Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mohammad Tajul Islam has said that relations with India have not been maintained by sacrificing the country's interests.
India is a friendly country of Bangladesh. The Minister also said that our relations with the country which was on the side of Bangladesh in the great war of liberation were established on the basis of bilateral trust and fairness.
He was speaking as the chief guest at the inaugural function of a walkway around the Dhopa Dighi, a six-storey school building and a six-storey cleaner colony building jointly funded by the Government of India and Bangladesh on the banks of the Dhopa Dighi in Sylhet on Saturday.
"India is our closest neighbor," he said. Relations between the two countries have been very good since the birth of Bangladesh. Bilateral relations with the country are ongoing, keeping our interests intact. We will not support any neighboring state, not just India, if it acts irrationally. Our relationship with India is one of fairness. This relationship dates back to the time of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. This relationship has reached new heights during the tenure of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Md Tajul Islam further said that in Bangladesh, people of all religions can enjoy their religion without any hindrance and enjoy all the facilities of the state equally. But one faction is conspiring to create anarchy in the country by using religion to create divisions among the people.
He said development work was being carried out on the basis of equality across the country as per the directions of the Prime Minister. No region is being given special importance. The development projects which will benefit the country economically and create employment are being taken with more importance. Mentioning that Sylhet WASA is being formed to provide safe and safe drinking water to the people of Sylhet, the Minister said that if it is established, the water problem in this city will be solved. The people of Sylhet will benefit. He mentioned that the cooperation of all is needed to make WASA effective.
The chief guest said necessary allocations would be made to repair the roads damaged in the region, including the city of Sylhet, due to the recent floods. At the same time, the minister assured that if the project is taken for the extended area of Sylhet City Corporation, it will be approved.
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen, Local Government Secretary Mohammad Mezbah Uddin and Indian High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswamy were present as special guests at the function presided over by Sylhet City Corporation Mayor Ariful Islam Chowdhury.
Meanwhile, senior officials of Local Government Department, District Administration and Sylhet City Corporation were present among others. Later, the brother of the foreign minister and the former successful finance minister of the government, the late Dr. Local Government Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith attended the kulkhani function.
