'India a great friend of Bangladesh': Sheikh Hasina after securing record fourth straight term as PM

A day after she won an overwhelming majority in the general elections and secured a record fourth straight term, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday said India is a ‘great friend’ of Bangladesh and the two neighbours have resolved many problems bilaterally.

The 76-year-old leader, who has been ruling the strategically located South Asian nation since 2009, secured a fifth overall term in the one-sided election on Sunday, which witnessed a low turnout.

#WATCH | Dhaka: Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina speaks to ANI, she says “India is a great friend of Bangladesh. They have supported us in 1971 and 1975. We consider India as our next-door neighbour. I really appreciate that we have a wonderful relationship with India. In… pic.twitter.com/mfRBbBsb4p

— ANI (@ANI) January 8, 2024

“India is a great friend of Bangladesh. They have supported us in 1971 and 1975. We consider India as our next-door neighbour. I really appreciate that we have a wonderful relationship with India,” she said.

Referring to her period in exile when she stayed in India for six years after the killing of her family members, she said, “They (India) gave shelter to me and my sister and my other family members.”

“I have a good relationship with every country because that is our motto,” she added.

In August 1975, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, his wife and their three sons were assassinated in their home by military officers. His daughters Hasina and Rehana survived the purge as they were abroad.

Talking about her vision for the next five years, she said, “In the next five years, our main focus will be on economic progress and to fulfil all the work that we have started. We have already declared our manifesto and we follow our election manifesto whenever we prepare our budget and try to fulfil our promises. Development of the people and our country is our main aim….”

She said she tries to work for her people.

#WATCH | Dhaka: Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina says “I try to work for my people. With motherly affection, I look after my people…Our people gave me this opportunity. Time and again people have voted for me, and that is why I am here…I am just a common person but I… pic.twitter.com/tL2JwQQcf1

— ANI (@ANI) January 8, 2024

“With motherly affection, I look after my people…Our people gave me this opportunity. Time and again people have voted for me, and that is why I am here…I am just a common person but I always feel my responsibility for my people. I feel this is the opportunity to serve my people and ensure them a better life…,” added the Prime Minister.

She said that her target is to develop the country by 2041, with smart population, smart government, smart economy and smart society being the main aims.

#WATCH | Dhaka: Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina says “By nature, our people are very smart and as I mentioned that we want to train our younger generation for the future. It is our target to develop the country by 2041. Smart population, smart government, smart economy… pic.twitter.com/FEp2Ym1XNP

— ANI (@ANI) January 8, 2024

“By nature, our people are very smart and as I mentioned that we want to train our younger generation for the future. It is our target to develop the country by 2041. Smart population, smart government, smart economy and smart society are our main aims…,” Hasina added.

When compared to global leaders like former Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi and Sri Lanka’s former prime minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike, Hasina said, “They are very great ladies. I am not. I am very simple, just a common person.”

With inputs from agencies