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Water, border issues to be discussed at Bangladesh-India talks: FM
Dhaka, Dec 13, 2020 (BSS) – Foreign Minister Dr A K Abdul Momen today said
all the major issues, including water sharing and border, will be discussed
during the virtual meeting between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her
Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on December 17.
“We will raise our all big issues, which we usually raise….. those
include water sharing and border issues,” he told reporters at his office.
Dr Momen said a number of “quick-impact” projects including Chilahati-
Haldibari rail link, a pre-1965 connectivity line, will be inaugurated during
the talk.
Besides, the foreign minister said the ‘Month of Victory’ will come up
with high importance during the summit of two prime ministers as Dhaka
believes that Bangladesh victory is India’s victory as well.
Mentioning that India has reasons to be proud of Bangladesh victory, the
foreign minister said the ties between Bangladesh and India are historic and
it is blood-related relations.
Dr Momen said Dhaka acknowledged contributions of the then Indian Prime
Minister Indira Gandhi to the independence of Bangladesh.
Terming Dhaka and New Delhi bilateral relations as a golden chapter, the
foreign minister said two countries have set a global example by resolving
issues related with land and maritime boundaries through dialogues.
He said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has shown the leadership maturity in
resolving problems and Dhaka and New Delhi believe that the two countries can
resolve all other issues through discussions.
Dr Momen said four Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) are likely to be
signed during the upcoming virtual meeting between the two Prime Ministers.
“It is likely as many as four MoUs are to be signed during the virtual
meet .. but the MoUs are yet to be finalised,” he told BSS.
“We are thankful to India that their premier will talk to our honourable
Prime Minister during our victory month as our victory is India’s victory as
well,” he said.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Indian Premier Modi held last bilateral
talks in New Delhi on October 5 last year.
The Indian premier was scheduled to visit this year to join the birth
centenary celebration of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur
Rahman, but the trip was cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic.
The foreign minister said Bangladesh has invited Indian Prime Minister
Narendra Modi to visit Bangladesh on March 26 in person to jointly celebrate
the Independence Day of Bangladesh. The Indian side accepted the invitation
in principle.
New Delhi and Dhaka are also looking for holding the ministerial-level
Joint Rivers Commission (JRC) meeting this year to discuss pending issues
regarding water sharing of common rivers.
On November 5, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Serum
Institute of India and Beximco Pharma of Bangladesh for priority delivery of
30 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine to Bangladesh.
The two countries also established air connectivity under ‘air bubble
arrangement’ amid the pandemic.
In March this year, the two Prime Ministers joined a virtual meeting of
Saarc countries on cooperation to deal with the Covid-19 situation in the
region.
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