ZCZC
BSS-07
PM-IBBF-2 LAST NEW DELHI
Noting that India-Bangladesh relations reached its best ever stage, Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina also said in the function “Even Modiji himself has
termed that relations as a “Sonali Adhyay”.
“We are confident that in the coming years, we would further lift our
relations to new heights,” she added.
The India-Bangladesh cooperation began during the War of Liberation in
1971, she said, adding that the spirit of 1971 has always guided our
relations.
She recalled with deep appreciation and gratitude India government and
people’s support and cooperation that Bangladesh had received during the
Liberation War in 1971.
The premier further said: “Despite profound geo-political changes and
challenges, we have been able to strengthen and consolidate our relations,
based on the principles of ‘mutual benefit’ and ‘a shared future'”.
She also said “Our cooperation has expanded in all areas, including
security, energy, connectivity, trade and investment, defence, culture and
people to people contact.”
Highlighting the massive economic progress in Bangladesh in the last 10
years, the premier said her country has achieved remarkable economic progress
in the last decade often recognized as “development model”.
Noting that Bangladesh is one of the fastest growing economies in the
world, she said “It is the second largest garment exporter, third largest
inland fish producer, fourth largest freshwater fish producer, fourth largest
rice producer and eighth largest remittance earning country”.
The prime minister spelled out the success of the country’s economy in the
last decade and said “During the last 10 years, our GDP growth averaged 7%
reaching 8.1% last year and expecting to be 8.2% in the current fiscal.”
“Inflation has been reduced to 5.4% while per capita income grew 3.5 times
to around US$ 2000 in 2019 from US$ 543 in 2006; foreign currency reserve
raised to US$ 33 billion; exports grew 3 times from 2005-06 to reach US$
40.53 billion in 2018-2019,” she added.
She said the poverty rate has reduced to 41 percent while “our target of
reducing poverty is 16-17 percent”.
Referring to a projection by Price Waterhouse Coopers, she said that
Bangladesh will be the 29th largest economy in the world by 2030. A recent
World Bank publication has included Bangladesh in the five fastest growing
economies in the world, she added.
The premier also referred to HSBC’s report of 2018 predicting that
Bangladesh will be the 26th largest economy becoming one of the three fastest
economies of the World by 2030.
Noting the Asian Development Bank Outlook 2019, she mentioned that
Bangladesh is the fastest growing economy in the Asia Pacific region.
“It attributes this achievement to strong leadership, good governance,
continued political stability and sound macroeconomic policy,” she added.
The premier said “All these achievements partly fulfill the dream of our
Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to transform
Bangladesh into a “Sonar Bangla”. If all these positive trends continue, we
expect eventually to implement our Vision to make Bangladesh a developed
country by 2041.”
She also put stress on economic diplomacy along with political diplomacy
so that the relations between the two neighbouring countries can be enhanced
further.
BSS/AHJ/GMR/1318 hrs