Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Indian High Commissioner Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty discussed the much-talked-about transit issue during a meeting when the envoy paid a courtesy call on her at her office yesterday.

The PM told the high commissioner, "Bangladesh wants transit facilities with India, Nepal and Bhutan for boosting bilateral and regional trade and business." She said during every talk with Indian authorities, Bangladesh always requested India to give Bangladesh transit facilities with Nepal and Bhutan. Hasina also called for creating Regional Food Security System in South Asia for future welfare of the people of the region.

PM's Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad briefed the newsmen after the meeting. The premier observed that at present in all South Asian countries elected governments are in power, which paved the way for regional and bilateral understanding and consensus to work for attaining food security and solving other problems.

Mentioning her government's plans for tackling the challenges of the climate change, the PM told the high commissioner that India can help Bangladesh in launching its planned capital and maintenance dredging in the country's rivers. The PM further requested the Indian government to give duty-free access of more Bangladeshi products to their market.

Talking on the UN General Assembly 2009, the Indian diplomat lauded Hasina for her "wise and visionary" speech in the session depicting the total picture of global-warming challenges, necessity of increasing food production and the path of ensuring economic emancipation of the world people. Pinak on behalf of Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh invited Hasina to visit India. The PM accepted the invitation and gave consent to visit India at the time of her convenience. PM's Office Secretary Mollah Waheeduzzaman and Deputy High Commissioner of India Mukta D Tomar were present.

-Daily Star