| State Visit of H.E. Begum Khaleda Zia, Hon'ble Prime Minister of Bangladesh to India, 20 to 22 March 2006 |
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H.E. Begum Khaleda Zia, Prime Minister of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh paid a state visit to India from 20-22 March 2006 at the invitation of the Indian Prime Minister, H.E. Dr. Manmohan Singh. During the visit, the Bangladesh Prime Minister held comprehensive discussions with the Indian Prime Minister H.E. Dr. Manmohan Singh on the entire gamut of bilateral relations. They also discussed regional and international issues of mutual interest. The discussions between the two leaders were underpinned by the common desire to strengthen and consolidate the friendly ties that already exist between the two countries based as they are on shared history and culture and wide-ranging people-to-people relations. The Bangladesh Prime Minister called on the Indian President H.E. Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the Vice-President H.E. Shri Bhairon Singh Shekhawat and the Chairperson, United Progressive Alliance, Smt. Sonia Gandhi. The Hon’ble Minister of Commerce and Industry Shri Kamal Nath, the Hon’ble Leader of the Opposition Shri L.K. Advani, and the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Mizoram, Shri Zoramthanga, also called on the Bangladesh Prime Minister. Two Agreements were signed during the visit of the Bangladesh Prime Minister. These were: the Revised Trade Agreement and the Agreement for Mutual Cooperation for Preventing Illicit Trafficking in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances and Related Matters. While the revised trade agreement is expected to provide a framework for expansion of bilateral trade, the other agreement signals the joint determination of the two Governments to combat drug trafficking. Both leaders agreed on the need to maintain high-level political dialogue between the two countries. It was recalled that the Indian Prime Minister had met the Bangladesh Prime Minister in Dhaka in November last year during the 13th SAARC Summit. The current visit of the Bangladesh Prime Minister has provided both countries the opportunity to continue and sustain their high-level political dialogue. The visit is also testimony to the highest priority attached by both countries to the promotion of their bilateral relations in all aspects. Discussions between the sides led by the two Prime Ministers were held in a cordial atmosphere and there was a constructive and forward-looking exchange of views. The discussions resulted in greater understanding and appreciation of each other’s point of view. It was agreed that meetings of the bilateral institutional mechanisms such as the Joint Economic Commission, the Joint Boundary Working Groups, the Joint Rivers Commission and the Home Secretary-level talks would be held more frequently to ensure movement in a positive direction and their outcome monitored by the political leadership on a continuous basis. Whether it is security, trade or sharing of water, the two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to work closely together to find mutually satisfactory solutions. Both sides agreed that the visit of H.E.Begum Khaleda Zia, the Bangladesh Prime Minister to India had contributed to further consolidation and progress in the already close and friendly relations between the two neighbouring countries. The two leaders also expressed their satisfaction over the successful conclusion of the 13th SAARC Summit in Dhaka in November 2005. They agreed that the positive outcome of the Summit would enable SAARC member countries to achieve specific economic and social objectives. Both leaders emphasized that implementation of SAFTA must be pursued with vigour to advance the SAARC economic agenda. The Bangladesh Prime Minister conveyed her thanks to the Indian Prime Minister as well as the Government and the people of India for the warm hospitality extended to her and members of her delegation during her visit to India. She extended an invitation to the Indian Prime Minister to visit Bangladesh. The invitation was accepted by the Indian Prime Minister with pleasure and precise dates would be worked out through diplomatic channels.
