Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said that her recent visit to India, after a gap of three years, has opened a new horizon in Bangladesh-India relations. “Throughout the visit, we observed India's sincerity and commitment to continue cooperation between the two countries on the basis of equality and respect as good neighbours,” she said at a press conference on her official visit to India last week at her official residence Ganobhaban. The premier said the people of both countries will be benefited if the decisions taken during her visit (Sept 5-8) to solve the existing bilateral problems and the areas of cooperation identified during the bilateral talks are implemented. “After all, in the changed world situation, this visit would accelerate both the countries to move forward together in a new way. I firmly believe that this cooperation will continue for the welfare of the people of both countries. South Asia, including Bangladesh and India, will become a prosperous region soon,” she said in her written speech. Read:“Assurance of getting oil, gas from India big accomplishment of recent visit”  Hasina said both Dhaka and New Delhi highlighted sincerity and pledges to continue cooperation between them on the basis of equality and respect as good neighbours. She said the issues of Teesta water sharing, cessation of border killings, trade expansion, withdrawal of anti-dumping duty on Bangladesh jute products, repatriation of the Rohingyas, import of electricity from Nepal and Bhutan via India, were discussed. The PM highlighted the significant achievements of her visit.  These are: MoU on sharing water of Kushiara River allowing Bangladesh to withdraw 153 cusec of water from the river, consensus to bring down the border killing to zero, India agreeing to lift restrictions on rail communication and other cross-border rail links with Bhutan and take steps for giving advance messages to Bangladesh before stopping the export of essential food items like sugar, onion, ginger and garlic. She also mentioned about the planned opening of historic “Swadhinata Road” from Mujibnagar in Bangladesh to the Bangladesh-India border. In case of river pollution and common rivers, immediate steps will be taken to improve the environment and navigability of the rivers, IT solutions will be exchanged to enhance the quality of railway services, and the commerce officials of the two countries has been instructed to begin work for signing the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement by 2022. Read: “People will vote for Awami League if they want development to continue” During the visit, the two sides signed seven Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) including withdrawal of 153 cusec of water from Kushiara river to Bangladesh under Surma-Kushiara project, Scientific and Technological Cooperation between Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), she said, adding that  MoUs were also signed between India and Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR), MoU between the National Judicial Academy in Bhopal, India and the Supreme Court of Bangladesh, MoU between the Ministry of Railways (Railway Board), Government of India and the Ministry of Railways, Government of Bangladesh on Training of Bangladesh Railway Personnel in India, MoU between the Ministry of Railways (Railway Board), Government of India and the Ministry of Railways, Government of Bangladesh on Collaboration in IT systems such as FOIS and other IT Applications for Bangladesh Railway, between the Indian state-run television ‘Prasar Bharti’ and Bangladesh Television (BTV) on Cooperation in Broadcasting and MoU on Cooperation in the Areas of Space Technology between BTCL and NSIL.  Sheikh Hasina said as per the MoU, Bangladesh will receive 153 cusecs of water under the Surma-Kushiara project from the common river Kushiara and as a result, 5,000 hectares of land will get irrigation facilities through Rahimpur Link Canal.  Apart from this, the premier said, an agreement has been made on cooperation in the fields of environment, climate change, cyber security, space technology, green economy, cultural and people-to-people communication, she added.  “We agreed to complete the construction work of the second gate proposed by India at the Petrapole- Benapole border as soon as possible to expand trade. A delegation from Bangladesh will soon visit India to participate in the start-up fair,” she added. Focusing on the energy cooperation between India and Bangladesh, the PM said fuel (diesel) from Numaligarh Refinery Limited in Assam will flow to Parbatipur in Dinajpur district of Bangladesh through India’s Siliguri through a pipeline. A MoU was signed between Bangladesh and India on April 9, 2018 under the "India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline Construction Project", she added.  “Under this project, a total of 131.57 km (126.57 km in the Bangladesh part and 5 km in the Indian part) pipeline is being constructed with the finance of the Government of India. Out of the 126.50 km of pipelines in the Bangladesh part, 125 km pipeline has been completed,” she said, adding that due to construction of the pipeline, fuel transportation cost will be saved and diesel could be imported from India easily, quickly and in adverse conditions to meet the needs of northern parts of the country; She said now, 60,000-80,000 metric tonnes of diesel are imported from India annually through Railway Wagon and once the construction of the pipeline is completed, it will be possible to import about 10 lakh metric tonnes of diesel from India annually. Currently, the storage capacity in Parbatipur is 15,000 metric tonnes and under the ongoing project, the storage capacity will increase by 28,800 metric tonnes, she said, adding that on August 28, 2022 India's state-owned company has been enlisted as a supplier of fuel oil on G-to-G basis with an aim to diversify the import source of fuel.  About LNG import, the premier said considering the huge gas demand in the south-western part of the country, particularly in Khulna area, the government is considering importing Regasified LNG (RLNG) from India to Bangladesh through a cross-border pipeline and to this end, against the proposals of Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL) and H-Energy, Patrobangla signed respective Non-binding MoU with both the agencies. “India is our closest neighbour and friendly country. Our relationship with India is historic. Our relations have been deepened due to similarities of language and culture,” she said.  Besides, the support during the 1971 Liberation War and cooperation after the independence have taken this friendship to a special level, said the prime minister.

