More duty-free exports to India needed: JS speaker
However, Dr Shirin added that bilateral cooperation between the two countries progress due to persistent friendship between both sides
Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury on Friday called for more duty-free exports to India.
According to her, progress in bilateral cooperation between the two countries continue due to persistent friendship between both sides.
However, Bangladesh still has a trade deficit with India, she noted.
Dr Shirin made the call while speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the "India-Bangladesh Friendship Dialogue," held at Hotel Royal Tulip in Cox's Bazar.
The speaker attended as chief guest at the inaugural session, alongside the State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam, Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Riva Ganguly Das, and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) General Secretary Ram Madhav.
"Including the Indira-Mujib Treaty, Bangladesh and India have reached numerous successful agreements in the past," Dr Shirin said, adding that the intimate ties between both nations would be further strengthened in the future.
The friendship dialogue has been serving as a bridge between the two countries to identify bilateral issues and their solutions, while at the same time, ensuring continued regional security and economic progress.
With regards to regional security, the JS speaker said, "Bangladesh and India have adopted a zero tolerance policy against terrorism, which has garnered plaudits all over the world."
She also emphasised on increasing parliamentary cooperation between the two neighbouring countries.
"Apart from providing assistance during the Liberation War and in its aftermath, India also supported Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina when she first assumed power in 1996. Support from India continues to this day," Dr Shirin added.
The speaker also invited India to the Mujib Year in 2020 and the golden jubilee of Bangladesh's independence in 2021.
Speaking as the special guest, Riva Ganguly Das said that Bangladesh-India ties have improved in all aspects.
"India is willing to work together as a friend to continue regional development," she asserted.
India has strengthened participation in all the sectors of Bangladesh including information technology and medical science, and for these achievements, the high commissioner gave all the credits to the prime minister.
Himanta Biswa Sarma, minister of finance, development, health and family welfare of Assam, said trade between the two countries have to be increased in order to continue bilateral economic progress.
BJP leader Ram Madhav said India supports Bangladesh for taking in the Rohingya refugees – an act that has set an example for humanitarian response.
The refugee crisis will be resolved soon through diplomacy, he hoped.
He also lauded Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for setting an example of "good governance" through successful measures against corruption and terrorism.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam said Bangladesh and India are working on common grounds when addressing corruption and terrorism.
The ninth edition of the two-day event focusing on strategic relationship between Bangladesh and India will end on Saturday.