PM Modi & Sheikh Hasina pledge to strengthen bilateral relations

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has paid ‘’deep homage’’ to the 3 million martyrs who laid their lives and the members of the Indian armed forces martyred in the 1971 Liberation of her country. Speaking at a virtual summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, 17 December 2020.she also said .’’ I pay my gratitude to the govt and people of India who extended wholehearted support for the cause of our liberation’’. PM  Modi said Bangladesh is a major pillar in India’s neighbourhood first policy and it has been a special priority for him to strengthen our relations with Bangladesh. This year has been challenging due to the global Covid-19 pandemic and it is a matter of satisfaction that there has been meaningful cooperation between the two neighbouring countries whether be it medicines or medical equipment or working with health professionals. ‘We are also having good cooperation in the field of  COVID-19 vaccine and in this regard, India will also take care of the requirements of Bangladesh. Our relationship has also continuously moved ahead in other fields apart from health sector’’. The two nations have reduced hurdles in land-border trade adding they have also improved connectivity and all of these reflect India’s commitment to strengthen ties. PM Modi  said that it is a matter of pride for us to celebrate Vijay Diwas as a mark of victory over Anti-Liberation Forces. On the occasion of Vijay Diwas, he paid tribute at the National Memorial yesterday in India and lighted the victory flame, Swarnim Vijay Mashaal and four Mashaals will be carried to various parts of the country including to the villages of martyrs. At the India- Bangladesh Virtual Summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina jointly inaugurated the Bangabandhu-Bapu Digital Exhibition.  NFR General Manager Sanjiv Roy had inspected the work on the Indian side on Monday evening and expressed satisfaction over it, officials said. Both Haldibari and Chilahati stations were on the old broad gauge railway route between Siliguri and Kolkata that went through areas in present-day Bangladesh. The new route passes through western parts of West Bengal, Jharkhand and Bihar.