Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said allowing transit facilities to a neighboring country does not necessarily mean selling out the country.
“What’s wrong with offering a transit facility to a neighboring country? There are no borders between European countries. Have they sold their countries to each other? Why should we maintain border obstacles in South Asia?,” said the prime minister while addressing a press conference on her recent visit to India at Ganabhaban on Tuesday (25 June).
She said improved connectivity will expand trade and commerce in the region, ultimately benefiting the people of Bangladesh.
During the 21-22 June visit, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina allowed India to operate trains between Sealdah and Haldibari in West Bengal through Bangladesh. As per the declaration, Indian trains will enter Bangladesh through the Gede-Darshana (Chuadanga) border and exit through the Chilahati (Nilphamari)-Haldibari border to reach Siliguri.
Taking a swipe at the critics of the move, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, “Those who think allowing transit facilities means selling the country are the ones who are ready to sell the country. Sheikh Hasina never does anything that sells the country.
“Zia, Ershad, and Khaleda, even though they publicly stood against India, were the ones who secretly went to India seeking personal gain.”
The press conference started at 11am in the premier's Ganabhaban residence.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina went to New Delhi on 21 June on a two-day state visit to India at the invitation of her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.
This was the first bilateral visit by any head of government to India after the BJP-led alliance formed its government for the third consecutive time following the Lok Sabha elections.
Besides, this visit was Sheikh Hasina's second trip to the Indian capital in less than 15 days, as she was among the dignitaries invited to Modi's swearing-in ceremony on 9 June.
During this Prime Minister's visit, Dhaka and New Delhi signed 10 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) including seven new and three renewed to further consolidate the ever-growing relationship between the two neighbouring countries.
