Outgoing Indian High Commissioner in Bangladesh Riva Ganguly Das on Thursday said that the recent works during the pandemic reflected the ‘commitment’ in relations between the two neighbours.
She also said that they were working to normalise the visa despite Covid-19.
The High Commissioner was replying to questions after her meeting with state minister for shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury.
During the meeting, she said she thanked the state minister for the signing of the second addendum to the inland water transit and trade protocol during the pandemic.
This has widened the scopes of doing businesses, she said.
“We worked a lot during the pandemic,” she said, adding that it showed “how our leaders are committed to our relationship”.
“Due to the political will of our leaders we could do that,” she said, referring to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
During the pandemic, India handed over 10 railway locomotives to Bangladesh, reflecting a renewed focus on the “neighbourhood first” policy to bolster economic ties and connectivity within the region.
The first cross-border train with 50 containers loaded with FMCG cargoes and fabrics also reached Bangladesh during the pandemic.
The first transshipment of goods (iron and pulses) from Kolkata to India’s North-East also took place through Bangladesh’s Chattogram port.
Indian external affairs minister Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar recently said that this showed that the “ongoing COVID pandemic has not slowed down the pace of our overall cooperation”.
Replying to a question on visas which have been restricted due to pandemic lockdown, the High Commissioner said they were issuing emergency medical and business visas by air only.
“Still the pandemic is going on and the flights are not regular. But still we are working on and trying to make the visa normal,” she said.
