Reiterating her government’s firm stance and ‘zero tolerance policy’ against terrorism and militancy, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said none would be allowed to use Bangladesh’s soil for insurgency activities against any country.
“We won’t tolerate any sort of insurgency in Bangladesh ... we want a peaceful atmosphere in this region,” she told visiting Indian state of Tripura’s power minister Manik Dey when the alter called on her in Dhaka yesterday.
Briefing reporters, PM’s press secretary Ihsanul Karim said Prime Minister Hasina expressed happiness to know that the officials of Bangladesh and India finalised tariff and other issues on importing 100 megawatt of electricity by Bangladesh from Tripura. She hoped that both sides would also complete remaining formalities on power purchase and supply at an earliest time to start the supply of electricity.
In this connection, Hasina mentioned that Bangladesh needs more power to meet its growing demand of electricity.
Referring to exchange of enclaves following the historic land boundary agreement between the two countries, the prime minister said the issue has been settled in a peaceful manner.
Hasina said Bangladesh is now the most attractive destination of investment and her government has undertaken steps to establish 100 economic zones to boost further industrialisation and generate employment in the country.
In this regard, she also mentioned setting up of border bazaars along Bangladesh-India frontier, saying such move is playing a significant
role in boosting bilateral trade.
Putting emphasis on connectivity, Hasina said Bangladesh wants to reopen the rail routes connecting Bangladesh and India which remained closed since the 1965 war.
Highlighting the potentiality of the Chittagong seaport, she said India could use the port for enhancing bilateral trade and commerce.
The Bangladesh PM recalled the invaluable contribution of India and its people during the War of Liberation in 1971 and expressed gratitude to the then Indian premier, government and people, particularly the Tripura state government and people.
The Tripura minister appreciated Bangladesh’s impressive success in socioeconomic field under the leadership of Prime Minister Hasina.
“Bangladesh achieved unprecedented development in road connectivity,” he said.
He recalled the visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to Tripura in January 2012 and her address at a rally in front of nearly 100,000 people in Agartala.
In this connection, Dey also mentioned the Bangladesh premier’s announcement of importing 100 megawatt electricity from Tripura at the rally. “The supply of that electricity (from Tripura) would start soon,” he said.
The Tripura minister also said the state government is constructing a power plant at Monarchar in Tripura near Comilla border of Bangladesh.