Dhaka – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s proposed New Delhi visit will witness ‘new era of cooperation’ and signing of a number of important documents though a breakthrough on Teesta looks unlikely.
The Prime Minister is scheduled to leave for New Delhi on December 18 to discuss a wide range of bilateral issues with her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi during the visit.“With this visit, the relations between Bangladesh and India will see a newer dimension as there’ll be fresh initiatives to take forward the ties to the next level,” the UNB news agency quoted a Foreign Ministry official as saying on Wednesday.
Though the long-pending Teesta water sharing deal remains a key factor during any high-level visit, officials in Dhaka and Delhi could give no specific information in favour of any breakthrough over Teesta. Although a Teesta treaty was said likely during PM Modi’s predecessor Manmohan Singh six years ago it looks more distant than before and remains mired in diplomacy blamed on India’s domestic politics.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, however, said she is ‘still hopeful’ about the Teesta water sharing agreement with India but did not tell whether it will be signed or not during her New Delhi visit. “I’m going to India, I’m not going with any condition… discussion is on for Teesta river water sharing and we’re hopeful,” she told the media on Saturday.
Another official told UNB that the long-sought Teesta water sharing deal will become a reality but he was unwilling to give a specific date saying ‘the ball is now in India’s court’.
He said Teesta is ‘not a precondition’ to the upcoming visit but Bangladesh remains ‘hopeful’ that the Teesta issue will be resolved in time.
Earlier on December 1, The Hindu reported that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s political fight against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s demonetisation drive has cast a shadow on the upcoming visit Sheikh Hasina to India.
Quoting official sources, The Hindu claimed the visit was unlikely to witness any progress on the Teesta water-sharing issue because of the political differences between Banerjee and Modi.
On Tuesday, Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali hoped that Prime Minister’s proposed India visit will produce productive discussions on bilateral issues to further deepen the friendly ties between the two nations.
“New steps will be taken through the Prime Minister’s proposed visit to India this month to further intensify the Bangladesh-India relationship and take it much forward. We also hope there’ll be fruitful discussions on the issues relating to bilateral interests,” the minister said.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh and India will sign a number of documents on using Chittagong and Mongla seaports apart from building a multipurpose container terminal at Payra seaport.
It is not sure yet whether these documents will be signed during Prime Minister’s New Delhi visit or later.
Officials from both sides discussed at the Shipping Secretary-level meeting held Dhaka on Wednesday various aspects of separate MoUs (memoranda of understanding).
Hasina’s visit to India has been considered highly important in the context of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s October 14-15 visit to Bangladesh when the two countries inked at least 27 deals involving about $25 billion.
During the visit, the Prime Minister is likely to confer ‘honours’ on around 2,000 Indian soldiers who had sacrificed their lives in battles against the Pakistan occupation forces during the Liberation War in 1971. The families of the Indian soldiers would receive the gifts from her.
Meanwhile, India has proposed a number of new initiatives to enhance the capacity and capabilities of the Bangladesh Armed Forces.
During his recent Dhaka visit, Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had lengthy discussions with the political and military leadership of Bangladesh to further strengthen the ties between the armed forces of the two countries.
Enhancing training engagements, joint exercises, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) activities, and Blue Economy initiatives were discussed. The minister offered training for Bangladesh Coast Guard personnel to enhance their capabilities.
On October 16, Hasina and her Indian counterpart Modi had a bilateral meeting in Goa reassuring that Bangladesh and India will remain together for the sake of development.
At the invitation of Prime Minister Hasina, Modi visited Bangladesh from June 6-7 in 2015 and the two countries came up with a joint declaration ‘Notun Projonmo – Nayi Disha’.
Prime Minister Hasina, during the visit, requested Modi for immediate conclusion of the interim agreement on sharing of the water of Teesta as agreed upon by both the governments in January 2011, according to the joint declaration.
Prime Minister Modi, at that time, conveyed that deliberations are underway involving all stakeholders with regard to conclusion of the interim agreements on sharing of waters of Teesta and Feni as soon as possible.
The two Prime Ministers noted that discussions on various aspects relating to the sharing of waters of the Manu, Muhuri, Khowai, Gumti, Dharla and Dudhkumar rivers were taking place at technical levels under JRC and asked the concerned officials for taking expeditious action to conclude the sharing arrangements at the earliest.
During her visit here in February last year, visiting Paschimbanga Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee urged Bangladesh to ‘keep confidence’ in her about the signing of much-sought Teesta Water sharing deal between the two countries. – News Desk with UNB
