Released on = April 7, 2006, 2:22 am

Press Release Author = Patricia Ovemarrie, News2006

Industry = Media

Press Release Summary = Bangladesh and India feel that their relations are now on a
'solid footing' following exchange of a number of high-level visits, including the
one by the Bangladesh Prime Minister, Khaleda Zia to New Delhi last month.

Press Release Body = Bangladesh and India feel that their relations are now on a
'solid footing' following exchange of a number of high-level visits, including the
one by the Bangladesh Prime Minister, Khaleda Zia to New Delhi last month.
'I can tell you that our bilateral relations are now on a solid footing, grounded in
reality and motivated by a common desire to work for the good of our people,' the
foreign minister, M Morshed Khan told a seminar referring to Khaleda's recent visit
to New Delhi.
Veena Sikri, the Indian high commissioner to Bangladesh, also gave a positive note
on the visit. She said the two countries had tremendous opportunities to work
closely together to find mutually satisfactory solutions to all issues ranging from
security to water sharing.
The Centre for Development Research, Bangladesh, organized the seminar on
'Bangladesh-India relations: The context of SAARC and the emerging global scenario'
on Thursday at the CIRDAP auditorium in the city. The discussion came against the
backdrop of Khaleda's visit to India from March 20-22.
Moderated by the CDRB chairman, Mizanur Rahman Shelly, the seminar was addressed
among others by former state minister for foreign affairs, Abul Hasan Chowdhury,
former ambassador, Masum Ahmed Chowdhury and journalist Zaglul Ahmed Chowdhury.
The foreign minister narrated the deals the two neighbours had stuck during the
prime minister's visit to India and expressed satisfaction saying that he did not
miss the train of opportunity that he had mentioned beforehand.
He said the deepening bilateral engagement argues well for the process of promoting
regional cooperation, especially in the SAARC. He referred to the 13th summit of the
regional forum in Dhaka and said the summit had witnessed a major leap forward for
regional cooperation in South Asia.
Veena Sikri, said Bangladesh prime minister's visit to India was keenly awaited and
warmly welcomed. Her (Khaleda) visit provided the opportunity to strengthen and
consolidate the traditionally close and friendly relations through discussions at
the highest level.
She said India had been following up the commitments that were made during the
Bangladesh prime minister's visit.
The Indian envoy hoped that a number of forthcoming meetings between high officials
of the two countries would be useful and important.
'Working together, we can unlock the potential of our region by dismantling
existing barriers,' Sikri said.
Abul Hasan Chowdhury emphasised more people- to- people contact. He suggested
collaborative ventures to tap the potential of water and energy sectors between the
two countries.
In his keynote paper, Prof Imtiaz Ahmed of Dhaka University department of
international relations said the Indo-Bangla relations were faced with certain
puzzles which needed to be addressed with or without feelings of friendship or
conversely animosity.


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