Hasina-Modi meeting on Thursday, 4 memorandums of understanding are likely to be signed

Dhaka: On Thursday (December 16) there will be a virtual meeting between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Four memoranda of understanding are expected to be signed at the meeting.

At the two and a half hour meeting that will be held at 11:30 am, various issues from the two countries will be discussed.

Foreign Ministry sources said preparations have been made to sign four memorandums of understanding between the two countries ahead of the meeting. These agreements will be officially announced at the end of the meeting. The four agreements that are being prepared are energy cooperation between the two countries, elephant conservation cooperation between the two countries, construction of a sewage plant in Barisal and community development projects.

According to the sources, the meeting of the prime ministers of the two countries will focus on keeping the border peaceful, while at the same time Bangladesh will focus on the rapid implementation of projects under India’s credit line. The meeting will also discuss how to further improve trade between the two countries.

Minister of Foreign Affairs in front of the meeting. AK Abdul Momen said: “Our big questions will be raised at the meeting of the two prime ministers.” Topics that are usually discussed will prevail. Water issues, borders will also be discussed.

“We hope that a series of projects will be inaugurated at the meeting of the two prime ministers,” he said. At that time the train line will be inaugurated on the Chilahati-Haldia route. This route started 55 years ago. It will be relaunched now.

According to the Indian side, on December 16 a virtual meeting will be held between the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, and the Prime Minister of Bangladesh. During the meeting, the two top leaders will discuss bilateral relations in detail, including strengthening cooperation. India and Bangladesh have continued regular discussions and exchanges of views at the highest level. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visited India in October 2019. In March 2020, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a video message on the occasion of Mujib’s historic anniversary. The two leaders have been in regular contact even during the Corona epidemic.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was invited to Dhaka on March 26. He will come to Dhaka if the situation improves.

Bangladesh time: 2022 hours, December 16, 2020
TR / HAD