New York: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday assured his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina that the National Registration of Citizens (NRC) in India will have no impact on Bangladesh and there is no need to be worried about it.

Modi came up with the assurance at a bilateral meeting held between him and Sheikh Hasina at Kennedy Room of Lotte New York Palace, the UNB reported.

‘The talks [between Hasina and Modi] were held in a very cordial and friendly environment,’ said Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen while briefing reporters after the meeting.

The Foreign Minister said the entire gamut of bilateral concerns like the issues of NRC and water-sharing of the common rivers, including Teesta, came up for discussions between the two prime ministers.

He said Sheikh Hasina raised the NRC issue saying that it has become a matter of great concern for Bangladesh.

In reply, the Indian Prime Minister said the issues like that of the NRC and water-sharing one could be taken care of very easily as the relations between Bangladesh and India are very good.

In this regard, Modi assured Hasina that the officials concerned in India will work to fix the issues and said Bangladesh needs not to be worried about that.

Foreign Minister Dr Momen said there had been no detailed discussion at the meeting on Thursday as the two leaders are going to have a bilateral meeting in New Delhi on October 5 next.

Dr Momen said both sides will work for the welfare of the two peoples as the two leaders have very good relations like that of a brother and a sister. ‘The meeting was very much cordial and we’re very excited,’ he said.

In their first meeting since their reelections, Indian Prime Minister Modi congratulated his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina for the impressive economic growth recorded by Bangladesh under her leadership, and emphasized India’s commitment to remain a leading development partner of Bangladesh, according to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs.

Prime Minister Modi thanked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for attending the special commemorative event organised by India to mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi.

Hasina extended an invitation to Modi to visit Bangladesh, and suggested that it could be undertaken also in connection with the birth centenary of Bangabandhu. 

The invitation was accepted by Prime Minister Modi, who also reiterated India’s offer to work closely with Bangladesh to mark this important historical milestone.

The two leaders reviewed the excellent state of bilateral relations and cooperation, and agreed to maintain the momentum to take the India-Bangladesh relationship to new heights. 

The leaders reiterated their ‘zero-tolerance’ approach to terrorism and violent extremism, and agreed that a strong partnership in security had built trust and mutual confidence between the two countries.

Improved land, riverine, sea and air connectivity, an intensified partnership in energy, and rapidly expanding trade and economic ties were recognised as important drivers of progress and stability in the region. 

The two leaders also discussed the regional and global situation.