Indian Congress Party President Sonia Gandhi yesterday lauded Bangladesh's success and achievements in economic, social, health and education sectors and said that in some areas the country is ahead of India.
"Bangladesh has achieved economic and social success beyond anything thought possible at the time of its birth. You are admired world-wide for your path-breaking innovations in microfinance, education, women's empowerment, public health and sanitation," she said.
She was speaking as the chief guest at a regional conference on "Autism Spectrum Disorder and Developmental Disabilities in Bangladesh and South Asia" at Ruposhi Banlga Hotel in the capital.
Sonia, also the chairperson of United Progressive Alliance (UPA) in India, arrived in Dhaka Sunday night on her first-ever visit to Bangladesh. During her 24-hour stay she also received the posthumous award conferred by Bangladesh government to former Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi for her unique contributions to Bangladesh's War of Liberation in 1971.
The Indian congress party president said on crucial issues, like the fertility rate, proportion of underweight children, immunisation, number of mean years of schooling, child and infant mortality rates, and life expectancy, Bangladesh is ahead of India.
"We applaud your achievements. It is because Bangladesh has been such a fertile source of social innovation that I particularly welcome Professor Saima Hossain's initiative on autism," she added.
Expressing her gratefulness to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for inviting her to Bangladesh, she said this was an opportunity for her to renew the bonds of friendship between the two countries and reaffirm Indian special affection and enduring respect for Bangladesh.
"Our people are bound by a shared history, the commonality of composite culture," she said, adding, "We share passions too, from the poetic and artistic legacy of figures like Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore and Kazi Nazrul Islam to the sublime ilish machh and mishti doi."
Source : The Daily Star
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