Venkatesh Iyer
NEW DELHI, Sep 21: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday that India and the Maldives were close friends and neighbours and would endure supporting one another in their fight against the health and economic impact of the continuing pandemic.
The Prime Minister was responding to a tweet by Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih during which he expressed his thanks for India’s financial assistance to his country.
“India has always risen to the occasion whenever Maldives needed a friend. My sincere thanks to PM @narendramodi, government and people of India for their neighborly spirit and generosity following the official handover of USD250 million as financial assistance today,” Solih said.
Mr Modi replied, “Appreciate your warm sentiments, President @ibusolih! As close friends and neighbours, India and Maldives will continue to support each other in our fight against the health and economic impact of COVID-19.”
India to permit export of onions in transit to Bangladesh.
The Indian government much to the relief of Bangladeshi citizens has cleared and have decided to allow all the transit trucks awaiting at the border to supply onions and vegetables to Bangladesh
The move comes days after Bangladesh had expressed disappointment over the decision of the Indian Government enforcing the export ban on Onions last Monday 14, September.
Dhaka immediately had conveyed its “deep concern” over India’s “abrupt” decision to ban the export. Bangladesh is the biggest importer of Indian onions causing a sudden spurge in prices in domestic consumption.
Sahriar Alam the Foreign affairs minister, Bangladesh during a press interaction has stated there has been an unwritten understanding that India will inform in advance Bangladesh before arriving on a decision to impose any ban.
The Bangladesh Foreign office in a statement mentioned “The latest abrupt announcement of the government of India on September 14, 2020 undermines the discussion that took place in 2019 and 2020 between the two friendly countries on the matter and the understanding shared.” “The announcement directly impacts the supply of essential food items in the Bangladesh Market:
Quoting the meeting of India-Bangladesh commerce secretaries in January, the letter reminded that Bangladeshi officials had asked their counterparts not to execute export restrictions on essential food items that were of demand in Bangladesh. During the meeting they also had clearly requested India to inform them in advance of plans to levy any more restrictions in the future.
