India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina on Sunday noted that India-Bangladesh ties have entered a new phase with a “pragmatic, mature and practical approach” and both reaffirmed their commitment to cooperate in tackling extremism and terrorism and not to allow their territories for any activity inimical to the other.
According to an exhaustive joint statement issued by both countries at the end of Modi’s two-day visit, both sides agreed to enhance cooperation in the fields of energy, trade and connectivity. The two Prime Ministers also gave directives to the concerned officials on both sides for expeditious implementation of the 1974 land Boundary Agreement (lBA) and its 2011 Protocol on the ground. Modi conveyed appreciation for conferring the ‘Bangladesh liberation War Honour’ on former Prime Minister AB Vajpayee for his outstanding contribution to the liberation War.
Modi said the former Prime Minister had said friendship between India and Bangladesh was like a bond, which would not break under any pressure, and would never be the victim of any foul play of diplomacy. “Even if late, a right step has been taken by recognising Bangladesh. We are witnessing a process of history being written,” Modi quoted Vajpayee.
During the day, Modi called on Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid and discussed a host of bilateral issues. President Hamid also hosted a lunch in Modi’s honour with Premier Sheikh Hasina also present.
Besides, Modi also met a host of leaders from across the political and business spectrum. leader of the Opposition Begum Raushan Ershad called on Modi while Modi also met leaders of Bangladesh’s left-wing parties.
Soon after Modi also met former Bangladesh Prime Minister and Opposition leader Khaleda Zia, who sought the Indian Prime Minister’s intervention in “restoration” of democracy in the country. later, he also met with presidents of leading chambers of commerce and industry of Bangladesh to strengthen business links between the two countries.
Modi also offered prayers at the famous 12th century Dhakeshwari temple and paid a visit to the Ramakrishna Mission Math here, in an apparent effort to reach out to the Hindu community in Muslim- majority Bangladesh.
While the State-owned Dhakeshwari temple is regarded as the most revered place for the Hindu community in the country, the Ramakrishna Mission, with which Modi has a long association, is a branch of Kolkata-based Belur Math.
Modi also addressed intellectuals in Dhaka where he said India and Bangladesh are not just “pass pass” (close to each other) but also “saath saath” (together). Modi said not just Asia but the entire world “will do a detailed post-mortem” on India-Bangladesh ties following his visit to see what has been gained.
“But if in one sentence I am to describe the ties, people will think that we are ‘pass pass’ but now the world will have to accept that we are not just ‘pass pass’ but ‘saath saath’,” he said to loud applause.
He said his two-day visit has ended, but “I feel that actually the yatra (in ties) has just begun”. later in the joint statement, Modi complimented Hasina for her support in enhancing sub-regional cooperation and connectivity and appreciated her commitment to the betterment of bilateral ties with India and the “many path breaking initiatives taken by her to provide greater depth and substance to the relationship”. Hasina “expressed her firm belief that Prime Minister Modi’s leadership would bring in fresh impetus to the excellent bilateral relations between Bangladesh and India”.
She sought assistance from India in bringing back the mortal remains of valiant freedom fighters of Bangladesh who were buried in Indian soil during the 1971 War of liberation. Modi agreed to extend necessary cooperation in this regard. Hasina recalled with gratitude India’s enormous contribution to the glorious liberation War. Modi expressed India’s appreciation for the cooperation extended by Bangladesh in security related matters.
The two prime ministers expressed satisfaction at the conclusion of the MOUs on Prevention of Smuggling of Fake Currency Notes, Cooperation between Coast Guards and Prevention of Human Trafficking, all of which will augment security cooperation.
Significantly scaling up bilateral ties, India and Bangladesh issued a joint declaration that said they have decided to expeditiously implement the historic land Boundary Agreement on the ground and cooperate in a wide array of areas such as civil Nuclear energy, petroleum and power.
The joint declaration titled ‘Notun Projonmo -- Nayi Disha’ (New Generation, New Direction), said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina had agreed to “further enhance cooperation” in the energy sector particularly in renewable energy and nuclear energy.
“Both Prime Ministers agreed to cooperate in the field of civil nuclear energy, especially training for technical personnel,” the statement said giving an insight into the issues discussed during Modi’s meeting with Hasina on Saturday.
Significantly, the statement said Modi and Hasina have given directives to the concerned officials on both sides for “expeditious implementation of the 1974 land Boundary Agreement and its 2011 Protocol on the ground.”
Elaborating on the energy sector, an area of “growing cooperation”, the document said the two countries have decided to initiate an annual India-Bangladesh Energy Dialogue to be led jointly by Secretary (Petroleum) of India and Secretary, Power Division of Bangladesh.
The dialogue will undertake comprehensive energy sector cooperation including in areas of coal, natural gas, lNG, supply of petroleum products in the sub-region, renewable energy, oil and gas pipelines etc. In an attempt to bolster connectivity in the region, Modi agreed to consider Bangladesh’s proposal to introduce the second Maitree Express between Khulna and Kolkata.
“The two Prime Ministers expressed satisfaction about the ongoing cooperation in the railways sector including the Akhaura-Agartala railway link and revival of the old railway links,” the declaration noted.
Modi and Hasina welcomed the signing of the ‘Coastal Shipping Agreement’, which they said would open up newer avenues of cooperation in the areas of bilateral and regional trade and connectivity.
“Both the Prime Ministers agreed on the need for dredging of the Bangladesh-India inland water protocol routes to utilise their full potential,” the joint declaration said.
The two Prime Ministers expressed satisfaction at the “unparallelled” level of cooperation between the two countries on security related issues and reaffirmed their “unequivocal and uncompromising position against extremism and terrorism in all forms and manifestations”, it said.
They reiterated their commitment that their respective territories would not be allowed to be used for any activity inimical to the other, the declaration said. “As well as their commitment to cooperate with each other by sharing information about groups and persons indulging in terrorism,” it said.
“The two Prime Ministers stressed the need for effective implementation of the Coordinated Border Management Plan for better border management so as to prevent cross border criminal activities, irregular movement, incidents of violence and tragic loss of lives,” it said.
Both Prime Ministers reiterated that the number of deaths at the border must be brought down to zero and directed the concerned authorities and border guarding forces to work to that effect, it added.
The historic instruments of ratification of the 1974 lBA and its 2011 Protocol were exchanged and modalities for ensuring smooth implementation of the said Agreement and Protocol were worked out under an exchange of letters.
The two prime ministers recalled the “Framework Agreement on Cooperation for Development” of 2011 and stressed on taking stock of the achievements and charting ways for future cooperation. It was agreed that the fourth meeting of the Joint Consultative Commission led by their foreign ministers would be held in 2015 in Dhaka.
Both prime ministers also welcomed the finalisation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for allowing usage of Indian border roads for construction and maintenance of Border Out Posts (BOPs) of Border Guard Bangladesh as well as use of Indian medical facilities in difficult areas in the border area by Bangladeshi personnel, who are deployed in vicinity.
They welcomed the holding of the first round of meetings of deputy commissioners/ district magistrates of clusters of bordering districts and put emphasis on regular holding of meetings.
Hasina invited India’s cooperation in jointly developing the Ganges Barrage on the river Padma in Bangladesh. Modi conveyed that he would have the matter examined by the concerned agencies in India, according to the joint statement.