Water sharing, flood mitigation among 7 MoUs signed between Bangladesh-India

Bangladesh and India today (6 September) signed seven MoUs, demonstrating cooperation in a number of areas including water sharing.

These are: MoU on withdrawal of 153 cusec water from Kushiyara River by Bangladesh under Upper Surma-Kushiyara Project, Sylhet via Rahmipur, MoU on Scientific Cooperation between Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), India and Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR).

The other instruments are: MoU between National judicial Academy, Bhopal, India and Supreme Court of Bangladesh, MoU between Ministry of Railways, India and Bangladesh Railway for training of Bangladesh Railway personnel at the training Institutes of Indian Railway, MoU between Ministry of Railways, India and Bangladesh Railway for collaboration for IT solutions for Bangladesh Railway, MoU between Prasar Bharati and Bangladesh Television and MoU on cooperation in the areas of Space Technology.

One of the signed MoUs is on withdrawal of 153 cusec water of Kushiyara River by Bangladesh under upper Surma-Kushiyara project, Sylhet via Rahmipur.

"54 rivers flow through India-Bangladesh border & are linked to the livelihood of people in both countries. Today, we have signed an important agreement regarding water-sharing of Kushiyara River," says PM Narendra Modi in a joint statement with Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina, in Delhi.

Another MoU was signed between scientific cooperation between the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), India and Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR). National Judicial Academy in Bhopal, India and Supreme Court of Bangladesh signed an MoU.

Two MoUs were signed between the railway ministries of Bangladesh and India for training Bangladesh Railway staff at the institutes of Indian Railway and for collaboration in IT solutions in Bangladesh.

An MoU between Prasar Bharati and Bangladesh Television was also signed.

The two sides also signed an MoU for cooperation in the areas of space technology.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi witnessed the signing of the bilateral instruments after holding talks at Hyderabad House in Delhi as the two countries seek enhanced cooperation.

?06:03pm

Sheikh Hasina meets President Droupadi Murmu

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina met President Droupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in Delhi. Earlier, Hasina had met Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar. 

Droupadi Murmu, while welcoming Sheikh Hasina, said on Tuesday that the shared history, language and culture of India and Bangladesh connect  the two countries with each other. 

?05:19pm 

Bangladesh, India to begin trade talks

India and Bangladesh will start negotiations on a comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA) to sustain momentum in the bilateral ties.

?04:26pm

PM Hasina, Modi had discussion on range of bilateral issues: Indian Foreign secretary

Indian foreign secretary Vinay Kwatra said on Tuesday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladeshi PM Sheikh Hasina has a discussion on a range of bilateral issues related to water, trade, economic ties etc. 

?03:16pm

India biggest market for exports from Bangladesh: PM Modi

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday that India is the biggest market for Bangladesh. During the joint address with Bangladeshi PM Sheikh Hasina, Modi said, "In order to further expedite this progress, we will soon initiate discussions on a bilateral economic Comprehensive Partnership Agreement."

? 2.30pm

Teesta treaty will be signed soon: Hasina hopes

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today called bilateral relations between Bangladesh-India role model for neighbourhood diplomacy, hoping all the outstanding issues, including Teesta Water Sharing Treaty, will be resolved soon likewise many issues solved in the spirit of friendship and cooperation.
 
 "I reiterated that India is the most important and closest neighbour of Bangladesh. Bangladesh-India bilateral relations are known to be Role Models for Neighborhood Diplomacy," she said in a statement issued after holding bilateral talks with her Indian counterpart and witnessing the exchange of several deals and MoUs signed between the concerned authorities of the two countries at the Hyederabad House.

Today Bangladesh is our biggest trade partner: Modi

? 2.15pm

Addressing a joint press conference with Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina on the sidelines of bilateral talks between the two countries, PM Modi said: "Trade between India-Bangladesh is increasing rapidly. We have decided to extend cooperation in the IT, Space and Nuclear sectors. Talks are also underway b/w India and Bangladesh on power transmission lines." 

PM Modi, Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina address joint presser

? 2.00pm

Hasina reaches Hyderabad House to hold bilateral talks with Modi

? 1:00pm

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina met her Indian counterpart PM Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House on Tuesday following a ceremonial reception given to her at the Rashtrapati Bhavan of India this morning.

The two prime ministers are set to discuss issues related to trade, connectivity, defence, security cooperation, investment, power and energy sector cooperation, water sharing of common rivers, Rohingya, water resources management, border management, combating drug smuggling and human trafficking.

The official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs Arindam Bagchi said in a tweet that both leaders had met 12 times since 2015.

"PM @narendramodi and PM Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh hold talks to review and further strengthen the all-encompassing India-Bangladesh partnership. Having met 12 times already since 2015, regular engagements between our leaders add significant momentum to ties," Bagchi tweeted.

