DHAKA: Indian Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, revered as a key patron of the Bengalis in the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, Saturday paid a short but significant visit to Dhaka that yielded a development-financing deal between the two countries.

A red carpet was rolled out at the airport as the Indian leader flew in here by a special plane on a four-hour whirlwind tour.

His Bangladesh counterpart Abul Mal Abdul Muhith received him at Hazrat Shahjalal (R) International Airport. Senior officials of finance and foreign ministries were also present.

On his arrival, Pranab attended a press briefing where he said the US$ 1 billion line-of-credit deal, which was later signed in his presence, happens to be the highest amount of credits India offered to any country ever.

He also termed the lending conditions “tolerable” for Bangladesh.   

"We are committed to assisting Bangladesh in addressing its priorities for development," Pranab said.

He billed the joint communique signed between Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh as "forward-looking and comprehensive”.

“...considerable progress has been made in the implementation of several important initiatives taken in the communique," he told the journalists.
 
The veteran politician immediately drove to Hotel Sonargaon in a motorcade and thereafter began his official talks at state guesthouse Jamuna.

The visiting Finance Minister oversaw Bangladesh signing the credit deal with India, capping his talks with his counterpart.

His meetings with Foreign Minister Dr. Dipu Moni and Finance Minister Abul Mal Abdul Muhith dealt with implementation of the agreements reached between the two countries during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to New Delhi in January this year.

The US$1 billion credit agreement was signed between the Economic Relations Division (ERD) of Bangladesh and the EXIM Bank of India.

Secretary of the Economic Relations Division M Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan and Chairman and Managing Director of India`s Export-Import Bank TCA Ranganathan inked the deal on respective side.

The credit line was announced for development of communications infrastructure of Bangladesh, mostly in railway sector, by Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh during Sheikh Hasina’s visit.  

The three leaders attended a press briefing on the outcome of Mukherjee’s Dhaka mission.

During his stay here, the Indian finance minister was also scheduled to call on PM Sheikh Hasina at Ganabhaban.

BDST: 1700 HRS AUG 7, 2010