Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday said that Bangladesh was in the midst of a major socio-economic transformation. “Your economy has witnessed steady growth during the last several years and you have achieved commendable successes in eradicating poverty, hunger, illiteracy and
disease,” Dr Singh said at the banquets hosted by Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Dr Singh felt that the “talks and the agreements that have been signed represent a qualitative leap forward in our relations. We have shown an openness of mind and heart to build bridges of collaboration across sectors.”
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said that “it is befitting that in this atmosphere of hope and confidence, we are jointly celebrating the 150th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore.” He reminded that the establishment of a Tagore Chair at Dhaka University, an India-Bangladesh Parliamen-tary Friendship Group in the Indian Parliament and the Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre in Dhaka “will add to the intensity of people to people interaction.”
He spoke of India’s “complete commitment to the progress and prosperity of Bangladesh.” Dr Singh assured that India desires to “see a stable, secure and self-reliant Bangladesh. India will remain at your disposal in every sphere of your nation building efforts.”
While saying that Bangladesh-India relationship is at a “ historical juncture,” the Bangladesh Prime Minister said that the two countries “share a common heritage in respect of culture, values, language, history and geography.” Prime Minister Hasina said that the foundation stone of India and Bangladesh was laid by “father of the nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibar Rahman and Indira Gandhi.”