Sheikh Hasina signed the visitor book after paying homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat

? 11:15am

PM Hasina pays tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat, India 

?10:21am

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has paid tribute to India's Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi.

Sheikh Hasina paid homage by placing a wreath at the altar of the Samadhi (memorial) of Mahatma Gandhi, the preeminent leader of the Indian independence and civil right movements, in Delhi's Rajghat.

She stood in solemn silence for some time as a mark of profound respect for the memory of Mahatma Gandhi.

The premier then signed the visitors' book at the establishment.

Rajghat is a memorial on the bank of the Yamuna River, dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi.

It is a black marble platform that marks the spot of Mahatma Gandhi's cremation.

Hope for fruitful discussion: PM Hasina

?9:31am

Our main focus is to develop our people's federation, poverty alleviation, and economy. With all these issues, I feel our two countries work together so that people in India and Bangladesh and across South Asia can get better lives. That's our main focus.

I hope that it'll be a very fruitful discussion and our main aim - to develop economically and also fulfill the basic needs of our people - that we will be able to do. With friendship, you can solve any problem. So, we always do that: Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina at Rashtrapati Bhavan

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi received Bangladesh PM as she arrived at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Sheikh Hasina shook hands with PM Modi. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar was also present.

Rashtrapati Bhavan was all decked up for welcoming Sheikh Hasina.

Describing India as a trusted friend of Bangladesh, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, "India is our friend. Whenever I come to India, it's a pleasure for me, especially because we always recall the contribution India has made during our Liberation War. We have a friendly relationship, we are cooperating with each other."

Bangladesh Prime Minister Hasina is set to meet President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar today. Apart from it, she will also meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

With friendship, you can solve any problem. So, we always do that

PM Sheikh Hasina

Speaking about her upcoming talks with PM Modi, she added: "With friendship, you can solve any problem. So, we always do that."

Within hours of her arrival, Sheikh Hasina met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and discussed issues of bilateral interest and importance, sources said.

"Delighted to call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh this evening. The warmth and frequency of our leadership level contacts is a testimony to our close neighbourly partnership," Jaishankar tweeted after the meeting.

After the meeting, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen told journalists that both Bangladesh and India placed their proposals to enhance the connectivity between the two neighbouring countries.

Bangladesh said priority should be given on those projects that will ensure betterment for the people of Bangladesh, India, Bhutan and Nepal. "We know that there are some projects that are getting late," said the foreign secretary.

Talking about the grid connectivity, the foreign secretary said that there are matters of bringing electricity from Nepal and Bhutan while there is also the issue of passing electricity from one part of India to another one.

Both the prime minister and the Indian external affairs minister expressed their hopes on this issue, he said.

The foreign secretary said they are also looking into which medium of transaction will be chosen to settle such purchases. "From India, we can get their surplus fuel (if any) with our favourable terms and conditions. We will of course consider that."

As Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina arrived in New Delhi on a four-day visit to India on Monday (September 5), the long-standing, unresolved dispute over the sharing of the waters of the Teesta is back in the news.

The issue of water-sharing remains a key irritant in the bilateral relationship that has otherwise been strengthened significantly under the leadership of Prime Minister Hasina and her Indian counterpart, Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

India and Bangladesh are likely to sign pacts on water sharing on the Kushiyara river, training and IT cooperation in Railways, science, space and media cooperation.

PM Modi visited Bangladesh in 2021. Maitri Diwas celebrations were held in 20 capitals around the world including Delhi and Dhaka. Prime Ministers of both countries have met 12 times since 2015.

India and Bangladesh have sought to create a model for regional cooperation besides reviving several connectivity initiatives over the last few years. The Akhaura-Agartala rail link will reopen soon, and it is anticipated that Agartala and Chittagong will be connected by air in a few weeks.

Bangladesh is an important partner under India's "Neighbourhood First" policy. The cooperation extends to all fields including security, trade & commerce, power & energy, transport & connectivity, science & technology, defence, rivers, and maritime affairs among others.

Bangladesh is now India's biggest trade partner in South Asia. Bilateral trade has grown from $9 billion to $18 billion in the last five years. Bangladesh has become the fourth largest export destination for India with a growth of over 66 per cent from $9.69 billion in FY 2020-21 to $16.15 billion in FY 2021-22.

Despite the Covid pandemic, both countries were able to achieve progress on important connectivity initiatives. Bangladesh is India's largest development partner with nearly one-fourth of the Government of India (GoI) commitment under the GoI Line of Credit (LoC) has been made to Bangladesh. Total contracts have crossed the milestone figure of USD 2 billion and total disbursements have crossed USD 1 billion.