Disputes need to be resolved through talks

Stating that Bangladesh believes in maintaining good relations with neighbouring countries, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said that while there may be disputes among neighbours, those need to be resolved through discussions.

"Problems may be there among neighbours but those should be solved through talks...friendship and cooperation should continue," she said.

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The prime minister said this when the Pakistani High Commissioner in Dhaka, Rafiuzzaman Siddiqui, paid a courtesy call on her at her office in the morning.

After the meeting, the PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters.

The prime minister said Bangladesh has solved land boundary and maritime disputes with India peacefully. "Indian parliament unanimously ratified the Land Boundary Bill," she said, adding that the peaceful resolution to the dispute has set an example for the world.

Hasina also mentioned resolving maritime disputes with Myanmar in the same way. "We've also solved insurgency problem in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) and brought back 62,000 refugees from India by signing the peace treaty."

Terming poverty the main enemy of this region, she emphasised the need for all countries of the region working together to root out poverty.

The prime minister elaborated on her government's achievements in various sectors that took place in the last eight and a half years. "After assuming office, we've set goals to ensure food security, education and healthcare for people."

She also mentioned that the government implemented many programmes in these sectors and people are now getting the benefits.

The prime minister said the past BNP-Jamaat government stopped many welfare-oriented programmes like community clinics and 'Ekti Bari Ekti Khamar Project" out of political vengeance.

Hasina also referred to the August 21 grenade attack on her in 2004 and said the militants carried out synchronised bomb blasts in 500 places in 63 districts out of 64 in 2005.

While talking about the menace of terrorism, she said the arms sellers are ultimately benefitting from it.

Highly lauding the development activities in Bangladesh, the Pakistani high commissioner said Bangladesh has now totally changed with rapid development.

Rafiuzzaman Siddiqui said the Pakistani people highly appreciated the way Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been containing terrorism and militancy.

Referring to the terrorist attack at Holey Artisan Cafe in the city last year, the Pakistan envoy said such an incident did not recur in Bangladesh since Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been dealing with terrorism and militancy with an iron fist.

Rafiuzzaman said both Bangladesh and Pakistan share many commonalities and he would continue to work for the improvement of the relations between the two countries.

PM's Principal Secretary Dr Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury, PMO Senior Secretary Suraiya Begum and PM's Military Secretary Major General Mia Mohammad Zainul Abedin were present during the meeting.