Border disputes with India stand resolved, almost: Hasina

DHAKA: Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said her country has resolved almost all border disputes with India.
Recalling her father and former president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's words 'It is essential to be friendly with everyone and not to have a feud with anyone', Hasina said Bangladesh seeks to stress on the contentious issues of South Asia as little as possible, giving more room for discussion on peace and cooperation matters between neighbours.

By following this policy, Bangladesh has succeeded actually in settling the "long-standing disputes with India over the division of the Ganges River water resources", as well as in settling the border demarcation issue within two years.

"So now there are almost no border disputes any longer," Hasina said.

"The geographical position of Bangladesh obliges us to live in peace with all," Hasina told Itar-Tass ahead of her official visit to Russia, the first one by a leader of Bangladesh in 40 years.

She said that "after a long silence", Dhaka resumed "cordial relations" with "another two friendly neighbours -- Bhutan and Nepal".

"We jointly decided to hold talks with India on transit communication between us across its territory," Hasina said.

Bangladesh, she said, also "managed to establish a positive dialogue even with such a secluded country "as Myanmar, and "settle sea borders-related matters".

Notwithstanding the unpleasant recollections about 1971, she said Bangladesh still tries to maintain friendly relations even with Pakistan.

"We have long been on friendly terms with the People's Republic of China and successfully develop trading and other allied relations," said Hasina describing "poverty" as Bangladesh's enemy number one.

"We jointly act under the auspices of the regional bloc SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation). I believe in the constructive role of friendship. Hostility is senseless and will lead to no good," she said.