Lok Sabha Speaker meets Bangladesh PM

Dhaka, April 2 : Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, who is leading the Indian Parliamentary Delegation to the 136th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Dhaka, called on Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday.

Mahajan said that India attaches the highest importance to the relations with Bangladesh and believes that a strong, stable and prosperous Bangladesh is in its best interest, an official statement said.

She also said that India stands committed to strengthen this relationship on the basis of friendship, trust and understanding for the mutual benefit of their people and collective prosperity of the entire region, and partner its economic development.

Mahajan said India fully supports Bangladesh's policy of zero-tolerance against terrorism and stands by its fight against the forces of militancy and terrorism.

Sheikh Hasina, the statement said, hoped that Bangladesh's close and historic links with India would continue to guide bilateral relationship in times to come.

Earlier on Sunday, Mahajan addressed the delegates at the debate on the meet's general theme "Redressing Inequalities: Delivering on Dignity and Well-being for all".

Noting many existing inequalities have global linkages and solutions are possible only through sustained global efforts, she emphasised that the world community can address inequality effectively and efficiently.

Referring to Indian philosophy's inherent assertion that the individual should grow to benefit the society and encompass the whole universe, Mahajan emphasised that human dignity cannot be ensured merely through constitutional means and "has to be embedded in the basic Sanskaras -- the value system of the society".

Mentioning that a number of legislations have been enacted from time to time to end discrimination against vulnerable groups of people, the Speaker said that India has established many institutions for the welfare and protection of the rights of the disadvantaged groups.

She also said that the recent endorsement by India of the ambitious 2030 Sustainable Development Goals would further help bridge the gaps and supplement the efforts for equitable development by addressing the key challenges such as poverty, inequality, and violence against women.

Referring to the South Asian Speakers' Conference held in Indore recently, Mahajan said that the participants had unequivocally agreed to work in tandem to address the regional issues of inequality among the citizens in different spheres.