SHEIKH HASINA’S INDIA VISIT OPENS NEW HORIZONS IN INDIA-BANGLADESH ECONOMIC RELATIONS

Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, paid a State Visit to India from 05-08 September 2022 at the invitation of Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi.

- Dr. Shahid Siddiqui

On the first day of her visit, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid a visit to Sufishrine of Nizamuddin Aulia. She offered prayer before starting her four days’ official visit to India.

The holy Sufishrine has been an important pilgrimage site for both PM Hasina and her father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman for more than half a century. ‘Bangabandhu’ Sheikh Mujibur Rahman used to come to meet his grandfather — Syed Mohamad Miya Nizami, and his father, Kabir Uddin Nizami.

In a candid discussion, Bangladesh’s prime minister emphasised on closer cooperation between the two neighbours. “There can be differences but these should be addressed through dialogue,” she said adding that in a number of areas, India and Bangladesh had precisely done that.

During the India visit, PM Sheikh Hasina called on the President of India, Droupadi Murmu and the Vice President of India, Jagdeep Dhankhar. External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar and Minister of Development of North Eastern Region Shri G. Kishan Reddy also called on her.

On the third day of her visit to India PM Hasina’s launched “Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Student Scholarship” for 200 descendants of Indian Armed Forces personnel martyred and critically injured during the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971. She addressed a business event, jointly organized by Indian and Bangladesh business communities on 7 September 2022.

On the sideline, FICCI and FBCCI also organised a business meet for industrialists and investors on the second day of her official visit. Mr Tipu Munshi, Minister of Commerce of Bangladesh and Mr Salman F Rahman, Private Industry and Investment Adviser to Hon’ble Prime Minister of Bangladesh were also present at this event.