DHAKA, July 1 (ANI) — Bangladesh seeks to maintain its relationship with India on the basis of trust, equity, and mutual respect, Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and Leader of the Opposition in the Bangladesh Parliament Shafiqur Rahman said Wednesday.
Speaking to ANI after an opinion exchange meeting at the Bangladesh Parliament building in Dhaka, Rahman said Bangladesh values its relationship with India as well as with other neighboring countries.
“India is our closest neighbour. We always respect our neighbours, not only India but all the neighbours. And we also deserve mutual respect from them,” he said.
He added that Dhaka aims to build ties grounded in mutual trust and respect.
“And we want to maintain a mutual relation upon trust, equity, and respect,” he said.
His remarks come as Bangladesh moves forward with plans for the Teesta Master Plan, a major river management initiative involving the Teesta River shared by India and Bangladesh. The project has also drawn attention amid discussions on possible cooperation with China.
Calling the project an internal matter, Rahman said Bangladesh would proceed in its national interest.
“The Teesta project is our own matter, our own issue. And we have to do what we need to feel better for Bangladesh,” he said, adding that he hoped “all the friends will be happy with our progress.”
He said the project is urgently needed for the estimated 25 million people living in the affected region in northern Bangladesh.
“We all want the Teesta Master Plan to be implemented. Twenty-five million people are suffering here,” he said, adding that he had personally witnessed the hardship during visits to the area.
Rahman reiterated his party’s support for the project, saying, “Our stance on this matter is very positive and firm.”
He also made a light remark suggesting goodwill gestures in regional relations, saying, “If anyone gets upset, we will try to make them happy by sending them mangoes from Rajshahi.”
Referring to recent reactions over Bangladesh military naming four avenues after historical Caliphs, Rahman said such matters fall strictly within Bangladesh’s sovereign decision-making.
“Recently, I noticed that our military has introduced four new avenues named after the Caliphs. I heard that people from another country have reacted to it. But what names we choose… is entirely our own matter,” he said.
He added that no external party should interfere in domestic affairs.
“We hope that no one will interfere or poke their nose into anyone else’s internal matters,” he said.
Rahman called for independent foreign policies for all countries and emphasized respect in regional relations.
The Teesta River, which flows through India and Bangladesh, has long been a subject of diplomatic discussion, particularly regarding water-sharing arrangements between the two countries.
About The Author
