Dhaka, Feb 5 (UNB) – Bangladesh and India have planned to sign five MoUs during the next round of foreign minister-level bilateral talks on Friday, aiming to take the relations between the two countries to newer heights.
The meeting – 5th Joint Consultative Commission (JCC) – will be held in New Delhi paving the way for new Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen to make his maiden foreign tour to India after formation of the new government .
“We have taken preparations to sign five MoUs,” an official told UNB adding that things will be finalised soon.
The documents that are likely to be signed are MoU between the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of Bangladesh and the National Medical Plants Board, India on cooperation in the field of medicinal plants, MoU between National Centre for Good Governance, Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances, Government of India and Ministry of Public Administration, Bangladesh on tanning and capacity building programme for Bangladesh Civil Servants and MoU between Hiranandani Group and Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) for developing Indian Economic Zone in Mongla, Bangladesh.
Two more MoUs between Bangladesh’s Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) and India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and state-run Bangladesh Television (BTV) and Prasar Bharti of India are also planned to be signed.
The 5th JCC meeting will review the progress made in areas such as trade and investment, security, connectivity, border management, power, energy, shipping, people-to-people exchanges, said a diplomatic source.
The two countries will also discuss the common challenges and find ways on how the two friendly countries along with other like-minded nations can continue fighting the scourge of terrorism, extremism and radicalisation, the source indicates.
Dr Momen will meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday morning before the JCC meet on Friday.
He is likely to meet former Indian President Pranab Mukherjee at the latter’s residence.
Foreign Minister Dr Momen will leave New Delhi for Dhaka on Saturday morning.
Earlier, acting High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh Dr Adarsh Swaika met the new Foreign Minister of Bangladesh and handed over the letter of congratulations from the External Affairs Minister of India Sushma Swaraj.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the first among the global leaders to congratulate Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina after her party Awami League’s absolute victory in the December-30 elections.
Prime Minister Modi expressed confidence that the partnership between Bangladesh and India will continue to flourish under her “farsighted” leadership.
He also reiterated the priority India attaches to Bangladesh as a neighbour, a close partner for regional development, security and cooperation, and a central pillar in India’s ‘’Neighbourhood First” policy.
The 4th Joint Consultative Commission between Bangladesh and India, led by former Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali and Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj respectively, was held in October 2017.
