DHAKA, Oct 1, 2018 (BSS) – Indian Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today
assured Bangladesh of help in resolving the Rohingya issue at the earliest.
Jaitley came up with the assurance when Bangladesh Planning Minister AHM
Mustafa Kamal met him at his office today in New Delhi, said a Planning
Ministry press release.
Kamal was attending the Mahatma Gandhi International Sanitation Convention
arranged by the government of India in New Delhi.
During the meeting, Mustafa Kamal urged the Indian Finance Minister to
extend support towards Bangladesh to contain the Rohingya influx from Myanmar
and ensure safe and dignified return of Rohingyas to their country Myanmar.
Jaitley lauded highly the recent massive advancement and progress of
Bangladesh achieved by the present Awami League government under the dynamic
leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in different socioeconomic fields.
Listing several index where Bangladesh is advancing fast, especially, the
economic growth of 7.86 percent and life expectancy of 72 years, Jaitley
mentioned about the present cross-border connectivity development between
India and Bangladesh, especially the road and rail connectivity.
He also lauded the planned development which the present Bangladesh
government has been pursuing side by side the present success of Bangladesh
in cricket. “Bangladesh needs to focus on connectivity and institutional
development to have a leap in the development areas.”
AHM Mustafa Kamal said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina pursues a policy to
build multifaceted relations with India, driven by genuine goodwill, trust,
understanding and mutual respect.
He mentioned that Bangladesh attaches highest importance to its relations
with India.
Extending his thanks to Jaitley for supporting the planned development of
Bangladesh by providing approvals on the projects to be financed under the
Indian Line of Credit, Kamal mentioned that the economies of India and
Bangladesh go hand in hand.
In response, Jaitley said that if Bangladesh and India are well connected
through road and rail networks, then it will be beneficial for both the
countries, as it will create opportunities economically for the people of the
two countries. “Bangladesh is secured with its border with India, and no
threat is possessed there,” he added.
The Planning Minister informed the Indian Finance Minister about the
Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100, which envisaged the water sector to be developed
for supporting Bangladesh for the next 50 to 100 years.
“Three things are most important for human being, firstly, air for
breathing; secondly, water for life; and thirdly, agriculture for food
security. Fresh and clean water are the major components for all these three
areas,” he added.
Kamal said that more than 80 trans-border river and water bodies shared by
different African nations have been taken into account for reserving water
where they are immensely benefited out of those rivers.
In this regard, Kamal requested Jaitley to help Bangladesh take similar
initiatives for the trans-boundary rivers and lakes to confront the future
possible water shortages in Bangladesh. He informed that Bangladesh will
start capital dredging in the major rivers where Bangladesh needs active
support from India, in terms of financing and also ensuring dredging in the
upstream of the rivers in Indian side.
In response, Jaitley assured Kamal that India would stand beside
Bangladesh in ensuring shared water bodies to be dredged on both sides.