Neighbours for further strengthening Bangladesh-India relations

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Dr. Abdul Moyeen Khan has expressed hope that the bilateral relations between Bangladesh and India will be further strengthened and the areas of cooperation expanded, based on mutual interests, collaboration, and the welfare of the people.

He made these remarks during a courtesy meeting with Indian High Commissioner to Dhaka, Dinesh Trivedi, at the minister's office in the Secretariat on Tuesday. State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, Mir Shahe Alam, was also present.

At the beginning of the meeting, the Indian High Commissioner greeted Abdul Moyeen Khan on the occasion of BNP's 48th founding anniversary. He congratulated the minister on assuming his new responsibilities and also praised his long political experience.

During the meeting, the Local Government Minister emphasized further advancing the historic and close ties that exist between the peoples of the two countries. Discussions were also held on expanding trade and economic cooperation between Bangladesh and India, as well as the prospects of free trade.

The minister also stressed the need to further enhance bilateral relations by increasing people-to-people contacts between the two countries.

High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi expressed India's interest in skill development and experience exchange in the local government sector. He said that through a training institute located in Hyderabad, India, opportunities could be created for training and experience sharing for concerned officials and representatives of Bangladesh on various aspects of local government management.

He also expressed optimism about further expanding cooperation between the two countries on the basis of mutual interests.

During the meeting, State Minister Mir Shahe Alam said that the government is firmly committed to holding free, fair, and impartial local government elections. He pointed out that there is a plan to complete elections for all five tiers of local government within the current fiscal year.

The junior minister expressed hope that this would further strengthen local-level representation and democratic participation.

Briefing journalists after the meeting, Mir Shahe Alam said India has expressed interest in learning about Bangladesh's local government election process. He also said that India has shown interest in sending observers to monitor local government elections, subject to discussions.

The State Minister added that this matter would be discussed with the Election Commission.

The meeting was attended by Local Government Division Secretary Md. Shahidul Hasan, Indian Deputy High Commissioner Shri Pawan Kumar Tulshidas Badhe, as well as senior officials from the ministry and the Indian High Commission.