India is a good friend perhaps a best friend of Bangladesh and it will never forget India’s role in the Independence of that country, Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina said on Friday referring to the excellent relationship between the two neighbours.
The Bangla Prime Minister who came to Kolkata’s Eden Gardens to inaugurate the India-Bangladesh test match — the first ever pink-ball encounter between the two countries and the first one being playedby India — said “India has always fascinated me for its role in our Independence apart from its warmth which makes me come back to this country time and again.”
“I had come to Kolkata at the invite of Sourav Ganguly to witness the historic test match. The warmth and hospitality was excellent as has always been, Hasina said reminding how “we the people of Bangladesh will always remain grateful to India for the support it lent us in our Independence. We have always remained good friends, perhaps the best of friends … I hope this friendship and cooperation will continue for all times to come,” the Prime Minister said without however referring to whether she and Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had any discussion on the touchy Teesta water sharing issue.
Apparently Hasina received with great appreciation the overwhelming applause the Bangladeshi National Anthem — “Amaar Sonar Bangla Aami Tomai Bhalobashi…” — received from the spectators at Eden Gardens even as she shared her feelings with the fellow diplomats, sources said. Incidentally National Anthems of both the countries have been penned by Poet Laureate Rabindranath Tagore.
On the day’s proceedings at the Eden Gardens Hasina said “we are great friends but here we are fighting against each other … though my team is not competing that well … Inshah Allah we will do better presently.” Emerging from almost an hour-long parley the Bengal Chief Minister said her meeting with the Bangla Prime Minister was informal and held in most cordial atmosphere. “It was a homely meeting and we had good talks,” Banerjee said ignoring too, like Sk.
Hasina, posers on Teesta water issue.
“Our relationship has been historical and the people of two nations are fond of each other,” Banerjee said adding “I too am fond of the Prime Minister and have invited her again to India, to Kolkata.” Though both the leaders carefully avoided the touchy topic of Teesta water-sharing diplomatic sources said the issue indeed had cropped up and the two sides placed their logics quite amicably.