“She went to the airport to receive PM Modi not because she felt she had to, but because she felt, my neighbour is here,” Dr Gowher Rizvi

Pressing upon the need for the two countries to be more globally aligned on international issues, Dr. Gowher Rizvi stated that Bangladesh will like to take advantage of India’s position.

Terming any attempt by Dhaka to play India against China as “outrageous” International Affairs Advisor to Bangladesh Prime Minister, Dr. Gowher Rizvi in an interview given to the Sunday Guardian stated that India is an indispensable partner of Bangladesh.

“India is our most important ally and neighbor. India is central to our security and our economic prosperity and political stability. We hope India feels about Bangladesh in the same way. This is not a relationship we are going to trifle with,” said Dr. Rizvi who is also a noted historian, scholar and an academic.

While calling India an indispensable partner of Bangladesh, Advisor to Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina maintained, "India is central to our security and our economic prosperity and political stability."

The idea that "we will play one against the other—India against China, or use the China card in a balancing act is completely outrageous," he said.

Noting that India and Bangladesh have made remarkable progress in almost every facet of their economic life, he said the two countries have cooperated in all areas including social, economic, security transit, transport and connectivity.

“We have to move forward in a much more planned and strategic manner so that we can align our policies internationally, and economically we should promote development through strategic cooperation, taking comparative advantage of each other’s best resources,” he held.

Pressing upon the need for the two countries to be more globally aligned on international issues, Dr. Rizvi stated that Bangladesh will like to take advantage of India’s position.

“India has a voice in tables and places we don’t reach so that our voice can be heard and we can play the role we hope to play,” he pointed out.

Terming Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Bangladesh as a “special gesture”, Dr. Rizvi argued that the fact that this is the first time Prime Minister Modi has stepped out of India during the pandemic in itself shows how much importance he attaches to nurturing relations with Bangladesh.

He held that Prime Minister Modi coming here to celebrate with us the centenary of the birth of Bangabandhu and centenaries are always very important.

“When it is the centenary of the Father of the Nation, it is particularly important that PM Modi has personally chosen to come to Bangladesh, to join us, to celebrate with us, to share our happiness,” the International Advisor to PM Sheikh Hasina mentioned.

Replying to a question on the violent protests taking place in Bangladesh ahead of PM Modi’s visit to Bangladesh, Dr. Rizvi reckoned that these protestors failed and they belonged to ‘fringe of the fringe’ while the vast majority, 99.5 percent or more welcomed PM Modi’s visit.

“This was a totally non-controversial visit. Mr. Modi had come to pay respect to our Father of the Nation,” he continued.

For full interview in the Guardian: https://www.sundayguardianlive.com/news/india-important-ally-neighbour-advisor-sheikh-hasina