Speakers at a seminar on the political economy of Bangladesh, held in India on Saturday, said more cooperation in the areas of connectivity, trade, commerce and energy between Dhaka and Delhi will benefit people in the entire region.
Centre for South Asian Studies (CSAS) of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) organized the seminar at its campus with JNU Vice Chancellor Prof Jagadesh Kumar in the chair, according to a press release from the Bangladesh High Commission in India.
Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Syed Muazzem Ali, Prime Minister’s Office of Bangladesh Principal Coordinator (SDG Affairs) Md Abul Kalam Azad, Palli Karma Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) Chairman Dr Qazi Kholiquzzaman, Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Senior Vice President Sheikh Fazle Fahim, JNU Rector Prof Chintamoni Mahapatra and CSAS Chairman Prof Sanjay Bhardwaj spoke at the seminar.
The Bangladesh high commissioner said the fast-growing India and Bangladesh should cooperate in the areas of connectivity, trade, commerce and energy for the mutual benefit of the two neighbours as well as for the region. “Connectivity offers a game-changing opportunity for India and Bangladesh.”
He added that Bangladesh’s jump to the status of a developing nation from the LDC category will create new opportunities in Indo-Bangla economic cooperation.
“Cooperation in the energy sector is the hallmark of our renewed engagements,” Syed Muazzem Ali further said.
Stressing the importance of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), Abul Kalam Azad said the needs of future generations had to be looked after while meeting the requirements of the present.
“Under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh has adopted a policy of inclusive economy so that no one is left behind,” he added.
Qazi Kholiquzzaman highlighted Bangladesh’s tremendous success in reducing the poverty level to less than 24 percent from more than 50 percent a few years ago.
He credited the achievement to the visionary leadership of Sheikh Hasina.
Sheikh Fazle Fahim pointed out that Bangladesh is now one of the fastest growing economies in Asia along with India and Vietnam.
