DHAKA, Bangladesh (CU)_Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will arrive in Dhaka on Friday (26 March), for the 50th independence celebrations of Bangladesh.
During his two-day visit, the Prime Minister will hold what he described as “substantive discussions” with his Bangladeshi counterpart Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
PM Modi will arrive in Dhaka at 10.00am local time, and will attend an event at the National Martyr’s Memorial, which was set up in the memory of those who died in the Bangladesh War of Independence of 1971.
He will also participate in the Independence Day celebrations, as well as Sheikh Mujib ur Rahman’s 100th birth anniversary celebrations.
Ahead of the Indian leader’s visit, PM Hasina’s foreign affairs advisor Gowher Rizvi spoke about a range of issue which has strengthened bilateral relations between the two neighbouring countries.
Regarding the proposed National Register for Citizens (NRC), over which Bangladesh has raised concerns, Rizvi said the matter was an “internal exercise” in India.
“Why should we interfere or raise this in our bilateral relationship?” he noted. “And if even a small percentage of the number that are being claimed, turned out to be Bangladeshis, genuinely Bangladeshis, obviously their home is Bangladesh. We will take them back.”
He, however, pointed out that unlike Myanmar, India will not take any step “forcibly”.
“I cannot imagine India will forcibly do what Myanmar is doing — make people stateless. That is not India’s way of doing things,” he said.
The PM’s advisor also discussed the issue regarding Rohingya refugees, as he recalled how in 1971 India opened its borders to Bangladeshis, adding that the incident influenced PM Hasina’s outlook on the matter.
“Our experience has coloured our Prime Minister’s outlook,” Rizvi said. “So, when Rohingyas came, all the advice to her was — keep the borders locked. She allowed them to come, she said — we will share our food, let them be safe.”
However, he reiterated that “the long-term solution” for these refugees is not in Bangladesh but in Myanmar.
Another matter discussed by the senior advisor was the killings at the border, as he said that “good fences make good neighbours”.
“Bangladesh has a very special relationship with India,” he noted.
“We will be happy if India will complete the border fencing, because we believe good fences make good neighbours. It reduces cross border, all sorts of illegal activities. But at the same time, you have to make a determined effort — one life is too many.”
