Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday discussed the regional situation in the wake of COVID19 outbreak.
“Both the leaders briefed each other about the steps being taken to mitigate its effects in the respective country,” officials in Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) in Delhi said.
Officials said Prime Minister Modi also conveyed greetings to Hasina on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan over the telephone.
Both leaders expressed happiness at the progress made in implementing the special arrangements agreed on March 15 between the leaders of the SAARC countries.
Also read: COVID19: Tripura villagers block entry of goods-laden trucks from Bangladesh
Prime Minister Modi thanked Prime Minister Hasina for contribution of USD 1.5 million towards SAARC COVID19 Emergency Fund, officials said.
Prime Minister Hasina thanked Modi for taking lead in coordinating efforts to combat COVID 19 in the region and for supplying aid to Bangladesh, both in terms of medical supplies and capacity building.
Both the leaders expressed satisfaction at continuation of supply of essential items across the border through road, rail, inland waterways and air.
Modi, recalling the shared bonds of history, culture, language and fraternal ties, expressed satisfaction at the excellent state of bilateral relations, and ensured India’s readiness to help Bangladesh in containing the spread of COVID19 and in mitigating the health and economic impact of the pandemic.
On Tuesday, Tripura villagers blocked goods-laden trucks coming from Bangladesh at Srimantapur in Tripura’s Sepahijala district fearing spread of COVID19 as the virus has claimed 145 people in the neighbouring country.
The villagers resisted the entry of Bangladeshi goods-laden trucks though the Srimantapur international check-post (ICP), which is the third-largest international checkpoint along the India-Bangladesh border.