Agartala Jan 11 (bdnews24.com) ? Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina has stressed on improving surface and water transport connectivity across South Asia to boost regional economy and fight against this region's common enemy ? poverty. She was addressing a Bangladesh-India business meet at Pragnya Bhawan in Tripura's capital Agartala on her arrival for a two-day visit on Wednesday.
Over 300 representatives from the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI) participated in the meet.
Hasina said to improve connectivity in the region, her government has recently decided to allow India ferrying goods through the Chittagong and Mongla sea ports besides the Ashuganj river port.
She said that Bangladesh through the Ashuganj ports has facilitated transit of heavy equipment for one of the upcoming power projects of Tripura, and in return she demanded electricity for her country.
The Bangladesh prime minister also reminded the Indian government to come up with a solution to the vexed Teesta water sharing problem sooner than later, quipping that "as a much bigger neighbour, India could afford to be magnanimous".
She said Bangladesh is keen to get into joint ventures in power projects in India's Northeast, specially Tripura, from which it imports electricity to tide over its rising power shortfall.
Hasina reiterated her government's policy of zero-tolerance for terrorism and, in an oblique reference to the bases of the northeastern militants that earlier existed in her country, warned "disruptive elements who believe in violence" to stay away from her country.
She expressed her heartfelt gratitude for the people of Tripura, who helped then yet-to-be-born Bangladesh by giving refuge to millions during the 1971 war of liberation.
Throughout the business interaction, Hasina was seen smiling and exchanging pleasantries with Tripura chief minister Manik Sarkar and her foreign minister Dipu Moni, even as Indian minister for human resource development Kapil Sibal spoke about better scope for Indian investment in the education and healthcare sectors in Bangladesh.
bdnews24.com/corr/nir/2345h
Source: bdnews24.com
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