Will further cement ties with B'desh: Indian envoy

Dhaka, October 9

Further consolidating India’s fraternal relations with Bangladesh at all levels will be his top priority, the new Indian envoy said. He termed the existing bilateral ties “beyond the strategic partnership”.

High Commissioner Vikram Kumar Doraiswami, in his first media appearance on Thursday night after reaching the Bangladeshi capital by road through the eastern Akhaura frontier on October 5, said New Delhi had entrusted him with an assignment to nurture the bilateral ties with Bangladesh and he would put his best efforts to carry out the mission.

“My colleagues and I will spare no efforts to promote this partnership at all levels… My government has ordered me to do exactly that,” he said.

Doraiswami called the existing bilateral ties “beyond the strategic partnership”, adding that even the closest of relationships need to be nurtured while “fraternal ties with Bangladesh is one of our highest priorities”.

The envoy’s press briefing at his official India Bhaban residence came shortly after he presented his credentials to Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid at Bangabhaban presidential palace.

He said the Bangladesh-India ties “goes beyond even strategic partnerships” as it was based on shared sacrifice, history and culture, and on the uniquely close ties of kinship. PTI