Prime Minister Narendra Modi has accepted Bangladeshi premier Sheikh Hasina’s invitation to visit the neighbouring country and said that he places special emphasis on India’s engagement with its neighbours.
In the letter, which was handed over to Hasina by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who is on a two-day tour to Dhaka, Modi has said he is convinced that the well-being of every nation is linked to its neighbourhood, and therefore, he places special emphasis on India`s engagement with its neighbours.
“I sincerely hope we can all work together to foster a new era of cooperation and connectivity across the South Asian region, which will ignite our collective surge to prosperity,” the Prime Minister wrote.
Thanking Hasina for her letter of felicitation on his assumption of office, Modi said his Government will apply itself to further accelerating their engagement and strengthening the framework of India-Bangladesh relationships. He has also extended an invitation to Hasina to visit India at her earliest convenience. Modi had invited Hasina for his swearing-in function in New Delhi but she could not come due to prior engagements. She was, however, represented by the Bangladesh Parliament Speaker.
Modi has emphasized that for India, Bangladesh is “not merely a neighbour, but a nation with which we share history, culture, civilization, and enduring links between people.” The ideals of democracy, secularism, pluralism and rule of law also serve as a link between India and Bangladesh, the Prime Minister wrote.