Dhaka: Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi on Wednesday described Prime Minister Tarique Rahman as a very 'intelligent' and 'pro-people' leader, expressing optimism about strengthening relations between the two countries.
According to United News of Bangladesh, Trivedi stated that the decision regarding a potential visit to India should be left to the Prime Minister's discretion. "The Prime Minister of Bangladesh is a very intelligent person. He is pro-people. I think we should leave it to the Prime Minister," he remarked to reporters when questioned about the possibility of such a visit.
During his visit, the High Commissioner paid courtesy calls on Speaker Maj (Retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, Bir Bikram, and Deputy Speaker Barrister Kayser Kamal at the Bangladesh Jatiya Sangsad. Trivedi emphasized the people-oriented intentions behind the discussions aimed at enhancing bilateral friendship. He highlighted the need for continuous dialogue, likening it to the ever-flowing rivers Ganga and Padma, and stated, "Dialogue is like the flow of a river and the flow of an ocean. They will never stop."
The High Commissioner also underscored the importance of engagement between the two parliaments to strengthen people-to-people ties. Discussions included opportunities for forming Parliamentary Friendship Groups, mutual visits by parliamentary delegations, cooperation between parliamentary committees, and the digitization of parliamentary records.
Speaker of the Lok Sabha Om Birla extended an invitation to the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of Bangladesh to visit India. "We've extended a warm welcome to the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker to visit India and to the democratic temple of democracy, the Indian Parliament," Trivedi mentioned after his meetings.
During discussions with Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, the two sides explored ways to expand Bangladesh-India bilateral relations through parliamentary delegation visits, addressing the Rohingya crisis, and promoting sports and cultural exchanges. Hafiz Uddin Ahmad commented on the historical relationship between the two countries, emphasizing that it should be founded on mutual respect and recognition of each other's sovereignty.
Trivedi noted the Indian government's interest in building a people-centric relationship with Bangladesh, stressing the importance of strengthening people-to-people contacts. He praised the architectural excellence of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban and highlighted the shared history and mutual interests connecting Bangladesh and India.
In a meeting with Deputy Speaker Kayser Kamal, discussions focused on parliamentary diplomacy, the use of information technology in parliamentary activities, and modernizing parliamentary procedures. Kamal expressed hope for India's cooperation in implementing an e-Parliament system.
Both sides expressed hope for strengthened bilateral relations, prioritizing the welfare of their peoples and expanding areas of cooperation to consolidate mutual trust and stability.