Q. 3834 .HEAD OF STATE S VISIT TO BANGLADESH

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:-

(a) whether the Head of the State of India went on a visit to Bangladesh recently;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) the issues discussed during the visit and the outcome thereof; and

(d) the steps taken by the Government to improve bilateral relations with Bangladesh?
ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRIMATI PRENEET KAUR)

(a) to (d) The President paid a State Visit to Bangladesh from March 3-5, 2013 at the invitation of the President of Bangladesh. This was his first visit abroad as the Head of the State of India. The President was accompanied by the Minister of State for Railways Shri Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and Hon’ble Members of Parliament Shri Sitaram Yechuri, Dr Chandan Mitra, Shri Mukul Roy and Shri Bhubaneswar Kalita.

The President called on the President of Bangladesh Mr. Md. Zillur Rahman and also met the Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina. The President of Bangladesh presented the President the Bangladesh Liberation War Honour. During his visit, the President received a wide array of Bangladesh leaders, including the Foreign Minister, Finance Minister, Home Minister and Information Minister of Bangladesh; Speaker and Members of Bangladesh Parliament; and leaders of various political parties like the Jatiya Party, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal and Worker’s Party of Bangladesh.

The President received an Honorary Doctorate of Law from the University of Dhaka at a formal Convocation Ceremony and attended a Reception to meet members of the Indian community in Bangladesh. The President also travelled to Bhadrabila in Narail District, Shilaidaha in Kushtia District and Mirzapur in Bangladesh.

A number of pragmatic steps taken by the Government over the past years have further strengthened bilateral relations, including in the areas of border management, trade and investment, security, shipping, power, railways, culture, people to people contact, capacity building and human resource development. The visit of the Hon’ble President has enabled us to put across a vision of an equal and mutually beneficial relationship with Bangladesh to the widest cross-section of its people and to convey India’s commitment to building a strong India-Bangladesh partnership, including assistance in developmental efforts and enhanced bilateral cooperation.

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