India has been expediting the implementation process of various agreements, including export of 200MW electricity and providing one billion dollars soft loan to Bangladesh.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said this when Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid a courtesy call on him at India House in the Saarc Village in Thimphu Thursday morning.
The deals were signed between the two countries during the landmark visit of Hasina to New Delhiin January this year.
During the meeting held in a very cordial and warm atmosphere, the two leaders discussed various issues of bilateral and multilateral interests, including expansion of trade and business and enhancing connectivity between the two neighbouring countries.
After the half an hour meeting, PM’s Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad told journalists that Manmohan assured Hasina of his country's support for the continuation of advancement of democracy in Bangladesh.
The Indian prime minister also informed the Bangladesh premier that his government would take necessary measures for finalising the draft of agreement on Teesta Water Sharing, which was handed over to Indian government recently.
Manmohan also announced his country's support for the Bangladesh's candidature in the Committee of Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
In response to the support of Bangladesh's efforts for the inclusion of the Sundarbans in the list of New Seven Wonders of the World, the Indian prime minister said both the countries would take joint initiatives to this end.
Expressing her satisfaction over the existing bilateral relations between the two friendly countries, Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed the hope that the relations would be accelerated further in the days to come for the benefit of the two peoples.
During the meeting, Sheikh Hasina invited Manmohan Singh to visit Bangladesh at a convenient time and the Indian prime minister accepted the invitation.
Among others, Foreign Minister Dipu Moni, State Minister for Environment and Forest Hasan Mahmud, Ambassador-at-large M Ziauddin, Principal Secretary to the prime minister MA Karim, Foreign Secretary Mohamed Mijarul Quayes and PM’s Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad accompanied Hasina at the meeting.
Besides, Indian Foreign Minister SM Krishna and Foreign Secretary Nirupoma Rao were present.
Earlier, Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck paid a courtesy call on Hasina at Bangladesh House in the Saarc Village. During the meeting, they discussed various issues of bilateral interest.
Besides, Hasina who is now a three-day visit to Bhutan to attend the 16th Saarc Summit passed a very hectic day in Thimpu on Wednesday.
Apart from joining the opening session of the Saarc Summit, she held separate meetings with the Saarc leaders and joined a banquet hosted by Bhutanese Prime Minister Lyonchhen Jigmi Y Thinley in honour of head of states and governments of the eight Saarc countries.
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