Dhaka, Delhi eye greater engagements ahead of PM Hasina’s possible visit

Former Indian foreign secretary and G20 Chief Coordinator Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Tuesday said Bangladesh is a remarkable story in terms of growth and development.

He highlighted the achievements and accomplishments made by the two countries over the last decade and shed light on future cooperation between the two countries as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is set to visit New Delhi in September at the invitation of her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.

"Bangladesh's relations with India are very special and eternal," said former foreign secretary Shahidul Haque, adding that Modi and Sheikha Hasina share an excellent relationship.

Haque also said: "I have no doubt that the forthcoming visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to India will yield very positive results."

The two former foreign secretaries were addressing a program, "Special Lecture on Bangladesh's Foreign Policy", organized by the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA), at Sapru House.

Vijay Thakur Singh, DG, ICWA, delivered opening remarks on the occasion.

Shringla appreciated Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s zero-tolerance policy on terrorism which sent a signal that both countries needed peace and stability.

He said that was very important for the two countries progress and development.

Shringla said both India and Bangladesh enjoy a very close and unique relationship.

He noted growing trade relations between the two countries with sound economic policies in both countries.

The much-awaited Joint Rivers Commission (JRC) meeting between Bangladesh and India will be held on Thursday to discuss water-sharing issues as the two countries share 54 rivers.

“We are thankful to the Indian side as they agreed to my proposal (to resume JRC meeting before the prime minister’s visit). We have agreed on a number of issues in principle. We hope some development will happen,” Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen told reporters recently.

Momen said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina agreed to visit New Delhi on September 5-6 at the invitation of her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.

“We want to build a stronger relationship with India,” he said, adding that bilateral issues and relevant issues in the context of the current global scenario are likely to be discussed during Sheikh Hasina’s forthcoming visit.

At the invitation of Prime Minister Hasina, her Indian counterpart Modi paid a state visit to Bangladesh on March 26-27 last year to join the celebrations of the golden jubilee of the independence of Bangladesh, the birth centenary of the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and 50 years of establishment of diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and India.

The visit symbolized the partnership of half a century between India and Bangladesh that has “strengthened, matured and evolved” as a model for bilateral relations for the entire region.

Recalling earlier discussions, Sheikh Hasina at the meeting with Modi reiterated Bangladesh’s long-pending request for concluding the interim agreement on the sharing of the waters of the Teesta River.

She underscored that to alleviate the sufferings and save the livelihoods of millions of people dependent on the Teesta River basin, it is necessary that Bangladesh receives its fair share of the Teesta waters, the draft agreement of which was agreed upon by both governments in January 2011.

Modi reiterated India’s sincere commitment and continued efforts to conclude this agreement, in consultation with the relevant stakeholders.

During the meeting last year, the two leaders directed their respective ministries of water resources to work towards an early conclusion of the Framework of Interim Agreement on sharing of waters of six common rivers, namely Manu, Muhuri, Khowai, Gumti, Dharla and Dudhkumar.

The Bangladesh side reiterated the urgency for India to allow excavation of the remaining portion of Rahimpur Khal for utilization of Kushiyara River waters for irrigation of the Upper Surma Kushiyara project, as the matter is directly linked with the food security of Bangladesh.

At the seventh round of the Bangladesh-India Joint Consultative Commission (JCC) meeting held in New Delhi this year, Bangladesh and India agreed to work closely together to further deepen and strengthen cooperation in the areas of common rivers and water resources management.

The two countries also agreed to strengthen cooperation in the areas of IT and cyber security, renewable energy, agriculture and food security, sustainable trade, climate change, and disaster management.
Dhaka Tribune