Outgoing Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Vikram Kumar Doraiswami has described Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's recent India visit as "extremely successful" with "very strong deliverables" on all areas of important cooperation from trade, connectivity to water sharing. "So our goal essentially was to ensure that the relationship goes forward with more trade, more cooperation," he told reporters during an interaction at Old India House on Wednesday evening. Doraiswami particularly highlighted few of the deliverables, one being the MoU on water sharing of the Kushiyara River, the first water sharing agreement that the two countries had since the Ganges water sharing treaty in 1996. Read: Under Sheikh Hasina’s leadership, India-Bangladesh ties will reach new heights: Doraiswami The second thing is the announcement by the two leaders of a decision to start negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). "Third, I think the sense of focus on transport and connectivity was very strong. A very good package was negotiated and finalized in terms of railway connectivity in particular," Doraiswami said. During the visit, the Indian side requested the Bangladesh side for cooperation for initiating new sub-regional connectivity projects including a highway from Hili in West Bengal to Mahendraganj in Meghalaya through Bangladesh and in this regard, proposed preparation of a detailed project report. Read: Masud Bin Momen bids farewell to Doraiswami Responding to a question, the High Commissioner said the idea is sub regional connectivity and the numbers of road options are very limited. “Alternatives options have to be explored and we are now suggesting and looking at options…” In the same spirit, Bangladesh reiterated its eagerness to partner in the ongoing initiative of the India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway project. The envoy said they intended to invite Bangladesh to be one of the guests at the G20 Summit, which India will host next September. Read Hasina, Modi jointly unveil Rampal Power Plant’s unit 1 "And of course that has now been announced. So as you will understand, it is not just an invitation for the Summit level process. It is an invitation for the totality of the G20 meetings during India's chairmanship," Doraiswami said, terming it a very big deal. Essentially all the guest countries including Bangladesh will have an opportunity to be part of the larger process of negotiating outcomes for the totality of G20. India, as G20 Presidency, will be inviting Bangladesh, Egypt, Mauritius, Netherlands, Nigeria, Oman, Singapore, Spain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as guest countries to its meetings and Summit. Read Dhaka, Delhi sign 7 MoUs; unveil projects India will assume the Presidency of the G20 for one year from December 1, 2022 to November 30, 2023. Under its Presidency, India is expected to host over 200 G20 meetings across the country, beginning December 2022. PM Sheikh Hasina paid a state visit to India from September 5-8 at the invitation of Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi. Read Getting Kushiyara water is a big success of PM’s India visit: Quader During the visit, Prime Minister Hasina called on President of India Droupadi Murmu and Vice President of India Jagdeep Dhankhar. External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar and Minister of Development of North Eastern Region G. Kishan Reddy called on her. Prime Minister Hasina’s programme also included launching of "Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Student Scholarship” for 200 descendants of Indian Armed Forces personnel martyred and critically injured during the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971. Read PM’s India Visit: Bilateral instruments on water management, defence, railway likely to be signed She also addressed a business event, jointly organized by Indian and Bangladesh business communities on September 7. Both Prime Ministers held a restricted meeting and tête-à-tête followed by delegation level talks on September 6. The two leaders expressed satisfaction at the excellent state of bilateral relations, based on deep historical and fraternal ties and shared values of democracy and pluralism, which is reflected in an all-encompassing bilateral partnership, based on sovereignty, equality, trust and understanding that transcends even a strategic partnership. Read Let’s see what she achieves this time, Fakhrul about PM’s India tour They recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit in March 2021 to join the celebrations of the Golden Jubilee of the Independence of Bangladesh, the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and 50 years of establishment of diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and India, which was followed by the state visit of the President of India in December 2021, to attend the celebrations of the Golden Jubilee of the Victory Day of Bangladesh, as the guest of honour.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will address a press conference on Wednesday afternoon on the outcome of her recent four-day visit to India. The press conference will start at 4pm, said PM’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim. The PM went to New Delhi on September 5 at the invitation of her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi. She held bilateral talks with Modi and separately met Indian President Droupadi Murmu and the country’s Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar. Read: PM mourns passing of Sajeda Chowdhury During the visit Dhaka and Delhi signed seven MoUs -- demonstrating cooperation in a number of areas, including water sharing of the Kushiyara River.   Other MoUs are related to cooperation in the areas of space technology, science and technology, railways, judiciary and broadcasting.

