Bangladesh and India’s friendship unbreakable: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina held held a press conference addressing the nation to brief them of her recently concluded trip to India.

The press conference was held at Ganabhaban, the official residence of the Prime Minister at 4:30pm.

Regarding her trip, PM Hasina said, “I did not return empty-handed. I wanted water, but got electricity.”

During her four-day trip, 11 deals and 24 Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) were signed between the neighbouring countries.

“This trip has further strengthened the relationship between the two countries,” PM Hasina said. “Our friendship is unbreakable.”

She also said she was ‘pleasantly surprised’ that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to receive her at the airport in New Delhi.

“When the plane landed, my officials told me that prime minister Modi was at the airport. I’ll have to say I was a quite surprised.”

“Overall the trip was hugely satisfying. There’s no frustration,” she added.

When asked about the Teesta issue not being solved, she said, “No one can stop water flow towards Bangladesh.”

“We are in the downstream and thus water will come down. None will be able to stop the flow of water,” she said.

“India prime minister has pledged to sign the agreement. We can wait with patience for signing it, she said.

She said India built a barrage at Gazaldoba point on Teesta river when BNP was in power. But the then government did not raise its voice against this, she said.

“Now we are facing the consequence of the barrage,” PM Hasina added.

“They have to release the water,” she said. “During rainy days, they’ll have no option but to do that. And we have to find methods to retain it.”

She also mentioned West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s alternative proposal on giving Bangladesh water from four smaller rivers instead of Teesta.

During the visit, the PM held official talks with Modi and called on Indian President Pranab Mukherjee and Vice-President Hamid Ansari.

All India National Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Indian External Affairs Minister Sushama Swaraj and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Mukherjee called on her.

Dhaka and New Delhi signed 34 instruments in the forms of agreements, MoUs and bilateral documents after the two premiers’ talks at the ball room of the Hyderabad House.

PM Sheikh Hasina paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi, the preeminent leader of the Indian independence movement in British-ruled India, by placing a wreath at his Samadhi in Rajghat.

Sheikh Hasina and Narendra Modi also unveiled the Hindi edition of Bangabandhu’s autobiography “Unfinished Memoirs of Bangabandhu”.

The premier also honoured Indian Armed Forces members who embraced martyrdom in Bangladesh’s 1971 Liberation War.

She visited Ajmer Sharif at Rajasthan and offered ziarat of the mazar (shrine) of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti (RA).

The premier attended a banquet hosted in her honour by the Indian president. She also joined another banquet hosted by her Indian counterpart for her.

At the end of her tour, PM Sheikh Hasina joined a reception accorded by India Foundation and attended a business event in New Delhi.

It was Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s maiden official visit to India after her present government was voted to power through the January 5 elections in 2014.

The premier last paid her official visit to India in January 2010 which was reciprocated by her Indian counterpart in June 2015.