PM Narendra Modi proposes, Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina welcomes joint disaster management operations

NEW DELHI: PM Narendra Modi on Wednesday suggested a joint exercise of disaster management forces of South Asian countries for a collective response to natural calamities as he held talks with visiting Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina.

Hasina, who was in Delhi to attend the cremation of Suvra Mukherjee, the wife of President Pranab Mukherjee, welcomed Modi’s suggestion as the two leaders met for about half an hour at the PM’s residence, Hasina’s press secretary Ihsanul Karim told ET.

This is second meeting between the two PMs since Modi visited Dhaka in June. Modi’s idea of a joint exercise assumes significance in view of the fact that the region is one the world’s poorest areas and vulnerable to natural disasters. Last year, PM had suggested the launch of a SAARC satellite to assist in weather forecasting and setting up education and telemedicine networks among South Asian countries.