The foreign minister, Dipu Moni, has said the current government has taken up steps to develop better ties with India and other neighbours as negative attitude towards neighbours proved counterproductive in the past.
'There is no alternative to maintaining good relations and friendship with the neighbours . . . the people had felt severely what cost they had to pay for maintaining strained relations with neighbours in the past 40 years,' she told a book launching ceremony.
Moni added that the past bitter experiences prompted the current government to take steps to develop ties with the next-door neighbours.
The foreign minister's comments came a day after her Indian counterpart SM Krishna left Dhaka for home after a three-day Bangladesh tour, considered crucial ahead of Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh's scheduled Dhaka visit in September.
Moni called her talks with the Indian external affairs minister 'very successful and productive' saying 'significant progress has been made on all unresolved issues' during Krishna's visit. 'I hope the progress that has already been made on different issues will have a successful conclusion during Indian premier's visit,' she said.
Moni particularly referred to her 'positive discussions' with Krishna on water sharing of the River Teesta, lands in adverse possession and enclaves saying 'We hope that two countries would reach a consensus on these crucial issues during Manmohan Singh's visit.'
Besides, she said, steps were taken by both the countries to reduce the huge gaps in bilateral trade and develop the land ports along Bangladesh-India borders.
Referring to the transit issue, the foreign minister said development of regional connectivity was a must for improving the livelihood of the people of the region and 'We have been working together to fulfil the hopes and aspirations of the one-fifth population of the world who are living in the region.'
Later, Moni unwrapped the cover of the book, 'Global Flashpoint: South Asia and Middle East', authored by journalist and columnist Zaglul Ahmed Chowdhury.
The University Grants Commission chairman, professor AK Azad Chowdhury, chaired the function, joined by former ambassador Harun ur Rashid, columnist Hasnat Abdul Hye, political analyst and columnist Mizanur Rahman Shelley, journalist Hasan Shahriar, vice-chancellor of Peoples University professor Mustafizur Rahman and publisher of the book M Shamim Wahid.
Source : New Age
