South Asia
SEARO ED India supports Bangladesh's candidature for the post of executive director of SEARO
Dhaka, December 11: India has supported Bangladesh's candidacy for the post of Executive Director (ED) of the World Health Organization's (WHO) Southeast Asia Regional Office (SEARO). Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Vikram Kumar Doraiswami expressed this support during a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Ganobhaban on Thursday.
After the meeting, Deputy Press Secretary to the Prime Minister Hasan Zahid Tushar briefed the journalists.
He said the Indian ambassador had discussed with the Prime Minister the problems faced by Bangladeshi nationals in obtaining Indian visas due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The High Commissioner informed the Prime Minister that 90 per cent of Indian visas have already been issued in various cases, and the rest will be issued depending on the Covid-19 situation.
Doraiswami mentioned the ongoing process of supplying 30 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine to Bangladesh through the Serum Institute of India. In this context, he also expressed his desire to assist the government in enhancing the capacity of Bangladeshi health professionals to effectively distribute the covid vaccine. He emphasized on enhancing business interaction between the two countries in the mutual interest.
During the meeting, the Prime Minister reiterated the need for regional development and cooperation. In this context, the Prime Minister reiterated the foreign policy formulated by the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman government, 'Friendship with all, enmity with none'.
The High Commissioner of India conveyed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's greetings to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and to the people of Bangladesh. In reply, the Prime Minister thanked him and also conveyed her greetings to the Prime Minister of India.
Sheikh Hasina gratefully recalled India's contribution in the liberation war of Bangladesh and in the reconstruction of the newly independent country after the war. "All Indians are united in their support towards Bangladesh," she said, citing the passage of the Border Agreement (LBA) with Bangladesh in the Indian Parliament.
She welcomed the High Commissioner of India and assured all possible cooperation during his tenure. Doraiswami expressed his country's interest in investing in Bangladesh's food and agriculture sectors to add value to agricultural products.
The Indian High Commissioner said Indians want to be partners in the development of Bangladesh in building the Golden Bangladesh the father of the nation Sheikh Mujibur Rahman dreamt of. Accordingly, the pre-1965 connection line, the Chilahati-Haldibari rail link, will be inaugurated on December 17 with some more projects during the upcoming virtual summit between the Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina and the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi.
