Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud has said that no matter what BNP says, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s recent India visit has been successful as Bangladesh has finally received long-cherished transit facility during her visit. “Under the facility, Bangladesh will be able to export goods, including RMG products, to third countries using Indian territory without any cost. I sincerely thank the PM for getting a lot of facilities for Bangladesh during her India visit,” said Hasan. The minister said this while speaking as the chief guest at a check distribution program organized by Chattogram Union of Journalists (CUJ) at the S Rahman Hall of Chattogram Press Club on Friday. He added that the relations between Bangladesh and India are based on equality. Read: No bar to implementing wage board once case is disposed: Hasan Mahmud “It’s the AL government which has achieved everything from India. In 1974, we signed the enclave exchange agreement with India under the leadership of Father of The Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. It was again the AL government headed by PM Hasina under which the enclaves were finally exchanged. Besides, Bangladesh also settled the maritime boundary issue with India under the AL government. These developments prove that Bangladesh views India as its equal,” added Hasan. Hasan, also the Joint General Secretary of the ruling AL, also said that the Bangladesh-India ties have reached a new milestone due to the wholehearted efforts by PM Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi. “India has provided duty-free excess to almost all of our products except only 20 items including drugs. They’ve also given us the opportunity to transport goods to other countries using their territory without any taxes or tarrifs. India has also agreed to share the water of Kushiyara river with us, which the BNP had failed to achieve during their tenure. All of these show the excellent relations that Bangladesh is enjoying with India right now,” Hasan said. The program was presided over by CUJ President Mohammad Ali and moderated by Joint Secretary Sobur Shuvo. Suvash Chandra Badal, Managing Director of Bangladesh Journalists’ Welfare Trust and Ali Abbas, President of Chattogram Press Club, among others, spoke at the event as special guests.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan, for home on Thursday afternoon wrapping up her four-day official visit to India. A VVIP flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines carrying the premier and her entourage departed Jaipur International Airport at 5:30pm local time (6:00pm BST). Rajasthan’s Education Minister Bulaki Das Kalla and Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Muhammad Imran saw her off at the airport. The flight is scheduled to land at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 8:00pm. Also read: At a glance: Jointly agreed upon decisions during PM's India visit Earlier in the morning, the Bangladesh prime minister arrived at Ajmer in Rajasthan to offer prayers at Khwaja Gharib Nawaz Dargah Sharif, the mazar (shrine) of Sufi saint Moinuddin Chishti on the last day of her four-day official visit to India. Hasina reached New Delhi on Monday for her first India tour in three years at the invitation of her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi. She held bilateral talks with Modi and met Indian President Droupadi Murmu and Indian Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar separately on Tuesday. Also read: PM Hasina visits Ajmer Sharif to offer prayers After the bilateral talks between the two leaders, Dhaka and Delhi signed seven MoUs -- demonstrating cooperation in a number of areas, including water sharing of the Kushiyara River. Other MoUs are cooperation in the areas of space technology, science and technology, railways, judiciary and broadcasting. Besides, the two leaders unveiled unit-I of the Maitree power plant in Rampal and 5.13-km Rupsha Bridge in Khulna. During Hasina’s stay in India, former Congress party president Rahul Gandhi, Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Minister for Development of North Eastern Region of India G. Kishan Reddy, Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi, Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani and late Indian president Pranab Mukherjee’s daughter Sharmistha Mukherjee also separately met her. The Bangladesh premier visited the altar of the Samadhi (memorial) of Mahatma Gandhi to pay tribute to India’s Father of the Nation. Sheikh Hasina visited Nizamuddin Aulia Dargah in Delhi and joined a business event, jointly organised by the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in New Delhi. Sheikh Hasina also awarded the Mujib scholarships among 200 students, the descendants of Indian soldiers who sacrificed their lives during the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971.

