'We're together, not just near'

"Abar Ashibo Phire/ Dhansiritir Teere/ Ei Banglay..."

(I shall return to this Bengal, to the bank of Dhansiri...)

Reciting the lines from a famous Bangla poem by surrealistic poet Jibanananda Das, Indian prime minister Narendra Modi bade adieu, ending his two-day visit to Bangaldesh.
At the final public appearance before his depature on Sunday evening, Modi began his "Address" by saying:

"Kemon  Achho? Amra Tomar Sathey Achhi. Amra Tomake Sathey Niye Cholbo."
(How are you (Bangladesh)? We (India) are with you. We'll go forward along with you.)

He said his two-day visit to Bangladesh was coming to an end but "the real journey begins now".

"People used to think we (Bangladesh and India) are adjacent (pass pass) to each other, but now (after the visit) the world would have to recognise that we are not just near (paas-paas) but also together (saath-saath)," an eloquent Modi said in his one-and-half-hour-long speech delivered mostly in Hindi, in front of a capacity crowd at Bangbandhu International Convention Centre.

Modi's lecture titled "Address" was hosted by the University of Dhaka in cooperation with the Indian High Commission in Dhaka. Dhaka University vice-chancellor Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique gave welcome speech.

Modi, who was born and brought up in India's Gujarat state, wanted to know from the audience how his Bangla is.

Dwelling on his maiden visit, he said the honour Bangladesh has shown to him was in effect an honour shown to the 125 crore Indians.

Modi had all praises of progress made by Bangladesh, saying this country had to often face natural disasters. "Bangladesh has accomplished unparalleled tasks in many fields," he said and referred to the country's performance in readymade garments.

"A Chinese garment factory CEO, during my recent visit to China, told me that my neighbouring country Bangladesh has grabbed the second position in global RMG market only with a 170-million population (compared to India's 1250 million)."

He said his country feels happy if Bangladesh prospers. "India can learn from Bangladesh, too," he added.

Modi mentioned that "when Bangladesh progresses, India feels proud, because Indian soldiers too have shed their blood for the birth of this country".

The Indian premier said his country and Bangladesh are both blessed with young people. "Around 65 percent people of both Bangladesh and India are young," he said.

He expressed optimism that a nation with such young leadership and such strength, like Bangladesh, would definitely progress.

Dwelling on Land Boundary Agreement, he said this agreement has bonded the hearts of Bangladesh and India together.

He quoted a newspaper editorial that said that the LBA was equivalent to the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Ruling out the concept of imperialism, the Indian leader said the era of expansionism in geopolitics has ended. "The world now needs progress, not expansionism," he said.

About the Teesta deal, Modi admitted that some tasks are still to be done. "I believe birds, wind and water do not need any visa and therefore the Teesta water sharing issue has to be resolved with a human approach," he said adding that there should be trust that a solution to the Teesta issue would come.

The Indian premier concluded his speech chanting slogan -- 'Jay Bangla, Jay Hind'.