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DHAKA: Indian high commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma on Saturday paid a courtesy call on newly elected BNP chairman Tarique Rahman and discussed issues of mutual interest between the two countries. The Indian envoy went to Rahman’s Gulshan office in the evening and held a nearly hour-long meeting with him, BNP media cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan told reporters without further elaboration. The meeting followed India’s external affairs minister S Jaishankar’s recent visit to Dhaka and Indian PM Narendra Modi’s personal letter to Rahman after the demise of his mother, former Bangladesh Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia. Earlier, exchanging greetings with editors and senior journalists at his first event after taking charge as BNP chairman, Rahman spoke about taking Bangladesh out of the politics of revenge and violence, stressing that political differences should not push the country towards division that will only invite frustration and sufferings. He said violence, revenge and counter-revenge always lead to dangerous consequences and the democratic process and accountability at all levels must be ensured to bring positive change in the country. “We have seen on Aug 5 what violence, revenge and vindictiveness can result in, whether by an individual or by a political party,” said Rahman, who formally took charge as BNP chairman on Friday night.
