Mukherjee lauds Bangladesh effort in tackling NE insurgency

Dhaka, August 8 (ANI): Visiting Indian Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has appreciated the effort of the Bangladesh Government in tackling the menace of extremism and terrorism in the region.

"We deeply appreciate the efforts of the government of Bangladesh to tackle this menace and we will continue to be closely engaged" for enhanced bilateral security cooperation," Mukherjee said during a joint press conference here on Saturday.

He identified security cooperation to be an area that engaged the attention of both the countries given our common desire to root out the forces of extremism and terrorism from our midst.

He further said during the visit of the Bangladesh Prime Ministers in India, we have embarked on several new initiatives.

"India has readily provided transit for Bangladesh to Nepal and Bhutan. We have also agreed to contribute to alliviating your power requirements and to undertake joint ventures to build thermal power plants. These are significant developments," he added

"We have already identified two areas on the Meghalaya border to set Border Haats. After a gap of several years, the Joint Rivers Commissions was convened as agreed in March this year and both sides have already exchanged drafts on Teesta water sharing," he said.

Earlier, Mukherjee was given a rousing welcome and received by his Bangladeshi counterpart A MA Muhith at the airport. After that he went State Guest House, Jamuna, where he held a meting with the Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Dipu Moni and reviewed the implementation of the agreement reached between the two countries.

He also called on Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her official resident and reviewed Indo-Bangla ties.

With Bangladesh providing unprecedented cooperation on the security front, India is keen to provide all it can to ensure Bangladesh benefits from India's economic progress. By Ravi Shankar (ANI)