Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has said Bangladesh wants to strengthen its relations with the states in Northeast India.
“Bangladesh wants to increase connectivity with its neighbours. The language, culture and history of our country are closely related to the northeastern states of India. We want to boost our existing ties with them,” the minister said while talking to reporters on Friday night after a speech at the opening ceremony of the three-day Sylhet-Silchar Festival in Assam's Barak Valley.
He said many people from Bangladesh travel to Kolkata, Bangalore and other places, but they do not visit the northeastern region. The main reason for the Sylhet-Silchar festival is to increase this connectivity, he added.
Referring to Sheikh Hasina's visit to India in September, the foreign minister said at the time the prime minister discussed the issue of enhancing relations with the northeastern states in a meeting with Indian Union Minister of Culture, Tourism and Development of North Eastern Region G Kishan Reddy.
The festival is being held in the month of victory as a follow-up of this meeting, added Momen.
The foreign minister also said: “Bangladesh is a peaceful country. The country believes in stability. Peace and stability have prevailed in the country for the last 14 years, due to which the country has developed enormously. Besides, people's income and GDP have increased.”
Along with Bangladesh, the northeastern states of India have also benefited as social and economic stability has been maintained, he said.
Mentioning that the government wants to maintain stability in the country, he said: "There are some radicals in our country who do not even see the development and do not want to hear anything about progress. They are always looking for chances. Everyone should be careful about them.”
Momen said the people of Bangladesh and Shilchar in India have fought and sacrificed their lives for their own language.
Reiterating Bangladesh's zero-tolerance policy on extremism and terrorism, he said it is very important for regional stability.
He also added that Bangladesh is committed to developing relations with India.
Assam State Government Communications, Excise and Fisheries Minister Parimal Shulk Vaidya said the cultures of Sylhet and Silchar are almost the same.
Lok Sabha Member Rajdwip Roy said the whole world is looking at the rise of Bangladesh and India.
“If we do not take advantage of this opportune time, we will not be able to stand in the ranks of developed countries. For this both countries have to work together,” he added.
The first-ever Sylhet-Silchar Festival, organized to celebrate cultural ties between the two countries, began in Assam's Barak Valley on Friday.
A 150-member delegation from Bangladesh led by Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen joined the three-day festival.
The formalities of the festival began with the national anthems of the two countries.
Among the multiple commonalities between India and Bangladesh, links between Silchar and Sylhet stand out. The India Foundation is hosting the festival in a bid to celebrate the age-old and people-to-people connection.
Indian Union Minister for Culture, Tourism and Development of North Eastern Region G Kishan Reddy and Chief Minister of Assam Himanta Biswa Sarma inaugurated the event on Friday.
Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Md Mustafizur Rahman was present on the occasion.
