Eye on China, India to assist Bangladesh preserve Teesta River | India Information

NEW DELHI: India and Bangladesh signed 10 agreements/MoUs and introduced over a dozen different initiatives – spanning areas reminiscent of connectivity, well being, commerce, power, defence, and maritime cooperation – as Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted his counterpart Sheikh Hasina on his first state go to after the formation of the NDA authorities. New. Among the many new initiatives was Modi’s announcement after the assembly that India would quickly ship a technical crew to Bangladesh to handle and preserve the Teesta River inside Bangladesh.
This announcement is of nice significance as a result of it comes amid efforts by China to steer Dhaka to permit it to develop the Teesta Basin. Conscious of India’s reservations about China’s position, Bangladesh confused that it will take into consideration “geopolitical points” earlier than going forward with the challenge, which can apparently value $1 billion.

Hasina is anticipated to go to China quickly, a rustic with which Dhaka – in a fragile balancing act – continues to get pleasure from sturdy financial ties to fulfill its growth wants. “As a part of our growth cooperation, we may also undertake the conservation and administration of the Teesta River inside Bangladesh with Indian help inside a mutually agreed time-frame,” stated a joint assertion through which the leaders introduced a shared imaginative and prescient for commerce, connectivity and cooperation.
Sharing of Teesta water has been a long-pending problem between the 2 international locations, after West Bengal’s opposition prevented them from signing the water-sharing settlement finalized throughout the United Progressive Alliance authorities. The Indian technical crew is anticipated to first look at whether or not there’s a must construct a tank, one thing the Chinese language are stated to have prompt. For India, it can be crucial that Bangladesh stays conscious of Indian safety issues whereas pursuing financial initiatives with Beijing.

The leaders additionally welcomed the formation of a joint technical committee to start discussions to resume the 1996 Ganges Water Sharing Treaty. They pledged to accentuate cooperation in border administration, combating terrorism and combating extremism, whereas agreeing to start talks to succeed in a complete financial partnership settlement. (CEPA).
He added: “We’ve ready a future imaginative and prescient for cooperation in new fields. Previously ten years we have now been in a position to restore the connectivity that existed earlier than 1965. We’ll now concentrate on power and digital connectivity. “We’ll quickly start Complete Financial Partnership negotiations to take our financial cooperation to new heights,” Modi stated.
There was a concentrate on long-term protection cooperation, and India and Bangladesh additionally signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate within the subject of army training within the subject of strategic and operational research. As a way to modernize the Bangladesh Armed Forces, the leaders stated they’ll discover protection industrial cooperation, whereas intensifying army engagements within the type of workouts, coaching and capability growth.
The 2 international locations introduced the signing of agreements for digital and inexperienced partnerships, along with an vital initiative by India to offer an e-visa for sufferers from Bangladesh. “To facilitate cross-border journey and as a supportive gesture to the pleasant individuals of Bangladesh, India will present e-medical visa facility to individuals from Bangladesh touring to India for medical remedy,” the joint assertion stated, including that India may also assist Dhaka with provide of important items.
Different main bulletins included a brand new Indian Excessive Fee assistant in Rangpur in Bangladesh, a practice service between Rajshahi and Kolkata and a bus service between Chittagong and Kolkata. To boost sub-regional connectivity, the federal government stated India will broaden transit amenities for motion of Bangladeshi items to Nepal and Bhutan by way of railway community.
India can be trying ahead to the early operationalization of the 2 particular financial zones supplied by Bangladesh to India in Mongla and Mircharai and the opening of latest borders. The 2 international locations additionally signed a memorandum of understanding to reinforce rail connectivity. The joint assertion additionally stated that they’ll proceed to cooperate within the subject of main applied sciences, together with civil nuclear know-how, oceanography and house know-how. “To this finish, we are going to take part within the joint growth of a small satellite tv for pc for Bangladesh and its launch utilizing the Indian launch automobile,” she added.