By Daiaphira Kharsati
SHILLONG: Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Syed Muazzem Ali said Bangladesh is looking at Meghalaya as a gate-way to the North East in addition to describing the current relationship between India and Bangladesh as “Golden Chapter.”
Ali has special links with Shillong since his father was in Assam Civil Service before the Partition of India and a very deep association with Shillong because it was the capital of United Assam at that time.
He was in Shillong on Sunday to attend the inauguration of the first Shillong Shreehatta Utsav-2019 at U Soso Tham Auditorium.
Speaking to The Shillong Times, he said the golden chapter has been established by the two PMs of India and Bangladesh, Narendra Modi and Sheikh Hasina respectively on a firm basis for the cooperation which exists on the trust, confidence, cooperation and good-will for each other.
“The relationship is covering every area of bilateral interaction. The most significant was the border demarcation, the historic Land Boundary Agreement. We have also made significant progress in the connectivity as there is a need to restore and establish connectivity between Bangladesh and India. We hope we can proceed further and enhance people’s cooperation between the two countries,” he said.
According to the official, Bangladesh looks at the neighbour Meghalaya as a gate-way to the North East due to the potential of the region. “The economic cooperation is going on in all areas but I would particularly focus on two areas where we have made significant progress- energy cooperation and the other in the areas of connectivity particularly Indian investment through the lines of credit”, the official added.
Syed said given these parameters, he is very optimistic that India- Bangladesh relationship under the fresh mandate of Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Hasina will boost further.