Staff Reporter:
Local Government, Rural Development (LGRD) and Cooperatives Minister Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan yesterday expressed hope that Bangladesh-India bilateral ties would be further strengthened and cooperation expanded in areas of mutual interest and for the welfare of the peoples of the two countries.
He made the remarks when Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi paid a cour-tesy call on him at his office at the Bangladesh Secretariat yesterday. State Minister for Local Gov-ernment, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam was present.
Dr Moyeen Khan stressed the importance of further advancing the historic and close ties between the peoples of Bangladesh and India.
The Indian envoy congratulated Dr Moyeen Khan on assuming his new responsibility and greeted him on the occasion of the 48th founding anniversary of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).
The meeting also discussed expanding trade and economic cooperation, including the prospects of a free trade arrangement.
The minister underscored the need for strengthening people-to-people contacts to take bilateral relations to a new height in the days to come.
The Indian high commissioner expressed his country’s interest in capacity building and experi-ence-sharing in the local government sector.
He said Bangladeshi officials and representatives could receive training and exchange experiences on local government management through a training institute in Hyderabad, India.
Subsequently briefing the reporters, State Minister Mir Shahe Alam said India had expressed in-terest in utilising Bangladesh’s experience in the local government election process and, subject to discussions, sending observers.
He said the government is committed to holding free, fair and impartial local government elec-tions, adding that the polls to all five tiers of local government will be completed within the current fiscal year.
Local Government Division Secretary Md Shahidul Hasan, Indian Deputy High Commissioner Pawan Kumar Tulshidas Badhe and senior officials of the ministry and the High Commission were present there.
