প্রকাশ: 07/09/2022
State Minister for
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam today said Prime Minister Sheikh
Hasina's four-day state tour to India has attained a big achievement through
signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on withdrawal of Kushiara river
water by Bangladesh under the Upper Surma-Kushiara project.
"The big achievement for Bangladesh is signing of a MoU
on withdrawal of 153 cusec water from the Kushiara river (by Bangladesh),"
he said, replying to a question about the outcome of Bangladesh premier's
on-going visit to India.
In a news briefing at Bangladesh High Commission in New
Delhi about the Prime Minister's activities on the first two days of India
visit, he said Bangladesh has to give nothing to India in exchange for it and
relations between two countries never stand through giving and taking.
It was informed in the briefing that through withdrawal of
the water, over 5000 acres of land would be under irrigation in the concerned
region that has been suffering from water during the dry season.
About the Teesta river treaty, the state minister said,
"Bangladesh believes that the commitment of India will surely be
implemented although it may take time.
A momentum has been created with the signing of the MoU over
Kushiara River water sharing and we will maintain it to help resolve the Teesta
river issue."
Shahriar said that India has given importance to the
premier's ongoing tour. This will be visible if anyone goes through Delhi's
streets (as posters on the Bangladesh premier and friendship between the two
countries are there in large number) and Indian media's coverage on the issue.
During the bilateral talks, the Bangladesh premier told
Narendra Modi that repatriation is the only solution to the Rohingya issue and
she sought help for a durable solution to the matter.
He said that India has told them that they are working on
it.
About the recent turmoil in the Rakhine state, the state
minister said the Indian side is keeping an eye on the matter.
During the bilateral talks, he said both India and
Bangladesh have placed their issues and sought each other's cooperation to this
end, adding that alongside the Rohingya issue, connectivity, cooperation on
energy and trade and water sharing and management dominated the talks.
"Every issue was discussed with an open mind during the
bilateral talks. Both sides believe that every issue would be solved through
discussions," he added.
Shahriar said Narendra Modi highly praised Bangladesh's
unprecedented development under the dynamic leadership of the Bangladesh
premier, saying she had taken care of 17 crore people with motherly affection
during the Covid-19 pandemic period.
The state minister said Bangladesh is keen to purchase diesel,
gas and power from India by enhancing energy cooperation.
He said the Bangladesh premier informed Indian President
Droupadi Murmu that she had to go through a terrible time when she and her
younger sister were on forced exile for six years in India changing their
names, when she paid a courtesy call on her at the Rashtrapati Bhaban this
afternoon.
He said the killing on the border has reduced to the almost
zero level and reiterated Bangladesh's demand to reduce it to zero level fully
and stop use of lethal firearms.
The premier earlier paid a courtesy call on Vice President
of India Jagdeep Dhankhar at his secretariat while congress leader Rahul Gandhi
paid a courtesy call on the Bangladesh premier this afternoon.
Senior Secretary of the Foreign Ministry Masud Bin Momen,
PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim and Bangladesh High Commissioner to India
Muhammad Imran were present.
- BSS
প্রধান সম্পাদকঃ সৈয়দ বোরহান কবীর
ক্রিয়েটিভ মিডিয়া লিমিটেডের অঙ্গ প্রতিষ্ঠান
বার্তা এবং বাণিজ্যিক কার্যালয়ঃ ২/৩ , ব্লক - ডি , লালমাটিয়া , ঢাকা -১২০৭
নিবন্ধিত ঠিকানাঃ বাড়ি# ৪৩ (লেভেল-৫) , রোড#১৬ নতুন (পুরাতন ২৭) , ধানমন্ডি , ঢাকা- ১২০৯
ফোনঃ +৮৮-০২৯১২৩৬৭৭