Visiting Indian President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday expressed his eagerness to increase existing trade and business ties with Bangladesh through joint efforts as he paid a courtesy call on his Bangladesh counterpart M Abdul Hamid at Bangabhaban.
"The communications between the two countries became closer in land, air and riverine routes . . . investors of both the sides should use the facilities for increase trade and business relations," a Bangabhaban spokesman quoted Kovind as saying after the talks, followed by a state banquet.
According to Bangladesh President's Press Secretary M Joynal Abedin, Kovind assured his counterpart of continued Indian cooperation to the ongoing business investment and different development projects in the coming days.
Abedin said during the meeting that the two presidents particularly emphasized joint ventures between the two countries.
Kovind said the celebrations of 50 years of diplomatic relations between India and Bangladesh in both the countries were testimony to their close bilateral relations.
The Indian president also called Hamid a war hero, saying that Bangladesh did a tremendous job in tackling the Covid-19 outbreak.
Kovind said bilateral cooperation over the Covid-19 pandemic would help the two countries to work together to overcome the situation.
He praised the participation of Bangladesh contingents at the Indian National Day march-past event and subsequently the Indian contingents' members at the Bangladesh Victory Day program in Dhaka.
The Bangladesh president said bilateral relations began during Bangladesh's 1971 Liberation War and they have now reached a "unique height" as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladesh premier Sheikh Hasina have started a new chapter in diplomatic relations.
Hamid said relations between the two countries were expanded in the areas of security, border demarcation, power, energy, trade and commerce, infrastructure, and communication over the past one decade, and the relations between the people of the two countries has been strengthened.
The Bangladesh president received his Indian counterpart at Bangabhaban with a bouquet, while his wife Rashida Hamid also presented a bouquet to Indian first lady Savita Kovind.
Later, the two heads of state held a meeting at the credential hall of Bangabhaban, where Hamid said India is a very close and trusted friend of Bangladesh, recalling the overall cooperation of India in the 1971 Liberation War and thanking the neighbouring country.
Highlighting the development of Bangladesh in various sectors, Abdul Hamid said Bangladesh is a role model in women empowerment, and efforts to empower women would be accelerated if India and Bangladesh work together.
Bangladesh Agriculture Minister Dr Abdur Razzaque, Indian State Minister for Education Dr Subhas Sarkar and secretaries concerned were also present at the meeting.
After the meeting, the Indian president presentenced his Bangladesh counterpart with replicas of Russian made T-55 tanks and Mig-21 vintage aircraft, both used during the 1971 war.
Later, Ram Nath Kovind signed the inspection book at Bangabhaban.
On the side lines of the presidents' program, Indian first lady Shrimati Savita Kovind also held courtesy meeting with President's wife Rashida Khanam at Bangabhaban.
President Hamid hosted a banquet in the Indian president’s honour, which was attended by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Bangabhaban in the evening.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s sister Sheikh Rehana, Parliamentary Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury, Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain, some cabinet members and government officials also attended the dinner.
The Indian president also enjoyed a cultural performance by the artists of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy.