8th round of India-Bangladesh friendship dialogue begins in Guwahati

The Assam CM expressed this view while taking part as chief guest in the inaugural programme of 8th round of India- Bangladesh Friendship Dialogue which has started in Guwahati on Sunday.

This three days programme is being organized by State Innovation and Transformation Aayog (SITA), Assam in joint collaboration with Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Institute of Asian Studies, Bangladesh Foundation for Regional Studies (BFRS) and India Foundation (IF).

“We have common enemies, problems and threats, those have to be combated and fought together. Our common enemy is poverty and together we have to fight that. Our common threats which of course are also a global threat are terrorism and fundamentalism. We have to fight them together and have been working together,” Sonowal said.

Stating that terrorism remains one of the most significant threats to peace and stability in the region, the Assam CM urged both the government to commit themselves to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

The Assam CM also highlighted the urgent need to improve market access and remove barriers to trade, including port restrictions on products, to ensure smooth movement of goods across the borders.

Appreciating the initiative taken up by Bangladesh Government for setting up of an Assistant High Commissionerate of Bangladesh in Guwahati, Sonowal highlighted the milestones achieved during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Bangladesh in June 2015 when as many as 22 agreements were signed by both the countries.

“During the visit of PM Modi India extended a US$2 billion line of credit to Bangladesh and pledged US$5 billion worth of investments. As per the agreements, India's Reliance Power agreed to invest US$3 billion to set up a 3,000 MW LNG-based power plant which is the single largest foreign investment ever made in Bangladesh. Adani Power will also be setting up a 1600 MW coal-fired power plant at a cost of US$1.5 billion. The two countries also signed agreement on maritime safety co-operation and curbing human trafficking and fake Indian currency,” Sonowal said.

The Assam CM also pointed out some of the issues for resolving through dialogues in the forum which include removal of restrictions in items of trade between India and Bangladesh, particularly through the land route of Assam, Meghalaya and Tripura.

Dredging of Brahmaputra and Barak rivers to make river route navigable throughout the year was also raised by the Assam CM.

Expansion of Optical Fibre Cable connectivity from Agartala to the integrated check post at Akhaura in the Indo-Bangla international border to connect Cox Bazar’s submarine bandwidth was also raised by the Assam CM.

Union Minister of State for External Affairs MJ Akbar, in his speech, emphasized on the shared capabilities that both the countries have to prosper and move forward. Stating that prosperity demands peace, the union Minister advocated to ensure that no sanctuary to be provided to terrorist elements.

Akbar said that both countries are showing a model relationship for mutual growth and pointed out the role played by the visit of Indian and Bangladesh prime ministers to the respective countries.

Saying that 35 agreements were signed during Sheikh Hasina's visit to India and 22 agreements during Prime Minister Modi's visit to Bangladesh, Akbar said that 13 of the agreements are commercial in nature which are expected to bring industrial growth in both the countries.

The union minister also said that Government of India will cooperate with Bangladesh on developing smart cities, setting up of community clinic.

He also said that three more railway lines will be operational in addition to the bus services to Bangladesh and highlighted the potential of river navigation and improving bilateral relationship in power and energy sector.

State Minister for foreign affairs of Bangladesh, Md. Shahriar Alam while speaking on the occasion urged both the countries to cement ties for mutual growth. Stating that prosperous Bangladesh can contribute in the growth of India, the Bangladesh foreign minister urged the Government of India to provide market access for their products.

Quoting Prime Minister Narendra Modi's mantra of Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas, Alam urged the participants of the dialogue to come forth with newer ideas for maximizing development in both the countries.

Vice Chairman of State Innovation and Transformation Aayog, Assam, Dipak Kr Barthakur, Md. Syed Muazzem Ali, High Commissioner of Bangladesh in India, Captain Alok Bansal, President of India Foundation, Pankaj Debnath, MP, Bangladesh and a host of official dignitaries of both the countries were present in the dialogue.

(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)