India, Bangladesh ink MoUs for enhanced cooperation
New Delhi, June 22: The visit of Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to India has been marked as one of the most successful trips, reflecting the deepening partnership between the neighbouring countries. During the visit, 10 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) and shared vision papers were signed or renewed, while thirteen new projects and announcements were made, underscoring the growing cooperation between India and Bangladesh.
Major Announcements and Upcoming Projects
E-Medical Visa for Bangladeshi Patients: India will introduce an e-medical visa facility for Bangladeshi patients seeking medical treatment in India.
New Assistant High Commission in Rangpur: India will establish a new Assistant High Commission in Rangpur, Bangladesh, to facilitate the people of the north-western region of Bangladesh.
New Train Service between Rajshahi and Kolkata: A new train service will commence between Rajshahi and Kolkata, enhancing connectivity.
New Bus Service between Chittagong and Kolkata: A new bus service will start between Chittagong and Kolkata to improve travel options.
Goods Train Services: Goods train services will begin between Gede-Darsana and Haldibari-Chilahati up to Dalgaon, boosting trade logistics.
Construction of Inland Container Depot (ICD) at Sirajganj: India will assist in constructing an Inland Container Depot at Sirajganj under grant assistance.
Export of Power from Nepal to Bangladesh through the Indian Grid: The commencement of 40 MW of power export from Nepal to Bangladesh through the Indian grid.
Joint Technical Committee for Ganga Water Treaty Renewal: A Joint Technical Committee will discuss the renewal of the 1996 Ganga Water Treaty.
Teesta River Project: A technical delegation will visit Bangladesh to work on the conservation and management of the Teesta River.
Training Slots for Bangladeshi Police Officers: India will offer 350 training slots for Bangladeshi police officers.
Muktijoddha Scheme for Medical Patients: The Muktijoddha Scheme will provide medical patients with an upper ceiling of 8 lakh per patient.
Bangladesh Joins Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative: Bangladesh has joined the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative, enhancing regional maritime cooperation.
Commercial Agreement for UPI Launch: A commercial agreement was signed between NPCI and Bangladesh Bank to launch the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) in Bangladesh.
Signed MoUs and Agreements
India-Bangladesh Digital Partnership: Signed by the foreign secretaries of both nations.
Shared Vision for India-Bangladesh Green Partnership: Signed by Masud Bin Momen and Vinay Kwatra.
MoU on Maritime Cooperation and Blue Economy: Signed to enhance maritime cooperation.
MoU between In-Space and Bangladesh’s Ministry of ICT and Telecom: Signed by Dr. Shahjahan Mahmood and S. Somnath.
MoU for Railway Connectivity: Signed by Dr Md. Humayun Kabir and Ms Jaya Verma Sinha.
MoU for Cooperation in Oceanography: Signed by Md. Mustafizur Rahman and Pranay Verma.
MoU for Military Education Cooperation: Signed by Lieutenant General Mizanur Rahman Shameem and Pranay Verma.
Renewal of MoU for Cooperation in Health and Medicine: Signed by Masud Bin Momen and Vinay Kwatra.
Renewal of MoU for Disaster Management: Signed by Md. Mustafizur Rahman and Pranay Verma.
Renewal of MoU for Fisheries Cooperation: Signed to continue joint efforts in fisheries management.
Highlights of the Visit
Prime Minister Modi extended a warm welcome to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her delegation at Hyderabad House, emphasizing the special nature of this visit as Hasina is the first state guest in the third term of the Indian government. He highlighted that the two leaders have met ten times in the past year, showcasing the depth of their bilateral engagements.
During the joint press briefing, Modi announced a futuristic vision for cooperation in new areas. He emphasized the youth of both countries benefiting from agreements in Green Partnership, Digital Partnership, Blue Economy, and Space, including the launch of the India-Bangladesh “Maitri Satellite.”
Modi highlighted the restoration of pre-1965 connectivity and plans to enhance digital and energy connectivity, boosting both economies. The two sides have agreed to start negotiations on the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CIPA), with India supporting the construction of an Inland Container Depot in Sirajganj, Bangladesh.
Modi emphasised the importance of shared rivers, such as the Ganga and Teesta, and announced technical negotiations for the renewal of the Ganga Water Treaty and the conservation and management of the Teesta River.
The leaders also discussed strengthening defence cooperation, counter-terrorism, and border management. Modi welcomed Bangladesh’s decision to join the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative and affirmed continued cooperation in regional and international forums, including BIMSTEC.
Cultural and people-to-people exchanges remain the foundation of India-Bangladesh relations, with enhanced scholarships, training, and capacity-building initiatives. Modi also announced the launch of an e-medical visa facility for Bangladeshi patients and the opening of a new Assistant High Commission in Rangpur.
During her visit, Prime Minister Hasina paid respects to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat and received a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhawan. She also met with President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, and External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar.
India and Bangladesh share a robust historical, cultural, and economic bond. With significant developments and new agreements, this visit has further strengthened the deep-rooted and multifaceted partnership between the two nations.
