Hasina, Khaleda meet over iftar

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Leader of the Opposition Begum Khaleda Zia talking to each other at the iftar party hosted by Arms Forces Division at Senakunja in the Dhaka Cantonment on Thursday. Photo: Focus Bangla

bdnews24.com, Dhaka

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina and leader of the opposition Khaleda Zia shared a table at an armed forces iftar party in Senakunja on Thursday.
Hasina arrived at the cantonment at 7pm, while Khaleda had reached the venue a little earlier.
Both leaders shared pleasantries and enquired after each other's wellbeing over the iftar. Cabinet members and chiefs of three forces were also present.
The two leaders, oft-times bitter political rivals, rarely meet. Last year saw the two share a table at an Armed Forces Day ceremony during the caretaker government-following release of the two leaders from special jail.
In a more recent meeting this year, Khaleda visited Hasina's home to offer condolences on the death of the prime minister's husband Dr M Wazed Miah in May.
Our Staff Correspondent adds: It may be recalled that the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Leader of the Opposition Begum Khaleda Zia met last a few months ago when the latter went to Sudha Sadan to console the former at the death of her husband nuclear scientists Dr. Abdul Wazed Miah.
Meanwhile, the two leaders exchanged invitations for iftar party late last month, but were unable to attend each other iftar party held on the same day.

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Dhaka to get 100 mw electricity Delhi to get access to Ashuganj port

Joint statement issued after Dipu Moni’s visit to India says

BSS, New Delhi

Bangladesh and India have recognized the need to expedite negotiations for finalizing an agreement to share the waters of Teesta river.
"Towards this end, they agreed to mandate their respective foreign offices to meet and discuss the technical and other parameters of this issue," a joint press statement issued here Thursday said. The statement was handed over to newsmen at a press conference addressed by the visiting foreign minister Dr. Dipu Moni at the Bangladesh High Commission at Chanakyapuri here before her departure for home ending the four-day official visit to India.
The two sides also agreed to immediately commence joint hydrological observations on the river and to undertake bank protection works, dredging of Ichhamati river and minor irrigation/ drinking water schemes on Feni river.
While agreeing to enhance cooperation in the power sector, India decided to provide at least 100 MW to Bangladesh on a priority basis.
Bangladesh side agreed to provide access to Ashuganj Port to facilitate the transportation of the Over Dimensional Consignments for the Palatana Power Project in Tripura. The statement further said the Indian side agreed to facilitate Nepal- Bangladesh and Bhutan-Bangladesh connectivity.
Both sides agreed on the re-opening Sabroom-Ramgarh trade point as well opening a land route at Demagiri-Thegamukh on the Mizoram border for bilateral trade.
India agreed in principle to provide a Line of Credit for railway projects and supply of locomotives, coaches and buses. India offered to take up construction of Akhaura-Agartala railway link under Indian assistance.
"India also agreed to assist Bangladesh in the dredging sector," the statement added. Both sides agreed to start Border Haats (markets) on the Bangladesh-Meghalaya border for mutual benefit of the people in these areas. They also agreed to movement of containerized cargo by rail and water for bilateral trade.
The two sides also welcomed the holding of the Joint Working Group on Trade last month and discussed broad economic issues to fully activate all institutional mechanism to promote two-way trade, initiate long pending trade facilitation measures and facilitate movement of businessmen and professionals.
Bangladesh specially raised the issue of duty free access to Bangladeshi commodities, removal of non tariff and para tariff barriers and improvement of infrastructures on the Indian side.
Dhaka and Delhi agreed to 'comprehensively address' all outstanding land boundary issues. Both sides expressed their intent to resolve outstanding issues relating to Dahagram and Angarpota enclaves and the Tin Bigha corridor.

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