Will help in repatriation of Rohingyas: Modi to B'desh

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated on Thursday that India is always with Bangladesh and assured of India's cooperation for early repatriation of the displaced Rohingyas to Rakhine state of Myanmar. PM Modi made this comment in his South Block office when Bangladesh Foreign minister Dr A K Abdul Momen met him. Before that visiting, Bangladesh Foreign minister thanked India Government for extending humanitarian assistance for the Rohingya refugees of the Cox's Bazar.

A Press release issued by the Indian PMO does not mention about all these issues which has been claimed by the Bangladesh side in a formal release. The release says "The Prime Minister congratulated Dr. Abdul Momen on his appointment as the Foreign Minister, and appreciated his gesture of selecting India as the destination for his first foreign visit".

Dr Abdul Momen briefed the Prime Minister on the bilateral relationship. The Prime Minister said that India-Bangladesh relations have been on an upward trajectory in the last few years. He reaffirmed India's commitment to work with Bangladesh to build on this momentum during the new term in office of Prime Minister

Sheikh Hasina.

Foreign Minister Dr A K Abdul Momen called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and conveyed the greetings of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. He also conveyed her appreciation to Prime Minister Modi for extending congratulations upon the victory of Awami League in the parliamentary elections, held in December 2018 as the first foreign leader.

Prime Minister Modi mentioned that the partnership between Bangladesh and India is flourishing under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. He reaffirmed India's sincere commitment for Bangladesh's prosperity and development. He viewed that Bangladesh-India relations is a model between two neighbouring countries which needs to be showcased for wider audience around the world.

Dr A K Abdul Momen expressed his satisfaction on the excellent bilateral relations that exist between the two countries which has grown and prospered, especially with the statesmanship of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Prime Minister Modi. He stressed that Bangladesh would continue her resolve in further strengthening and deepening her relations with India in the coming days. He recalled that the two countries amicably resolved the longstanding problems which is much appreciated by the respective peoples. Foreign Minister mentioned about the remarkable progress Bangladesh has achieved during the last few years in the socio-economic

sectors under the Awami League government led by PM Sheikh Hasina.