Sushma Swaraj’s Dakha Visit Strengthens Ties: New Chancery And 15 India Funded Projects Started
EAM Sushma Swaraj who is in Dhaka at the moment has opened up a new chancery of the Indian High Commission in the country. Swaraj has also launched 15 new projects funded by India during her visit.
Swaraj marked the opening of the chancery by lighting a lamp at Dhaka's Baridhara diplomatic enclave while the High Commission was previously operating from a house in Gulshan area of the city.
“India attaches the utmost importance to its relations with Bangladesh. Our partnership today touches upon virtually all areas of human endeavour. Our relations are based on fraternal ties and are reflective of an all-encompassing partnership based on sovereignty, equality, trust and understanding that goes far beyond a strategic partnership,” Swaraj said in a press statement in Dhaka.
During her visit, Swaraj held discussions on key issues like various aspects of bilateral relations and violence in Rakhine State.
India had launched ‘Operation Insaniyat’ in September to support Government of Bangladesh in its commendable efforts to provide shelter in Cox’s Bazaar to lakhs of displaced persons who had fled from the Rakhine State of Myanmar. Through this operation, India had supplied essential requirements by way of parboiled rice, dal, salt, sugar, cooking oil, tea, milk powder, mosquito nets and soap to about 300,000 displaced persons.
“We are satisfied with progress achieved in areas such as trade and investment, security, connectivity, border management, power, energy, shipping, people to people exchanges, to name a few.”, she added.
During the ceremony, she also launched 15 development projects being funded by India in Bangladesh, which officials said have been planned as per the country's geographical spread, socio-economic benefits and priorities, in areas of education, health, culture and community development.
Three lines of credit amounting to USD 8 billion have been extended by India to Bangladesh so far. This is by far the largest development assistance that India has extended to any country worldwide.
This follows the recent visit of Finance minister Arun Jaitley, who on his visit signed agreements for line of credit worth $4.5 billion.
In the past three years alone, 24 such grant projects have been completed which include construction of students’ hostels, tube-wells, cultural centres, orphanages etc. Presently 58 projects, including city development projects in Rajshahi, Khulna and Sylhet, are under implementation.
India is also actively participating in setting up a Russian-supported civil nuclear plant in Bangladesh.
