DHAKA: Visiting Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj inaugurated the Chancery Complex of the Indian High Commission in Dhaka on Monday (October 23).  

Sushma Swaraj lit a candle to mark the opening of the huge complex in Baridhara diplomatic enclave at about 11:00 am.

During the opening ceremony, she also inaugurated 15 development projects in Bangladesh funded by India.

Bangladesh Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali, Health Minister Mohammad Nasim, Environment and Forest Minister Anwar Hossain Manju, Prime Minister’s adviser HT Imam, Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque and Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Harsh Vardhan Shringla were also present at the ceremony, among others.

The Indian Minister is in Dhaka in less than 24 hours official visit. She is scheduled to leave Dhaka at 2:00 pm, wrapping up her Bangladesh visit, the second since assuming office in 2014.

The Indian High Commission was previously operating from a house in Gulshan area of the city. The High Commission has already been shifted to the new Chancery Complex.

The complex was constructed on a 14.5 bigha plot of land or around 5 located at plot 1-3 Park Road in Baridhara. The complex consists of the Chancery, the residence of the High Commissioner, a housing block, a sports complex, and a multipurpose hall for recreation.

The other projects, which were inaugurated by the Indian Minister, cover sectors such as education, healthcare, IT, water supply and social welfare.

Eleven water treatment plants are being built at Bhandaria Upazila in Pirojpur that will provide desalinated potable drinking water to 150,000 citizens. Some 36 community clinics will also be built.

Those projects also include reconstruction of Ramna Kali Temple which was destroyed by the invading Pakistani forces in 1971.

BDST: 1240 HRS, OCT 23, 2017
EHJ