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BSS-54
PM-MODI-TALKS-LEAD
PM seeks implementation of proposed Teesta deal in talks with Modi
DHAKA, March 27, 2021 (BSS) – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today sought implementation of the earlier reached proposed Teesta agreement and steps to bring down the “border incidents” to zero level as she held talks with Indian premier Narendra Modi at her office here.
“The decision of signing a treaty was taken jointly nine years ago which is yet to be implemented,” Bangladesh PM’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim told a media briefing quoting Sheikh Hasina as saying during the two premiers talks.
Sheikh Hasina, he said, told her counterpart that the implementation of the proposed treaty appeared crucial as the people living along the Teesta river bank were suffering because of water shortage.
The Bangladesh premier expressed her concerns about the border incidents which she said increased in recent period and requested her counterpart to look into the matter properly to reduce the incidences to zero level.
Karim said the Indian premier told Sheikh Hasina that India was committed for a “reasonable solution” to the water sharing issues involving all common rivers with Bangladesh.
Modi, he said, also acknowledged the issue of border incidents and said ground level cooperation will help check this kind of incidents.
The PMO spokesman said the Rohingya crisis also featured the talks when Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh wanted New Delhi’s more active role in repatriating over one million forcibly displaced people of Myanmar.
She said the return of these people in quickest possible time was needed since the lingering of the crisis could create grounds for their involvement in terrorist activities and drug trading.
“Sooner is the better,” Karim quoted her as saying.
In response, he said, the Indian premier told Sheikh Hasina that his country wants sustainable return of the refugees in a sustainable manner.
The Bangladesh premier greeted Modi for launching successfullly the vaccination campaign particularly praising him for supplying the inoculates to other countries in the region as part of his “neighbourhood first” policy.
Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh by now nearly exhausted the first commercial consignment of the COVID-19 vaccine from India and hope that the rest of the consignments would be delivered soon.
She also thanked Indian Prime Mijister for giving 12 lakh doses of COVID-19 vaccine as gift.
BSS/AHJ/AR/2010 HRS (The 2nd LEAD is to follow shortly)