Mukul, other N-E CMs hold meetings with B’deshi ministers
From Our Special Correspondent
DHAKA: Bangladeshi satellite TV channels may soon be able to telecast their programmes in India, Bangladesh’s Information Minister said on Tuesday.
“The chief ministers (of four Indian states) assured me of taking steps so our private television channels can easily be downlinked in India,” Information Minister Abul Kalam Azad told newsmen emerging from a meeting along with eight other Bangladesh ministers on the sidelines of the talks between Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh with his counterpart Sheikh Hasina.
Azad added: “this will create an opportunity for building people-to-people cooperation being wanted by both the neighbours.”
Bangladesh TV channels currently require permission from Indian authorities for telecasting their programmes.
The four Chief Ministers from the Northeast including Dr Mukul Sangma just not added weight to the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh’s high profile delegation but did some serious discussions relating to the region with the host Bangladeshi Ministers and officials.
The four Chief Ministers besides taking part in the high-level talks with Bangladesh Premier Sheikh Hasina also had discussions with as many as nine senior Cabinet ministers of her ministry.
The meeting took place in the Sonargaon Hotel where Dr Singh and the Chief Ministers are staying.
The chief minister held several meetings on different issues with the Bangladeshi ministers.
Besides Dr Sangma, other chief minister PU Lalthanhawla of Mizoram, Manik Sarkar (Tripura) and Tarun Gogoi (Assam).
The Bangladeshi Ministers with whom the Chief Ministers talked are – Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister GM Qader, Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain, Industries Minister Dilip Barua, Information Minister Abul Kalam Azad, Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan, State Minister for Home Affairs Shamsul Haque Tuku and State Minister for forests and Environment Dr Hasan Mahmud.
The issues included trade, investment, tourism, environment and security, official sources said later.
The Prime Minister highlighted the presence of the Chief Ministers in all his statements and even in ceremonial banquet speech.
The Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai in his press conference pointed out that presence of the four Chief Ministers shows how much importance New Delhi gives to the Northeastern region.
All the Chief Ministers, including Dr Sangma accompanied by his wife, lined up at the airport after arrival to welcome both Dr Singh and Hasina following the ceremonial welcome.
All of them traveled in the Prime Minister’s motorcade starting from their journey in Delhi to landing at their hotel.