India’s Trinamool Congress leader, who was shown-in as West Bengal’s chief minister for third consecutive term, has said the ‘love and affection’ between Bangladesh and West Bengal would be further strengthened in future.

“I have no doubt that the love and affection we (Bangladesh and West Bengal) share and so dearly cherries, will be strengthened even further in the days to come,” she said in a letter to Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Thursday, a foreign ministry press release said on Friday.

The West Bengal Chief Minister sent the letter to Dr Momen in reply of his previous letter in which Bangladesh foreign minister congratulated Mamata on her party’s victory in the West Bengal Assembly elections.

Bangladesh and Bengal, though geographically apart, are tied together by the bonds of friendship, brotherhood, common culture and heritage, Mamata wrote in the letter.

“We aspire to take our state to even greater heights and your (Momen’s) good wishes will surely help us in our journey ahead,” she wrote.

Mamata expressed her happiness that the people of Bengal have once again voted for development and more importantly, to uphold and strengthen the spirit of peace, harmony, unity and solidarity.