Indian High Commissioner calls on Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad

The outgoing High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh, Pranay Verma, paid a courtesy call on the Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad, Hafiz Uddin Ahmad Bir Bikram, MP, at the Parliament House in Dhaka on Monday.

During the meeting, both sides discussed ways to further strengthen bilateral relations, with emphasis on parliamentary diplomacy, economic cooperation, connectivity, and enhanced people-to-people contact between the two neighbouring countries.

Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad said that the strong bilateral relationship between Bangladesh and India was established during the 1971 Liberation War, during which India extended all-out support to Bangladesh’s independence struggle.

He described India as Bangladesh’s closest neighbouring country and noted that India’s support for Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman’s nomination as President of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly reflected a “cooperative and generous outlook” in bilateral relations.

The Speaker also said that the current parliament is highly active, with the opposition playing a constructive role. He stressed the importance of identifying areas of cooperation to further strengthen parliamentary relations between the two countries.

High Commissioner Pranay Verma said that parliamentary friendship groups could play an important role in strengthening the bridge between Bangladesh and India. He added that exchange visits between parliamentary delegations would further advance diplomatic relations.

He also congratulated the Speaker on his new role and presented him with a goodwill message and a commemorative gift on behalf of the Government of India.

The meeting included discussions on Bangladesh–India relations, economic cooperation, connectivity initiatives, and ways to enhance engagement between the peoples of the two countries in a positive and constructive manner.

Senior officials from the Indian High Commission, the Secretary of the Parliament Secretariat, and other relevant officials were present at the meeting.