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said on Wednesday that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s ongoing visit to India has been successful. Quader said this at a dialogue organized by Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters’ Forum (BSRF) at the Secretariat’s Media Center in the capital on Wednesday. He cited the agreement on sharing the water of Kushiyara River as a big success. “Yes, there has not been any deal on Tessta, but we have got Kushiyara’s water. We are not returning empty-handed,” he said adding that Dhaka and New Delhi signed seven MoUs during Hasina’s four-day visit to India from Monday. Quader also expressed his hope that the Teesta water sharing issue will be resolved soon. The Teesta water sharing issue, he said, has been pending due to some reservations of the chief minister of West Bengal, he observed. “I really hope that all sides will reach a middle ground and the Teesta issue will be resolved soon,” added Quader. Quader, also the General Secretary of the ruling AL, criticized the statement of BNP’s Secretary General about PM’s India visit and highlighted the past BNP government’s failure to discuss important national issues with India. He claimed that during one her visits to India then-PM Khaleda Zia admitted that she had forgotten to raise the issue of water sharing problem. Read: Up to PM to decide whether Momen will remain foreign minister or not: Quader On the other hand PM Hasina has always discussed the water sharing issue with India, he said. Quader also brushed aside the allegation that the Cabinet is weak. “Some members of the Cabinet have come from the grassroots level. They may have some personal weakness but in general, the Cabinet isn’t weak. The weaknesses of some Cabinet members are being covered by the PM herself. That’s why the government is moving ahead swiftly without any impediments,” he said. Replying to a question, Quader said that there shouldn’t be any age limit for politicians. “A politician should only retire when both he and his party think that the time has come for him to step aside. Otherwise, a politician must do politics as long as he is able to do it. A person becomes a politician after dedicating his entire life in doing politics. It’ll be unfair if he isn’t allowed to do politics during his final years,” said the minister.   Tapan Bishwas, President of BSRF, presided over the dialogue. It was conducted by BSRF General Secretary Masudul Haque. 

Stating that the outcomes of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s previous India tours were disappointing for the nation, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said they want to see what she achieves this time during her four-day visit.   Speaking at a discussion, he said, "My journalist brothers sent me a note to talk about the Prime Minister's visit to India. I don't want to talk about this as our previous experience was very bitter and disappointing,” he said. During the PM’s every trip to India, Fakhrul said, people always hoped that the prime minister would achieve something for the country. “Every time we saw with great disappointment that she only gave (India many things) but did not bring anything (for the country from there).” He said BNP will give reaction to the PM’s visit by seeing the outcomes. “Let her (Prime Minister) visit first and return home. Let's see what she achieves and then I will comment on it.” M Saifur Rahman Smriti Parshad organised the programme at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU) marking the 13th death anniversary of former finance minister and BNP standing committee member M Saifur Rahman. Earlier in the morning, Hasina went to New Delhi on a four-day state visit at the invitation of her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi. During her visit, the PM is scheduled to hold bilateral talks and a one-to-one meeting with Modi at the Hyderabad House on Tuesday. Read: BNP demands probe into illegal use of Chinese Rifle by N’ganj police Fakhrul recalled Saifur Rahman’s outstanding contributions to the country’s economy and development and said Bangladesh has lost a very competent and successful finance minister through his demise. Mentioning that the nation is going to through a very difficult time, he said had Saifur been alive at this time, he would have undoubtedly helped the country overcome the crisis with his political wisdom. ”He also would have been able to reveal the true face of this regime which has created a hype of false development revolution.” BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said Saifur Rahman had not hesitated to do what was necessary for ensuring the sustainable development of the country and strengthening the economy.   He said Saifur had taken various effective steps like the introduction of VAT to build a stable economy of the country. The BNP leader said the Awami League government has been getting benefits from the economic reforms carried out by Saifur and thus it is indulging in widespread plundering. “The way this regime is looting public money using the steps taken by him, he (Saifur) would have fought against it if he were alive.”  On September 5, 2009, Saifur died in a road accident on Dhaka-Sylhet Highway at the age of 77.   Born at Baharmardan village in Moulvibazar Sadar Upazila on October 6, 1932, Saifur was with BNP since its inception as an adviser to late president Ziaur Rahman. He went on to serve in Zia’s cabinet as the first commerce minister and then the finance minister.

