Published in: The Daily Star

Date: 30 Apr 2020

Bangladesh and India yesterday decided to work together to increase food production to face the possible food crisis due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Their pledge to work together came when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi phoned Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

During the 12-minute conversation that started at 5:50pm, both the leaders mentioned that their governments have taken initiatives to boost food production to face the possible food crisis.

PM’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim told UNB that the two leaders agreed to work together to this end, if needed.

Hasina said various international organisations, including the UN, have expressed apprehension that the situation may linger. “So, all the countries of the region will have to work in unison to deal with the situation.”

Hasina and Modi appreciated the steps taken by the two countries to combat the pandemic and reiterated their commitment to work together for this purpose.

They also agreed to advance the initiatives that the Sarrc countries took to fight the Covid-19 in a video conference held last month in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

Hasina extended thanks to Modi for sending medicine and other medical equipment to Bangladesh to fight the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The Indian prime minister phoned Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina around 5:50pm and extended Bangla Nabo Barsho and Ramadan greetings to her and the people of Bangladesh,” Ihsanul said.

“The Bangladesh prime minister also extended Ramadan greetings to Narendra Modi and the people of India,” he said.

Modi paid tributes to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on the occasion of his birth centenary, he added.

In another development,Swedish PM Stefan Löfven yesterday assured Hasina that his country would not cancel any garment product orders from Bangladesh.

“We’ll continue importing RMG products from Bangladesh,” he said while talking to Hasina over phone.

In reply, Hasina expressed her firm optimism that Bangladesh could deliver the ordered RMG products of global buyers despite the coronavirus outbreak.

“The Swedish premier phoned Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina around 2:00pm and exchanged greetings with her,” Ihsanul told UNB.

During the 15-minute conversation, he said the two leaders discussed trade and business issues, particularly the RMG sector.

“We’re hopeful that we could meet the orders of the RMG products of the international buyers, including Sweden, despite the present situation caused by the coronavirus outbreak,” Hasina said.

She said the RMG factory owners in Bangladesh reopened their factories by ensuring health protocols.

The press secretary said the issue of coronavirus situation in both the countries also came up during their discussions.

The two prime ministers praised the steps taken by both the countries in containing the pandemic.

In this regard, Hasina reiterated her call to the international community to work together to combat the Covid-19 pandemic, Ihsanul added.

Source:

https://www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/news/dhaka-delhi-will-work-together-tackle-food-crisis-1898134