Modi lauds Sheikh Hasina's ‘bold, courageous leadership’

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has lauded the "bold and courageous" leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for Bangladesh's remarkable success in socio-economic development. His appreciation came during a 30-minute meeting with visiting Road Transport and Bridges Minister of Bangladesh Obaidul Quader at Modi’s official residence in New Delhi on Monday, according to a press release issued by the Bangladesh High Commission at the Indian capital. Last Thursday, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had held talks with her Indian counterpart on various issues of bilateral interest, on the sidelines of the multilateral Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in London.

Held wide-ranging talks with PM Sheikh Hasina on ways to further cement India-Bangladesh relations. pic.twitter.com/2wGPPXQfQx

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 19, 2018

Referring to Bangladesh's role in providing shelter to the forcibly displaced people from Myanmar, Modi on Monday said his country supported Bangladesh's position on the issue and wanted an early resolution to the problem. Modi was accompanied by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Vajay K Gokhale, and Joint Secretary (Bangladesh, Myanmar) Sripriya Ranganathan. Obaidul, also the general secretary of Awami League, was accompanied by Awami League Presidium Member Piyush Kanti Bhattacharya, Joint General Secretaries Mahbubul Alam Hanif, Jahangir Kabir Nanok and Abdur Rahman, among others. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader during a meeting at the former's official residence in New Delhi on Monday, April 23, 2018 UNBBangladesh High Commissioner to India Syed Muazzem Ali was also present at the meeting. According to the press release, the Indian prime minister paid tributes to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman under whose leadership Bangladesh fought and gained independence from Pakistan in 1971. "In terms of socio-economic development Bangladesh has advanced much ahead of Pakistan," Modi told the Bangladesh delegation in praising Bangabandhu and his daughter Sheikh Hasina. "Look at your country. You're much ahead of Pakistan in socio-economic indicators," he said. The Awami League delegation, led by General Secretary Obaidul Quader, pose with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a photo call at his official residence in New Delhi on Monday, April 23, 2018 CourtesyRegarding Teesta River water sharing between India and Bangladesh, Modi assured that he was trying to resolve the issue. During the meeting, Obaidul Quader conveyed to Modi best wishes from Sheikh Hasina and the people of Bangladesh. Obaidul had reached New Delhi on Sunday leading a 20-member Awami League delegation on a three-day visit to India at the invitation of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).