Bangladesh and India are likely to sign a number of agreements and MoUs focusing on water management, defence, railway, science and technology; and information and broadcasting during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's India visit opening new "windows of cooperation" between the countries, officials said. The prime minister leaves for New Delhi on Monday on a four-day state visit at the invitation of her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi. Issues related to security cooperation, investment, enhanced trade relations, power and energy sector cooperation, water sharing of common rivers, water resources management, border management, combating drug smuggling an human trafficking are likely to get priority during the talks between PM Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi at the Hyderabad House, a senior official told UNB. The visit is seen as significant amid the Ukraine crisis, global economic downturn and ongoing Covid-19 pandemic as the two South Asian neighbors seek enhanced cooperation to overcome the challenges, he said.   Hasina will visit India after three years since she last visited in 2019 before the Covid-19 pandemic broke out. The visit is significant for both Bangladesh and India, said the government of Bangladesh. Read: Teesta mainly depends on India: PM Hasina tells ANI The visit will further strengthen the multifaceted relationship between the two countries based on strong historical and cultural ties and mutual trust and understanding, said the Indian Ministry of External Affairs. The prime minister will lead a high-level delegation which includes several ministers, advisers, state ministers, secretaries and senior officials. Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Huq, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen, Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi, Railways Minister Md. Nurul Islam Sujan, PM’s economic affairs adviser Dr Mashiur Rahman, PM’s Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman F Rahman, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid and State Minister for Water Resources Zaheed Farooque are among the delegation members, Representatives from business bodies of Bangladesh will also accompany PM Hasina. Hasina is also scheduled to attend a business event organised by the Confederation of Indian Industries. The prime minister will be formally received by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi while a ceremonial guard of honour will be accorded to her. She will pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat. During her visit, PM Hasina will meet Indian President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar apart from holding bilateral consultations with her Indian counterpart Modi at the Hyderabad House. Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will call on PM Hasina, said the Ministry of External Affairs. Hasina is also likely to visit Ajmer. The Bangladesh prime minister is also scheduled to attend a lunch to be hosted by her Indian counterpart. She is expected to award the Mujib Scholarship, an initiative of the Bangladesh government, to the descendants of 200 Indian Armed Forces personnel who were martyred and critically injured during the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971. In recent years, both sides have sustained a high level of engagement, including at the highest level, MEA said. Defence Cooperation Last month, Bangladesh and India expressed commitment to elevating engagements between their armed forces and reviewed the progress of bilateral defence cooperation initiatives. At the 4th Bangladesh-India Annual Defence Dialogue, both sides emphasised the need to work closely to implement the $500 million line of credit extended from India for defence items. Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division of Bangladesh Lieutenant General Waker-Uz-Zaman and Indian Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar co-chaired the dialogue held last month. Different aspects of defence industrial and capability-building cooperation came up for detailed discussions. Both countries see “great potential” for cooperation in defence trade, co-development and joint production. Read: PM Hasina's India visit to take Dhaka-Delhi ties to new levels: Doriaswami CEPA Negotiations President of India-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IBCCI) Abdul Matlub Ahmad has said the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), now under discussion, will be a win-win for both the countries. “It’ll benefit both sides,” he told UNB, adding that such a framework agreement will help boost trade further.  Bangladesh and India want to begin the required negotiations for signing the CEPA. The issue will further be discussed during the state visit of PM Hasina as Bangladesh and India recognize the “immense potential” of bilateral economic and commercial ties. During Modi’s state visit to Bangladesh from March 26 to 27 last year, both sides discussed the prospects of entering into a CEPA. To enhance trade between the two countries, both Prime Ministers underscored the need for removal of non-tariff barriers. Matlub, also former president of the apex trade body FBCCI, said that both sides should talk about instant supply of essential commodities like wheat, sugar, cotton and onion to Bangladesh if Bangladesh faces any shortage. “It can be reciprocal,” he said, adding that Bangladesh can also extend such support if India faces any shortage of any essentials that is available in Bangladesh. He said the private sector will have come forward in this regard but the governments of the two countries will create the ground for such cooperation. Water Sharing Bangladesh and India have finalised the text of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on interim water sharing of Kushiyara River ahead of PM Hasina's visit. The two countries also welcomed finalisation of the design and location of water intake point on the Feni river to meet the drinking water needs of Sabroom town in Tripura as per the October 2019 Bangladesh-India MoU on this subject. At the 38th ministerial level Joint Rivers Commission (JRC) meeting held in New Delhi on August 25, Bangladesh requested India in signing the MoU for withdrawal of water by Bangladesh and India from the common stretch of Kushiyara River at an early date. The Indian side assured that the issue is under their consideration. Both sides agreed to conduct the feasibility study for optimum utilization of water received by Bangladesh under the provision of the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty, 1996. India and Bangladesh share 54 rivers, of which seven rivers have been identified earlier for developing the framework of water sharing agreements on priority.