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| Important visits to India, specially to New Delhi |
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Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, as special Envoy of Bangladesh Prime Minister,to India; May 2004 Delegation of Board of Investment of Bangladesh, July 2004 Minister for Commerce of Bangladesh, November 2004 Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, November 2004 Minister for Finance & Planning of Bangladesh, December 2004 Parliamentary Delegation from Bangladesh Jatiya Sangsad on population matters, December 2004 Minister for Health and Family Welfare of Bangladesh, April 2005 Delegation of Bangladesh Police, June 2005 Foreign Secretary Level Talks 21-22 June, 2005 in New Delhi) Visit of a Delegation from Ministry of Water Resources for meeting of the Standing Committee on JRC, June 2005 Visit by a Delegation of the Foreign Service Academy, Bangladesh Visit of Hon’ble Advisor for Primary and Mass Education Professor Jahanara Begum to India to attend Asia Pacific Electricity Conference from 10-11 September 2005 Visit of a BDR delegation to New Delhi to attend BDR-BSF DG level Coordination meeting from 27-30 September 2005 Visit of Secretary, Energy and Mineral Resources Division of the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr. A.MM Nasir Uddin, to attend the First Energy Ministers Conference of the BIMSTEC countries in New Delhi from 3-4 October 2005 Visit of Principal Secretary Dr. Kamaluddin Siddiqui to Kerala to attend a conference on decentralization from 7-9 October 2005 Visit of Home Secretary Mr. Safar Raj Hossain to India to attend the Home Secretary level talks between Bangladesh and India from 27-29 October 2005 Visit of Hon’ble State Minister for Finance and Planning Mr. Shah M. Abul Hussain to New Delhi to attend the SAARC Business Leaders Conclave: South Asia Regional Integration and Growth, 16-20 November 2005 Visit of Hon’ble Health Minister Dr. Khandakar Mosharraf Hossain to Agra, India to attend International Forum on Integration of ICPT goals and Millennium Development Goals, 21-23 November 2005 Visit of a Joint Secretary level-delegation from Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Law and Parliamentary Affairs to attend the BIMSTEC JWG Meeting on Combating Terrorism and Transnational Crimes, 5-7 December 2005 Visit of Hon’ble Health Minister Dr. Khandakar Mosharraf Hossain to New Delhi to attend the Pre- Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunity Board Meeting and 3rd GAVI Partners Meeting from 5-9 December 2005 Visit of Hon’ble Chief Whip Khondkar Delwar Hossain to New Delhi to attend 2nd India and Asia Region’s CPA Conference, 16-20 December 2005 Visit of the Chairman, Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence, Lt. General (Retd.) Muhammad Mahbubur Rahman to New Delhi from 30 January to 03 February 2006 to attend DEFEXPO-2006 Visit of the Director General of BNCC, Brig Gen Md Ahsan Habib to New Delhi from 24 to 31 January to attend the celebration of the Republic Day of India, 26 January 2006 Visit of the Director General, Bangladesh Coast Guard, Commodore S J Nizam to India from 22 to 25 January 2006
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| Important Visits from Indian side during 2005 |
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BDR-BSF DG level talks were held in Dhaka on 12-17 April 2005 Visit of a delegation from Indian College of Naval Warfare to Bangladesh from 3-7 May 2005 Visit of a delegation from Indian Army War College to Bangladesh from 29-31 May 2005 Visit of Secretary (East) of the Ministry of External Affairs Mr. Rajiv Sikri to Bangladesh in connection with the BIMSTEC Senior Officers Meeting from 31 May to 1 June 2005 State Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Defence, Mr. BK Handique led an eight-member delegation to Bangladesh from 10-13 July 2005 A meeting of JWG on trade was held in Dhaka attended by a seven member Commerce delegation from India from 1-2 August 2005 Visit of the Indian External Affairs Minister to Bangladesh, 6 to 8 August 2005 Visit of Petroleum Minister Mr. Mani Shankar Aiyar to Bangladesh from 5-6 September 2005 Visit of an Indian NDC team to Bangladesh from 11-15 September 2005 Visit of the Water Resource Minister Mr. Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi to Bangladesh to attend JRC meeting from 19-20 September 2005 Visit of Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and State Minister for External Affairs Mr. E Ahmed to Bangladesh from 12-13th November in connection with the 13th SAARC Summit External Affairs Minister E. Ahmed visited Dhaka to attend BIMSTEC Ministerial meeting on 18th December 2005 Visit of the Indian Navy Chief to Bangladesh from 17-20 December 2005
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