Staff Reporter :
The Prime Minister level meeting between Bangladesh and India ended in Delhi with renewed commitment to downing border killing to zero, and enhance bilateral cooperation in connectivity, energy and security cooperation.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her counterpart Narendra Modi have expressed satisfaction at the significant reduction of the number of deaths along the borders and both sides agreed to work towards bringing the number down to zero, a joint statement said on Wednesday.
Both the leaders have also agreed to enhance bilateral cooperation, including political and security cooperation, defence, border management, trade and connectivity, water resources, power and energy, development cooperation, cultural and people-to-people links.
They have also agreed to collaborate in new areas of cooperation, such as, environment, climate change, cyber security, ICT, space technology, green energy and blue economy.
Both leaders reiterated their strong commitment to eliminate terrorism of all forms and manifestations and decided to further strengthen their cooperation to counter and prevent the spread of terrorism and radicalisation in the region and beyond.
Bangladesh requested India for predictable supply of the essential food commodities from India such as rice, wheat, sugar, onion, ginger and garlic while India said it will be favourably considered based on prevalent supply conditions.
Sheikh Hasina reiterated Bangladesh’s long pending request for concluding the interim agreement on the sharing of the waters of the Teesta River, the draft of which was finalised in 2011. On the other hand, India requested for early signing of the interim water sharing agreement on Feni River, taking into account the urgent irrigation requirements of the State of Tripura. The Bangladesh side took note of the Indian request.
The Indian side thanked Bangladesh for enabling India to withdraw 1.82 cusec of water from Feni River for drinking water supply for Sabroom town in Tripura.
Both leaders welcomed the signing of Kushiyara water sharing as it will help Bangladesh to address its irrigation needs and facilitate water projects for South Assam.
The two leaders underscored the importance of implementing bilateral and sub-regional rail, road, and other connectivity initiatives, including conversion to dual-gauge of Tongi-Akhaura line, supply of railway rolling stock, capacity building for the personnel of Bangladesh Railway, sharing of IT solutions for improved services of Bangladesh Railway etc.
Both sides also welcomed the new initiatives, namely, Kaunia-Lalmonirhat-Mogalghat-New Gitaldaha link, establishing a link between Hili and Birampur, upgradation of track and signaling systems and railway stations along the Benapole-Jashore line, link restoration between Burimari and Changrabandha, construction of a container depot at Sirajganj etc.
Both sides agreed to expeditiously implement projects to connect the two countries’ power grids synchronously, including through the proposed high capacity 765 KV transmission line from Katihar (Bihar) to Bornagar (Assam) through Parbatipur in Bangladesh.
The Bangladesh side requested for import of power from Nepal and Bhutan through India while India informed that the guidelines for the same are already in place in India.
Both Leaders reviewed the progress made on the India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline that will contribute to addressing energy demands of Bangladesh.They expressed hope that the project would be completed at the earliest.
Bangladesh requested India to assist in meeting its domestic requirement for petroleum products while the Indian side agreed to facilitate discussions between the authorised agencies of both sides.
They also agreed to expedite efforts to improve bilateral and sub-regional connectivity through early operationalisation of the BBIN Motor Vehicle Agreement. Bangladesh reiterated its eagerness to partner in the ongoing initiative of the India – Myanmar – Thailand trilateral highway project.
India has offered free transit via its territory to Bangladesh for exporting its products to third countries through specified Land Customs Stations/Airports/Seaports.
Bangladesh requested rail connectivity with Bhutan through the newly inaugurated Chilahati – Haldibari route and India agreed to consider it.
The two leaders expressed satisfaction at the excellent state of bilateral relations, based on deep historical and fraternal ties and shared values of democracy and pluralism, which is reflected in an all-encompassing bilateral partnership, based on sovereignty, equality, trust and understanding that transcends even a strategic partnership.
