Statement of Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for the Press Briefing

Statement of Hon’ble Prime Minister
H. E. Sheikh Hasina
for the Press Briefing

Hyderabad House, New Delhi
06 September 2022

Hon’ble Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi,
Members of the Cabinet from Bangladesh and India,
Dear Friends from the Press and Media,
Ladies and Gentlemen,


Assalamualaikum, Namashkar and Good Afternoon!

Thank you for your presence today.

I am happy to be at the iconic Hyderabad House again – a place with rich history and marvellous architecture.

I along with my delegation arrived in the historic city of New Delhi yesterday. I am visiting India after almost three (03) years. Indeed, I am happy to be amongst you today. I thank the Government of India for extending warm hospitality to me and my delegation.

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the Government of India and my Indian friends on the successful completion of the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ – the year-long celebrations to mark the 75th year of India’s Independence. At the new dawn of the ‘Amrit Kaal’ for the next 25 years, I extend our best wishes as India moves forward towards attaining resolutions made for ‘Aatmanirbhar (self-reliant) Bharat’.

Today, my distinguished colleague Hon’ble Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi and I have just concluded another round of fruitful discussion, the outcome of which will bring benefits to the people of both our countries.

We held the meeting in a spirit of close friendship and cooperation. We discussed a wide range of bilateral issues to take forward our relationship in the days ahead. We focused on possible ways to materialize our commitments and accommodate each other’s priorities in a mutually beneficial manner. Connectivity, trade and commerce, investment, water resources management, security, border management and lines of credit are some of the areas we discussed.

We are grateful for the invaluable support extended by the Government and the people of India in the Great War of Liberation of Bangladesh in 1971 which was a watershed moment in our bilateral relations. Since then, Bangladesh-India ties are anchored in shared history and culture, mutual trust and respect, longstanding friendship and continued cooperation. I appreciate Modi Ji’s visionary leadership that continues to provide added momentum to our bilateral relations.

I reiterated that India is the most important and closest neighbour for Bangladesh. Bangladesh-India bilateral relations are known to be Role Models for Neighborhood diplomacy. Noting that over the last decade, both the countries have achieved remarkable progress in a number of areas, I recalled that the two countries had resolved many outstanding issues in the spirit of friendship and cooperation and we hope that all outstanding issues including Teesta Water Sharing Treaty would be concluded at an early date.

Today, in the later part of the day, I am expecting to call on the Hon’ble President of India and the Hon’ble Vice President of India. Tomorrow, I shall confer ‘Mujib Scholarships’ to the direct descendants of the soldiers/officers of the Defence forces of India who were martyred or critically wounded during the great Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971. Tomorrow, I shall also have an engagement with the business forums of Bangladesh and India.

Having forged a strong partnership over the last 50 years, both countries are working on an increasingly wide range of issues of mutual interest. I and Prime Minister Modiji agreed to work together, in the spirit of friendship and partnership, for the prosperity and development of our two countries and in the region

Bounded by 54 common rivers and a four-thousand-kilometre border, Bangladesh and India are committed to enhancing the collective welfare of the two peoples.

I thank you all!
May Bangladesh-India friendship live forever!
বাংলাদেশ-ভারত মৈত্রী চিরজীবী হোক!
Joy Bangla!
Joy Bangabandhu!