Arun Jaitley assures Kamal of resolving Rohingya issue at earliest

FT ONLINE

Indian Finance Minister Arun Jaitley assured Bangladesh of help in resolving the Rohingya issue at the earliest during a meeting with Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal at his office in New Delhi on October 1. 

Kamal was attending the Mahatma Gandhi International Sanitation Convention arranged by the government of India in New Delhi.

During the meeting, Mustafa Kamal urged the Indian Finance Minister to extend support to Bangladesh to contain the Rohingya influx from Myanmar and ensure their safe return, said a Planning Ministry press release.

Jaitley highly praised the recent massive advancement and progress of Bangladesh achieved by the present Awami League government in different socioeconomic fields.

Indian Finance Minister mentioned the present cross-border connectivity development between India and Bangladesh, especially the road and rail connectivity.

He said: “Bangladesh needs to focus on connectivity and institutional development to have a leap in the development areas.”

AHM Mustafa Kamal said Bangladesh attaches highest importance to its relations with India. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina pursues a policy to build multifaceted relations with India.

Kamal thanked Jaitley for supporting the planned development of Bangladesh by providing approvals on the projects to be financed under the Indian Line of Credit.

In response, Jaitley said that if Bangladesh and India are well connected through road and rail networks, then it will be beneficial for both the countries.

“Bangladesh is secured with its border with India, and no threat is possessed there,” he added.

Kamal also mentioned how different African nations have benefited from sharing the water bodies and requested Jaitley to help Bangladesh take similar initiatives for the trans-boundary water bodies to confront the future possible water shortages.

In response to Kamal requesting for active support from India for capital dredging in the major rivers, Jaitley assured that India would stand by Bangladesh in ensuring shared water bodies to be dredged on both sides.