Modi launches 4 Bangladesh projects funded by Indian govt

New Delhi: Just after one day of announcement of General Election of the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday inaugurated four development projects of Bangladesh financed by the Indian Government through video conference from South Block. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also joined the video conference from Dhaka Ganabhavan ,office of the PM.

In this occasion PM Hasina wished all success of the PM Modi in the upcoming Lok Sabha poll. She said, " I understand Lok Sabha poll of your country has been announced I extend all good wishes for your success."

In return PM Modi also assured the Bangladesh PM that as we have been extending all cooperation to Bangladesh I am assuring you to continue this effort in next five years.

Interestingly on this occasion apart from diplomats from Bangladesh High commission a youth leaders delegation of major political parties of Bangladesh ,including main opposition party BNP led by Begum Khaleda Zia were also present in the conference.

BNP has boycotted the National Parliament after the election of Bangladesh which was held recently. No elected members from BNP took oath in the National Parliament . But first time two young leaders from BNP were present on that occasion along with the ruling Awami league .

Leaders and MPs from Jatiyo Party and Bikolpo Dhara were also present. The schemes opened by the two prime ministers are supply of Double Decker and Single Decker AC and Non-AC Buses and Trucks to Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (under the 2nd Line of Credit), 36 Community Clinics in 5 Districts (Jamalpur, Sherpur, Habiganj, Sunamganj and Brahmanbaria) under

grant financing of the Government of India; 11 Water Treatment Plants in Bhandaria Pouroshova, Pirojpur District (under grant financing of the Government of India) and National Knowledge Network (NKN) Extension to Bangladesh. Both PMs on Monday jointly unveiled e-plaques for development projects in Bangladesh, through video conference. Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister noted that this is his sixth video conference with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

He said that PM Sheikh Hasina's vision is the biggest inspiration for stronger connectivity between India and Bangladesh. He said today's unveiling will boost not just transport connectivity, but also knowledge connectivity.

He said the National Knowledge Network will connect scholars and research institutes in Bangladesh, to India and the world. He said the buses and trucks would assist the efforts towards affordable public transportation; water treatment plants will help supply clean water; and community clinics will benefit about 2 lakh people, in Bangladesh.

He said these projects show that India-Bangladesh relations are playing a key role in improving the quality of life of people. Prime Minister Modi was appreciative of, and reiterated India's support for the ambitious development targets set by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, for Bangladesh.

In this video conference External Affairs minister Sushma Swaraj and her counterpart Dr A K Momin and Education Minister Dipu Moni were present.

In south Block apart from PM and EAM National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Bangladesh High commissioner Syed Moazzem Ali and Deputy High commissioner Rokebul Haq attended the conference along with 17 Bangladeshi Young Leaders and MPs.