e-News® | The NEWS Company…DHAKA, Feb 20, 2015 : President Abdul Hamid today hoped that all pending issues between Bangladesh and India would be resolved through the visit of West Bengal Chief Minister (CM) Mamata Banerjee. The President expressed the hope when the visiting West Bengal chief minister made a courtesy call on President Hamid at Bangabhaban here.
“The President has expressed the hope that all pending issues between Bangladesh and India would be resolved through the visit of Mamata Banerjee,” President’s press secretary Ihsanul Karim told BSS after the meeting.
Abdul Hamid said Bangladesh has been working on improving trade infrastructure, particularly along the West Bengal Border and also on connectivity with West Bengal. About the exchange of cultural visit between the two countries, Mamata Banerjee said they will solve problems related to culture by sitting together. She also shared her plan to hold cultural festival between the two countries. Mamata said there is scope for flourishing of relations in tourism sector between Bangladesh and India, especially with West Bengal. If the sector flourishes, tourists of various countries will be able to visit both countries, she added.
The West Bengal CM apprised the Bangladesh President of her interest to introduce Agartala-Dhaka-Kolkata direct bus service and Khulna-Kolkata train service. She said the West Bengal government has taken steps to establish “Nazrul Tirtha” in Kolkata and Kazi Nazrul Islam University in Asansol.
President Hamid thanked Mamata for her desire to establish “Bangabandhu Chair” in Kolkata University and taking steps for setting up “Nazrul Tirtha” and Kazi Nazrul Islam University and said it will deepen the friendly relations between the two neighbours. Abdul Hamid praised the hospitality extended by India during his visit to the neighboring country in December last year.
President’s wife Rashida Khanom, West Bengal’s Urban Development Minister Firhad Hakim, Tourism Minister Bratya Basu, MPs Deepak Adhikari (Deb) and Moonmoon Sen, and Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pankaj Saran and secretaries concerned to the President, among others, were present. After the meeting, Mamata went to the residence of the President and exchanged greetings with the members of his family.
