Bangladesh will soon import defence related items from India under the historic USD 500 million Line of Credit (LoC), according to Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla. The foreign secretary was talking to media persons after visiting Indian President Ram Nath Kovind held delegation-level talks with Bangladesh's top leadership in Dhaka. Harsh Vardhan Shringla said that both neighbours are bound by history and culture. He also said that President Kovind held defence related talks with Bangladesh's top leadership.
Key Points:
1. “I think the issue of imports of defence-related items by Bangladesh, you are aware that we have signed, we have extended the line of credit for defence items for USD 500 million. Under this line of credit, several items have been identified and being fast tracked. They're in fairly advanced stages of being processed… we will see certain defence items exports from India coming to Bangladesh and this is something that we would like to see,” the foreign secretary said.
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2. "As far as we are concerned, India and Bangladesh are bound by ties of history, language, spirituality and culture," Shringla added. He further that the entire gamut of cooperation including training, exchanges, joint manufacturing in the defence sector, is something that India would like to further intensity and enhance.
3. India and Bangladesh had golden jubilee celebrations marking the independence of East Bengal from Pakistan in 1971. Indian President held delegation-level talks with the country's top leadership on Wednesday during his visit.
4. President Kovind had assured that Bangladesh has a "special place" in India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy and that the bilateral relationship is mature enough to handle the "most complex of problems" as it is based on sovereignty, equality, trust and understanding.
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