Bangladesh-India sign 7 instruments, launch 3 projects

Bangladesh and India today signed seven instruments including coastal surveillance, use of Chattogram and Mongla Ports, implementation of the Indian Lines of Credit (LoCs) to Bangladesh, to further boost the bilateral ties between the two friendly countries.

Of the instruments, four are Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs), one is Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), one is agreement and the other is a renewal of a program.

The signed instruments are MoU for providing a Costal Surveillance System, the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on the use of Chattogram and Mongla ports for movement of goods to and from India, MoU on withdrawal of 1.82 cusec water from Feni River by India for supplying to Sabroom town, Tripura, India.

The deals also include an agreement concerning implementation of the Lines of Credit (LoCs) committed by India to Bangladesh, MoU between University of Hyderabad and University of Dhaka, renewal of cultural exchange programme and MoU on cooperation in Youth Affairs.

The instruments were signed at the historic Hyderabad House in presence of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian Counterpart Narendra Modi after the bilateral talks. Earlier, the talks started after 11:30am at the Hyderabad House here following a tete-a-tete between the two leaders.

Sheikh Hasina arrived at New Delhi on Thursday on a four-day official visit, first of its kind, after assuming office for the third consecutive term.

The premier paid the last official visit to New Delhi in April 2017.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will also pay a courtesy call on Indian President Ram Nath Kovind at Rashtrapati Bhavan around 4:30 pm on the day. Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to return home on Sunday.

Senior Secretary of Public Security Division Mostafa Kamal Uddin and Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Riva Ganguly Das signed the MoU under which India will supply Bangladesh a Coastal Surveillance System.

The MoU on withdrawal of 1.82 cusec of water from Feni River by India for drinking water supply scheme for Sabroom town was signed by Water Resources Secretary Kabir Bin Anwar and his Indian counterpart Upendra Prasad Singh.

The two signed an agreement concerning implementation of Indian government’s Line of Credits (LOC) extended to Bangladesh.

After the exchange of instruments, both the prime ministers jointly inaugurated three bilateral development partnership projects through video link namely the Bangladesh-India Professional Skill Development Institute (BIPSDI) at Institution of Diploma Engineers, Khulna, Vivekananda Bhaban (students’ hostel) at Ramakrishna Mission, Dhaka, and the Bulk LPG import project from Bangladesh to Tripura.

After the inaugurations, Sheikh Hasina said that over the last one decade, the cooperation and assistance between the two countries in various conventional sectors increased to a great extent.

“Side by side, both the countries have extended their hands of cooperation in various new and nonconventional sectors like blue economy, maritime, peaceful use of atomic energy, space research, export of internet bandwidth and cyber security,” she added.

The Bangladesh premier noted that due to this multifaceted and multidimensional cooperation, the bilateral relations between the two countries have been regarded as an example of good-neighbor-like relations before the whole of the world. “I firmly believe that such cooperation will continue in the future,” she added.

Recalling with heartfelt gratitude the contributions of the government of India and its people and their unflinching support during the War of Bangladesh’s Liberation in 1971, the premier said this would remain as a ‘milestone’ forever in the context of bilateral relations between the two countries.

Referring to the inauguration of the four-storey Vivekananda Bhaban hostel at Ramakrishna Mission in Dhaka built with Indian grant, the Prime Minister said this Bhaban would help flourish the education of the students living there. She also hoped that the students living there would be groomed as worthy citizens imbued with the spirit of Swami Vivekananda.

The Prime Minister noted that the inauguration of the Bangladesh-India Professional Skill Development Institute (BIPSDI) at the Institution of Diploma Engineers, Bangladesh in Khulna with its new modern equipments would help spreading trade and commerce in that region through providing various services to the SMEs.

Besides, Sheikh Hasina said, direct and indirect employment opportunities would be created for more than 300 people through this institution while it would help build the youths of this region as skilled human resources through imparting training.

The premier also opined that the decision to export LPG from Bangladesh to India would further boost the existing trade relations between the two countries, adding: “As a result of this, I hope that the energy demand of the North-Eastern states of India would be met to a great extent.”

She extended thanks to those from both Bangladesh and India who are associated with these projects and hoped successful completion of many such projects in future with the joint cooperation between the two countries.

Extending the greetings of ‘Durga Puja’, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that over the last one year, both Bangladesh and India jointly launched 12 projects, including today’s three projects.

“The purpose of all the launched three projects is same which is to further lift the living standards of people and this is also the main motto of the Bangladesh-India relations,” he added.

Mentioning that India always gives importance to its relationship with Bangladesh, Modi said that the relationship between these two friendly neighbors is a good example before the whole world. “After today, this relationship will get a new height,” he added.

Referring to the bulk LPG supply from Bangladesh to India, the Indian Prime Minister said both Bangladesh and India would be benefitted from this as it would be a win-win situation for both the countries.