In their first virtual summit, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday pledged to resolve all the pending issues, including the Teesta water-sharing deal.
In the 75 minute-long meeting, they discussed issues related to Covid cooperation, trade barriers, water sharing of common rivers, border killing and connectivity.
They also inaugurated the Chilahati-Haldibari rail link and launched Bangabandhu commemorative postal stamp in the meeting.
During the summit, India invited Bangladesh to be a partner of the BRICS Bank sponsored by the platform of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
The Indian Prime Minister accepted PM Hasina’s invitation to visit Bangladesh for attending the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh’s independence.
In their opening remarks, both prime ministers paid solemn tribute to the martyrs of the Liberation War of Bangladesh, freedom fighters and the Indian soldiers for their great sacrifices in 1971.
They emphasised that the Bangladesh-India relation is based on fraternal ties and reflective of an all-encompassing partnership based on sovereignty, equality, trust and understanding that transcends a strategic partnership.
Narendra Modi termed Bangladesh a significant pillar of India’s neighbourhood first policy and said that since the first day of his government, his country has been working on it.
The Indian prime minister assured that vaccines would be made available to Bangladesh as and when produced in India. Both leaders also noted the ongoing bilateral collaboration between the private sector in this area.
During the meeting, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed concern over the border killing on Indo-Bangladesh border.
Modi also agreed that loss of civilian lives at the border is a matter of concern and said that his government has directed the border forces concerned to enhance coordinate measures to work towards bringing such border incidents to zero.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina highlighted the need for early signing of an interim agreement for sharing of the Teesta waters, as agreed upon by both the governments in 2011.
In response, Prime Minister Modi reiterated India’s sincere commitment and continued efforts of the Government of India in that regard.
The two leaders underscored the need for early conclusion of Framework of Interim Agreement on sharing of waters of six joint rivers, namely, Manu, Muhuri, Khowai, Gumti, Dharla and Dudhkumar.
According to the joint statement issued by both governments, the two leaders recalled the positive contribution of the Joint Rivers Commission and looked forward to the next round of Secretarial level JRC meeting at the earliest.
The issue of non-tariff trade was widely discussed in the meeting and both the leaders stressed the need for widening trade partnership for accelerating common growth.
Both premiers emphasised addressing issues of non-tariff barriers and trade facilitation including port restrictions, procedural bottlenecks and quarantine restrictions so that both countries can take full advantage of SAFTA flexibility.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina told her Indian counterpart that as India’s exports of essential commodities to Bangladesh are an important factor influencing their domestic market, any amendments in export-import policy of the Government of India may be conveyed in advance.
Mr Modi assured that his government will take due measures in this regard.
Recognising the immense potential of bilateral economic and commercial ties, both Prime Ministers directed the officials to expeditiously conclude the ongoing joint study on the prospects of entering into a bilateral Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
Welcoming the first meeting of the India-Bangladesh Textile Industry Forum, earlier this year, the leaders emphasised the importance of increased linkages and collaboration in the textile sector and directed the officials to conclude the ongoing negotiations on the MOU between Ministry of Textiles, Government of India and Ministry of Textiles and Jute, Government of Bangladesh at the earliest.
They welcomed the consultations on anti-dumping/anti-circumvention duties imposed on export of jute products from Bangladesh to India held recently and expressed hope that the issues related to ADD will be resolved expeditiously.
The two leaders took stock of the ongoing bilateral connectivity measures and welcomed the recent initiatives including the signing of the second addendum to the Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade (PIWTT), trial run of trans-shipment of Indian goods from Kolkata to Agartala via Chattogram and operationalization of Sonamura-Daudkandi Protocol route under the PIWTT.
Both the leaders agreed to operationalise trans-shipment of Indian goods quickly through Chattogram and Mongla Ports.
To facilitate better connectivity and simplify the movement of passengers and goods between both the countries, both leaders agreed to an early operationalisation of the BBIN Motor Vehicles Agreement through expeditious signing of the Enabling MoU for Bangladesh, India and Nepal to commence the movement of goods and passengers, with provision for Bhutan to join at a later date.
Bangladesh Prime Minister expressed keen interest in the ongoing India Myanmar Thailand trilateral highway project and sought the support of India for enabling Bangladesh to connect with this project to enhance connectivity between the regions of South and South-East Asia.
On the other hand, India requested Bangladesh to allow connectivity from West Bengal (Hilli) to Meghalaya (Mahendraganj) via Bangladesh.
To expedite implementation of Indian LoC projects, both the leaders stressed active operationalisation of the recently-constituted High-Level Monitoring Committee headed by Secretary, Economic Relations Division from Bangladesh and the High Commissioner of India in Dhaka to regularly review the progress of the LOC Projects for their early completion.
Bangladesh also requested India to resume travels via land ports at the earliest.
Bangladesh Prime Minister requested the Indian side to consider Bangladesh’s proposal to name the historic road from Mujib Nagar to Nodia on Bangladesh-India border as "Shadhinota Shorok” commemorating the historic significance of the road during Bangladesh’s Liberation War.
Both sides agreed to hold an early meeting of the Joint Boundary Conference to prepare a new set of strip maps along the stretch of Icchamati, Kalindi, Raimongol and the Hariabhanga Rivers from Main Pillar 1 to Land Boundary terminus, to finalize the delineation of the boundaries as fixed. It was agreed to carry out necessary work to convert the International Boundary along Kuhsiyara river into a fixed boundary.
Bangladesh side reiterated the request for 1.3 km Innocent Passage through river route along River Padma near Rajshahi District. The Indian side assured to consider the request.
In the summit, Hasina and Modi emphasised simplifying travel between the two countries.
Bangladesh requested for early implementation of India’s commitment to remove remaining restrictions on entry and exit from land ports in India for Bangladeshis travelling on valid documents in a phased manner, beginning with checkpoints at Akhaura (Tripura) and Ghojadanga (West Bengal).
In the meeting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi appreciated the generosity of Bangladesh in sheltering and providing humanitarian assistance to the 1.1 million forcibly displaced persons from the Rakhine State of Myanmar and said India backed Bangladesh’s stance to repatriate Rohingyas to their homeland in Myanmar in safe, speedy and sustainable manner.
Sheikh Hasina return sought India’s assistance in the repatriation of the forcibly displaced Rohingyas back to Myanmar saying that as a non-permanent member of the UN security council India can play an important role in this regard.
Seven MoUs signed
On this occasion, the following bilateral documents were signed and exchanged by the government officials of both countries:
- Framework of Understanding (FOU) on Cooperation in Hydrocarbon Sector
- Protocol on Trans-boundary Elephant Conservation
- MOU regarding Indian Grant Assistance for Implementation of High Impact Community Development Projects (HICDPs) through Local Bodies and other Public Sector Institutions
- MOU on Supply of Equipment and Improvement of Garbage/Solid Waste Disposal Ground at Lamchori Area for Barishal City Corporation
- Terms of Reference of India-Bangladesh CEOs Forum
- MoU between Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Museum, Dhaka, Bangladesh and the National Museum, New Delhi, India.
- MoU on Cooperation in the field of agriculture.
The following bilateral development partnership projects were also inaugurated in the meeting:
- Beautification and city development project in Rajshahi City
- Construction of Khalishpur Collegiate Girl’s School in Khulna
