with Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque at the foreign ministry.
They discussed on the preparations for the visit on which, the High Commissioner said, India attaches the “highest importance”.
This is important because “it is the head of government of a neighbouring friendly country with whom we share the longest land boundary we have with any other country. We conclude both land and maritime boundary issues in a very short period”.
He said the dates of the visit would be announced shortly, though officials at the foreign ministry indicated that the prime minister would leave Dhaka for the three-day visit on April 7.
The high commissioner said “everything is work in progress. Work is in progress. We’ll have to see what is possible and what is not possible,” when asked whether there would be any breakthrough on Teesta water sharing deal.
Replying to another question Shringla said, “Cooperation in Ganges barrage is very good, and we have set up a joint technical level committee. We have shared terms of references and composition of the committee. So, this is also work in progress”.
“We hope that the visit would be satisfactory,” he said.
He stated that they would look at many issues during the tour including “symbolic” issues of India, Bangladesh relations which are 1971 when both countries fought together for the liberation of Bangladesh.
The Indian government has different schemes for the benefits of Bangladesh’s freedom fighters including educational scholarships for their dependents.
Officials earlier said during the visit; the prime minister will honour the Indian soldiers who fought for Bangladesh.
(The featured picture at the top shows Indian President Pranab Mukherjee in conversation with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina)
