By IANS,
New Delhi: Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s India tour was a “game-changing visit”, which will turn the two South Asian countries into development partners from adversarial contestants, according to Bangladesh ambassador to India Ahmed Tariq Karim.
“This was a game-changing visit,” Karim told reporters here Friday.
Last week, Hasina and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh signed five agreements, including for counter-terror cooperation. India also extended its largest ever one-time bilateral assistance of a $1 billion line of credit to Bangladesh.
“With the Awami League government there and the UPA government here, there is an alignment of political stars, a comfort level on both states,” Karim said, noting that now both nations are going to be “development partners”, which will be a change from the history of 30 years when they were “adversarial contestants”.
“I think the numbers on both sides give the confidence to turn what is wrong in our relationship right,” Karim said.
He added that the visit had exceeded expectations, when the Indian leader extended the $1 billion line of credit. “We were very, very overwhelmed by the generosity of the prime minister (Manmohan Singh). He doubled it. We did not have press on it.”
On the river water issue, Karim said that the joint river commission, chaired by the water ministers of both countries, will meet before the end of March.
“We would like an interim water sharing agreement. But let the two ministers meet. Let’s not prejudge,” said Karim. The Joint River Commission will be meeting after seven years.
Replying to a query on the Bangladeshi opposition raising its voice against the deals with India, the senior diplomat said it was one of the signs of democratic tradition.
On the boundary issue, he said that the joint working group is likely to meet soon. “We have to think out of the box (for a resolution),” he urged.