PM Modi-Sheikh Hasina meet: India, Bangladesh ink 7 pacts; restore cross-border rail link

PM Modi-Sheikh Hasina meet: India, Bangladesh ink 7 pacts; restore cross-border rail link

.PM Narendra Modi also said that Bangladesh is a significant pillar of our 'Neighbourhood First' policy .The virtual summit was held a day after Vijay Diwas, marking India's victory over Pakistan in the 1971 war that led to the creation of Bangladesh Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday addressed a virtual summit with his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina. At the virtual summit, PM Modi said that ever since taking office, it has been his priority to strengthen and deepen the relationship between India and Bangladesh. PM Narendra Modi also pointed out that the nation is a significant pillar of our 'Neighbourhood First' policy. "Bangladesh is a significant pillar of our 'Neighbourhood First' policy. To strengthen and deepen our relations with Bangladesh has been a priority for me since the first day. It is true that because of the pandemic, this year has been challenging but in these challenging times, the relations between the two countries, have seen immense cooperation," PM Modi said.

According to news agency PTI, India and Bangladesh have signed 7 agreements in areas of hydrocarbons, agriculture, textiles and community development and restored a cross-border rail link, which was in operation till 1965. The virtual summit is being held a day after Vijay Diwas, marking India's victory over Pakistan in the 1971 war that led to the creation of Bangladesh. "It is an honour for us to celebrate Bangladesh's victory against the anti-liberation forces with you. When Bangladesh is celebrating 50 years of Independence, I would want to pay tribute to the martyrs of both nations, who sacrificed their lives," the Prime Minister added. Prime Minister Modi also thanked the Bangladeshi Prime Minister for inviting him for a visit to the nation next year where he said that "it would be an honour" to pay tribute "to the martyrs". Meanwhile, Sheikh Hasina also said that India is Bangladesh's true friend as she expressed her gratitude to the country and the Indian Army for their support during the 1971 liberation war. Addressing a virtual summit with PM Modi, Hasina said that she is happy to meet him again, "particularly on this month of victory". "December evokes in all Bangladeshis the spirit of joy, freedom and celebration as we recall with deep gratitude our ‘Father of the Nation’ Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Under whose dynamic leadership we earned our great independence," she added. India and Bangladesh have continued to maintain regular exchanges at the highest level with Bangladesh Prime Minister paying an official visit to India in October 2019. Prime Minister Modi had delivered a video message on the historic occasion of Mujib Borsho in March 2020. Both leaders have remained in regular touch during the novel coronavirus pandemic. Bangladesh is commemorating the year 2020 as Mujib Borsho - the birth centenary of the father of the nation of Bangladesh - Sheikh Mujibur Rahman popularly known as Bangabandhu.