India should increase imports from Bangladesh

Talking to a visiting delegation of the Jatiya Press Club led by its President Reazuddin Ahmed at his Writers Building Office in the evening, he said Delhi should take steps so that increased quantity of Bangladeshi goods could enter Indian markets.

He said the relations between India and Bangladesh, particularly with West Bengal have always been special since the Liberation War in 1971 and it should continue to remain so.

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He described the recently held Home Secretary level meeting in Dhaka as positive. He expressed the hope that the next Home Secretary level meeting would take the Dhaka-Delhi relations to a new level.

Buddhadev said Nazrul anniversary should jointly be celebrated at official level in Dhaka and Tagore anniversary in Kolkata to promote cultural relations between the two countries.

Besides, he said, film fair of Bangladesh could be organised in Kolkata and Indian film fair in Dhaka with the objective of improving cultural ties. The issue of cable operators also came up for discussion.

On water sharing issue between the two countries, he emphatically said that his government favours just solution of water of the river Teesta between the two countries.

In this context, he recalled the special role of the then Chief Minister Jyoti Basu regarding Ganges Water Sharing Agreement. He said the problem of enclaves should be solved.

Replying to a question on "Bangabhumi" activists operating from West Bengal, he said his government would never patronise such elements. He said the man who heads it has no follower.

Press Club Vice President Nurul Huda, General Secretary Shaukat Mahmood, Ziaul Huq, Zahedul Karim and Yusuf Pasha spoke during the courtesy call on with the Chief Minister.

Kolkata Press Club General Secretary Snehasis Sur introduced the Jatiya Press Club delegation to the Chief Minister. Kolkata Press Club President Raj Mithaulia was present.