Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina told visiting Indian President Ramnath Kovind that friendly ties between India and Bangladesh are crucial for peace and prosperity of the region, as they Wednesday talked bilateral affairs and current issues of common concern.
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen disclosed this while talking to newsmen after the Indian President's separate meetings with him and the Prime Minister on the first day of his tour.
Both Hasina and Kovind stressed the need for working together to ensure peace and stability in the region, Dr Momen said, adding that connectivity, Rohingya issue and post-Durga Puja violence were also discussed during the meetings.
"During her meeting with the Indian President, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina made it clear that in Bangladesh minority people are treated equally and her government is committed to ensuring the rights of the minority," Momen said.
"The Indian President recalled the great sacrifices made by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and others of her family following the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and he himself learnt a lot from this sacrifice," the foreign minister told the press.
In response, the Prime Minister said she was grateful to the people of India, especially to the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, for providing shelter to her and her family during those troubled times.
Terming the Indo-Bangladesh relations a role model for the world Dr Momen said he told the Indian President that other countries could learn how to resolve unresolved issues through talks from these two neighbouring countries.
"I told him that through mutual cooperation these two countries can reach the pinnacle of prosperity in the coming years," Momen said.
The foreign minister told the Indian President that the two countries are in talks on initiating an economic-cooperation partnership and both of them agreed that it would help in resolving many issues.
The Indian President thanked Hasina for sending mangoes for him and said that he brought sweetmeat, made in the Rashtrapati Bhaban, for her.
It is President Kovind's first trip abroad since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also came to Bangladesh during the corona time.
President Kovind would represent India as the guest of honour in celebrations of the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh's Victory Day today (Thursday).
