Mutual benefits to drive ties with Bangladesh: Indian envoy in Dhaka

DHAKA: Indian high commissioner to Bangladesh, Pranay Verma Sunday said both nations are important stakeholders in "peace and development" of Bay of Bengal, and collaboration between the two is vital to address shared challenges of environmental sustainability & climate change. India's partnership with Bangladesh must benefit people on both sides, he said. "As a neighbour with whom we take a long-term view of our relations, our ties with Bangladesh derive strength from our belief that our peace, security, progress, and prosperity are interlinked," he added.

Verma made the remarks while welcoming invitees from all walks of life - from Bangladesh govt, armed forces, polity, civil society, business, media, academia, cultural & religious spheres, and members of diplomatic community - at a reception Saturday, hosted to celebrate India's 76th Republic Day. He conveyed India's support for a "democratic, stable, peaceful, progressive, and inclusive" Bangladesh. "We view our long-standing relations with Bangladesh as highly important and wish the people of this country well on their journey ahead," he noted.



Verma said India is confident that the reality of the cultural and societal connections between the two countries, along with their interdependence and mutually beneficial ties, will continue to guide the relationship forward. He added that India will continue to seek a "stable, positive, constructive, forward-looking and mutually beneficial relationship" with Bangladesh, in which the people are the main stakeholders. Bangladesh interim govt's planning and education adviser, Wahiduddin Mahmud, was the chief guest.

He said over the years, the countries have collaborated in a wide range of areas, and Bangladesh is committed to strengthening the relationship based on mutual respect and understanding of each other's perspectives, concerns, and priorities. Verma said, with its size, capability, and ambition, and as the fastest-growing large economy, India's transformation is creating new capacities and generating opportunities for the world. He said, in this journey, Bangladesh is an important partner.

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