India to keep promises Pranab assures Hasina; thanks Bangladesh for Liberation War honour,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH INDIA

Indian President Pranab Mukherjee has firmly said his country is committed to implement all agreed decisions with Bangladesh.

Pranab said this when Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina made a courtesy call on him at Sonargaon Hotel in the capital yesterday.

The Indian president and his wife arrived in Dhaka in the afternoon on a three-day official visit.

"India is pledged-bound to implement all assurances it has given to Bangladesh," Foreign Minister Dipu Moni told reporters, quoting Pranab as saying after the meeting.

The Indian president and the premier discussed all issues of bilateral interests and sub-regional cooperation during the meeting, Dipu Moni said.

Pranab also said the Indian parliament would ratify the Land Boundary Agreement with Bangladesh in its current budget session, she told reporters.

The Indian president expressed his firm optimism about the singing of the Teesta Water Sharing Treaty after discussions with the concerned Indian states.

He, however, didn't mention any timetable for the signing of the agreement, the foreign minister said.

At the meeting, the Indian president highly praised Hasina for her initiative to build up a sub-regional cooperation among Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Bhutan in different areas.

"We could explore the area of sub-regional cooperation as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina first visualised the conception and took the initiative," Pranab said.

He also extended his sincere thanks and expressed gratitude for conferring "Friends of Liberation War Honour" to him and others for their support to the cause of Bangladesh in 1971.

"Indian soldiers have fought for liberation of many countries across the world and embraced martyrdom. But, Bangladesh is the only nation which has honoured us with the recognition," Pranab said.

"That is why, I have selected Bangladesh as my first foreign country to visit after becoming the president of India," He told the premier.

Lauding the farsighted planning of Hasina, Pranab said Bangladesh maintained over six percent economic growth amidst severe global financial crisis.

He also conveyed the good wishes of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for the premier.

Railways Minister Mujibul Haque, PM's advisers Gowher Rizvi and Mashiur Rahman, Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque and Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Tariq Ahmad Karim, among others, were present.

After the meeting, the prime minister hosted a dinner in honour of the Indian president at the hotel.