13 MoUs are likely to be signed between Bangladesh and India

June 21, 2024 3:00 am

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is visiting India today to further strengthen the existing bilateral relations between Bangladesh and India. 10 to 13 agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoUs) are likely to be signed between the two countries during the two-day state visit at the invitation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Some of these earlier contracts are due to be renewed. Among the issues that will be signed, it is notable that there are various sectors of cooperation including fuel, communication, economy. The relevant sources of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs revealed this information.

It is also known that the bilateral summit of the two Prime Ministers to be held in New Delhi, along with the three issues mentioned, will get more importance on the long pending issues between the two countries, the Teesta water sharing agreement and steps to stop border killings. New proposal may come from India regarding Teesta. Besides, the trade balance between the two countries can be reduced to create a balance and a ‘trade pact’ or trade association can be discussed.

Apart from the official meeting of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, it is reported that there will be a private meeting at Hyderabad House in Delhi on Saturday. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s press secretary Naemul Islam Khan said on Thursday night about India’s visit that every issue important to the interests of Bangladesh will be analysed. All our outstanding and important issues for the future will be discussed on priority basis. There may be more to come. such as connectivity; Our travel with Bhutan or Nepal. If we buy electricity how will it come to India?

He said that it was discussed when the Prime Minister went to the swearing-in ceremony of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Prime Minister of India then said, “Both the governments have come up with a new mandate. We want to deepen and expand the relationship with Bangladesh in the coming term.

A press release from the Prime Minister’s Press Wing on the same day (Thursday) said that during the visit, a private meeting will be held between the two Prime Ministers at the top level followed by delegation level discussions. During the visit, several agreements and memorandums of understanding will be signed to further strengthen the existing bilateral relations between the two countries. A possible trade deal is also expected to be discussed. Over the past decade several cross-border initiatives have been launched as part of stronger regional partnerships.

According to the press release, a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight will leave Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport today (Friday) at around 2 pm with Sheikh Hasina and her entourage. The flight will land at Palam Airport in New Delhi at 4 pm (Delhi time). Indian Foreign Minister in the evening. S Jaishankar will meet the Prime Minister. A red carpet will be laid at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Saturday morning to welcome Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. At this time, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will officially welcome him and the national anthems of both countries will be played. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will also visit the Guard of Honour. He will then pay his respects by placing a wreath at the mausoleum of Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the Indian nation, at Rajghat. There he will sign the visitation book. On the same day, Sheikh Hasina will visit Hyderabad House for a private meeting and delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Both will witness the MoU and Agreement signing ceremony. The two Prime Ministers will then make their statements. They will attend a banquet hosted by the Prime Minister of India in honor of the Prime Minister of Bangladesh at Hyderabad House. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will meet Indian Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar at the Secretariat in the afternoon. In the evening, Sheikh Hasina will meet Indian President Draupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The Prime Minister will then depart the Indian capital from New Delhi’s Palam Airport on a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight at 6 pm (Delhi time) and is scheduled to land in Dhaka at 9 pm.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen said that the meeting between the two top leaders will provide a guideline for where the two countries want to take this relationship in the future. A kind of vision will emerge in their discussion. In the continuation of which, in the wider sense, there will be a direction for our future cooperation in new areas including connectivity, environment, space.

Regarding the Teesta Agreement, Foreign Secretary Masood Bin Momen said that at the current stage of the Teesta Agreement, nothing positive will happen in the near future. But on the bright side, India has recently shown interest in conservation or development projects around the Teesta.

Travel companions: Foreign Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmood, Ambassador-at-Large of the Prime Minister’s Office Mohammad Ziauddin, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Private Industries and Investments Salman F. Rahman, State Minister for Commerce Ahsanul Islam and Bangladesh Bank Governor Abdur Rauf Talukder. Besides, there are senior officials of various levels of the government and representatives of various media.

Incidentally, this is Sheikh Hasina’s second visit to the Indian capital in less than 15 days. He attended the swearing-in ceremony of Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister of India on June 9 as an invited dignitary.