The reassurance came as she unveiled the manifesto of the ruling Awami League party on Wednesday for the upcoming general elections scheduled for January 7.
PM Hasina stressed her party's commitment in fostering collaboration for development with all nations. Specifically mentioning India-Bangladesh ties, the manifesto states, “The long-standing problem of demarcation of land boundaries and exchange of enclaves with India has been resolved. This achievement has encouraged continued multilateral cooperation and friendly relations with India.”
Highlighting the foreign policy priorities of her party, Hasina's manifesto also stated that “cooperation with neighbouring countries will continue in various areas, including cross-border communication, transit, energy partnership, and equitable water sharing”.
“Bangladesh is firmly determined to prevent the presence of militants, international terrorists, and separatist groups on its territory,” the manifesto said, adding, “The Awami League government will play an important role in forming the South Asia Task Force to combat terrorism and militancy to root it out from the entire region.”
In terms of cooperation with India, Bhutan, and Nepal, the manifesto proposes expanding collaborations beyond trade and security to include energy cooperation and joint management of river water.
The Awami League's electoral agenda aims to transform Bangladesh into a technologically advanced “smart” country by 2041, focusing on 11 key areas, as reported.
Hasina highlighted job creation as a top priority in her presentation of the manifesto, underlining the party's commitment to comprehensive development, particularly focusing on economic growth and employment generation.
The 98-page manifesto emphasises controlling essential commodity prices, advancing technology, boosting agriculture and industries, and strengthening the financial sector, including banks.
The Supreme Court, on December 27, provided clearance for the Election Commission (EC) to proceed with the 12th parliamentary election scheduled for January 7.
-By Aditya Ahuja
(Inputs; ANI)
