India’s ‘Act East Policy’ starts with Bangladesh, says PM

New Delhi, December 19

India conveyed to Bangladesh that it was willing to work on mutually beneficial projects during a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and visiting Bangladesh President M Abdul Hamid here on Friday.

During talks between Modi and Hamid, both sides warmly recollected their joint endeavours during the Liberation struggle of 1971, according to tweets posted by the ministry of external affairs spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin.

Modi conveyed to Hamid that "India's Act East Policy starts with Bangladesh. India ready to work on mutually beneficial projects," said a tweet.

He also told Hamid that "India is willing to be catalytic agent to boost regional cooperation".

Hamid also reiterated an invite to Modi to visit Bangladesh. Modi said he is keen to visit Dhaka and would do so at an early date next year, said sources.

Earlier in the day, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj called on President Hamid and told him that India is keen to strengthen bilateral ties.

Hamid arrived here Thursday on a six-day official visit - the first visit by a ceremonial head of state of Bangladesh since 1972.

He is here on the invite of President Pranab Mukherjee, and will be a guest in Rashtrapati Bhawan. President Mukherjee had paid a state visit to Bangladesh in March 2013.

The visit of the Bangladesh president will contribute to further strengthening and expanding the close bilateral relations between the two countries, the external affairs ministry said.

Hamid will visit Amjer, Agra, Jaipur during his stay. He will visit Kolkata before returning to Dhaka on Dec 23, the Bangladesh mission here had announced earlier.

The visit comes as the Narendra Modi government is readying to go ahead with the India-Bangladesh land swap agreement.

Under the swap, India will exchange 111 enclaves measuring 17,160 acres with Bangladesh and receive 51 enclaves covering 7,110 acres. Almost 51,000 people reside in these enclaves. The territories involved in the exchange are in the states of Assam, West Bengal, Meghalaya and Tripura. — IANS