Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina followed the bonhomia and goodwill emanating on Bangladesh National Day with a bilateral meeting on Saturday in which the two countries signed five agreements in areas ranging from the sports and disaster management to remedial business measures.
A “tete-a-tete” from Modi-Hasina preceded the formal conversations. However, at the meeting, Hasina re-emphasized the need to sign the Teesta interim water exchange pact, which West Bengal’s CM Mamata Banerjee continues to vehemently oppose.
The two sides also discussed Rohingya-related issues with India, saying they were happy to facilitate the “safe, speedy and sustainable” return of forcibly displaced people from Myanmar’s Rakhine state.
“Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina addressed the issue of Teesta. Prime Minister Modi reiterated India’s sincere and ongoing effort to conclude the agreement in consultation with relevant stakeholders,” said Foreign Secretary Harsh Shringla and He added that the Indian side also asked Bangladesh for early finalization of the draft interim agreement to share water from the Feni River. The results of the West Bengal elections could have a direct influence on the Teesta pact.
“She (Hasina) stressed that in order to alleviate the suffering and save the livelihoods of millions of people who depend on the Teesta river basin, it is necessary for Bangladesh to receive its fair share from the waters of Teesta, whose draft agreement has already been agreed. by both governments in January 2011, “said a joint statement.
The delay in signing the Teesta agreement remains one of the few thorny issues in bilateral relations. Hasina had also raised the issue with Modi at their virtual summit last year in December. Showing no signs of softening its position, Mamata Banerjee said earlier this month that her state can share water only if it has enough for itself.
Regarding security cooperation, recognizing that terrorism continues to be a threat to world peace and security, both parties reiterated their firm commitment to eliminate terrorism in “all its forms and manifestations”. Modi expressed India’s appreciation for the cooperation provided by Bangladesh on security issues.
The two leaders inaugurated three border haats, laid the foundation stone for five packages out of a total of eight from the Rooppur Power Evacuation Project and also jointly inaugurated the Rabindra Bhawan facility in Kuthibari, the joint statement said. India also gave 109 ambulances to Bangladesh.
It is significant that while Bangladesh thanked India for giving away 3.2 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine, it also asked India to facilitate the regular delivery of the remaining tranches of vaccine purchased by Bangladesh from the Serum Institute of India.
On the Rohingya issue, Modi expressed appreciation for Bangladesh’s generosity in hosting and providing humanitarian assistance to the 1.1 million forcibly displaced people from Rakhine State in Myanmar, the joint statement said. Hasina called on India to play an important role in the early repatriation of the displaced Rohingya back to Myanmar. India assured its “continued support” in this regard.
Regarding connectivity, Hasina offered the use of Chattogram and Sylhet International Airport by the people of Northeast India.
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