Demonstrating the importance attached to relations between close neighbours, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s India visit (September 5-8) saw a good number of decisions jointly agreed upon by the two countries. Steadfast Friendship Emphasis on greater collaboration in the spirit of friendship and partnership for prosperity and development of the region. Enhancing rail connectivity in Bangladesh Appreciation for ongoing bilateral initiatives, such as: — Conversion to dual-gauge of Tongi-Akhaura line — Supply of railway rolling stock to Bangladesh Railway — Capacity building for the personnel of Bangladesh Railway in reputed training institutes of Indian Railways — Sharing IT solutions for improved services of Bangladesh Railway Read:Nobel laureate Kailash lauds PM Hasina's efforts for the vulnerable New initiatives to enhance Bangladesh-India Rail connectivity — Kaunia-Lalmonirhat-Mogalghat-New Gitaldaha link  — Establishing a link between Hili and Birampur — Upgradation of track, signaling systems and railway stations along the Benapole-Jashore line — Link restoration between Burimari and Changrabandha  — Construction of a container depot in Sirajganj Importantly, for these projects, Bangladesh and India have agreed to explore funding through multiple financial instruments under the bilateral development cooperation framework. Upon Bangladesh's request, India has committed to provide 20 broad-gauge diesel locomotives to Bangladesh, on grant basis  Withstanding global economic shocks A special G2G arrangement for predictable supply of essential food commodities such as rice, wheat, sugar, onion, ginger and garlic from India to Bangladesh is expected to be worked out. Facilitating smooth movement of people and goods. Expediting completion of development work within 150 yards of the international border, including critical immigration and trade-related infrastructure on the various border crossings along the over 4,000 km long border. Read:Bangladesh, India sign first contract under US$500 million defence LoC Border security and management For a peaceful and crime-free border, completion of fencing along the unfenced patches of the entire border, beginning with the Tripura Sector, was agreed upon  by both leaders. Stepped up efforts by border guarding forces has helped decrease the number of deaths at the border. Greater cooperation against smuggling of arms, narcotics, fake currency, and trafficking, particularly of women and children, was also appreciated. Committed to jointly fight terrorism Both leaders reiterated their strong commitment to eliminate terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. Further strengthening cooperation to counter and prevent the spread of terrorism, violent extremism and radicalisation in the region and beyond was agreed upon. Read: Dhaka, Delhi reiterate strong commitment to eliminate terrorism Defence and security cooperation Early finalization of projects under the USD 500 million Defence Line of Credit was agreed upon, including the procurement plan of vehicles for the Bangladesh Army. Early operationalization of the 2019 MOU on Coastal Radar System for enhanced maritime security. River water cooperation  Convening of the Joint Rivers Commission Ministerial Meeting, after more than a decade, where progress on cooperation on all shared rivers was reviewed, was appreciated by the leaders.  With the cooperation of all stakeholders in India, including the state government of Assam, the Kushiyara MoU has been signed. It will help Bangladeshi farmers irrigate land in northeastern Bangladesh during the dry season and similarly, southern Assam is expected to benefit from it. Bangladesh noted a request from Tripura government on sharing of Feni river water. Read: Bangabandhu as revered in India as he is in Bangladesh: Jaishankar Drinking water project for the people of Tripura will now soon operationalize with the necessary approvals and clearances provided by Bangladesh to activate the 2019 MoU on withdrawal of 1.82 cusec of water from the Feni river. Greater number of rivers will now be included for data exchange and formulating framework of interim water sharing agreements. Formulation of Joint Technical Committee to conduct a survey for optimum utilization of Ganges water agreed upon by both sides. Bangladesh reiterated request to conclude Teesta Treaty finalized in 2011.  Both sides agreed to enhance cooperation on tackling river pollution, improving riverine environment and navigability. Read: India offers free transit to Bangladesh for exports to third countries Power cooperation Bangladesh-India JV on Special Purpose Vehicle to connect a high capacity 765 kV transmission line from Katihar (Bihar) to Parbatipur (Bangladesh) to Bornagar (Assam). This line is expected to facilitate both import and export of electricity by Bangladesh, as per seasonal demand.  Sub-regional power grid connecting Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh got a boost. India informed that its internal guidelines are in place for the setting up of such a network.  Energy cooperation To help address Bangladesh’s energy needs, both sides hoped for the early completion of the transboundary India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline that will carry diesel rom India directly to Bangladesh. To meet the growing requirements of petroleum products for Bangladesh’s economy, India agreed to facilitate preliminary discussions between authorized agencies of both countries. India thanked Bangladesh for the support extended to facilitate movement of petroleum, oil and lubricants from Assam to Tripura via Bangladesh, in light of the devastating flood situation in Assam and Meghalaya this year. Read: Hasina asks Indian and Bangladeshi youth to interact more to foster friendship Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL), a Govt of India PSU, is now eligible to supply on G2G basis petroleum products to Bangladesh.  Development cooperation Bangladesh lauded India for the efficiency and speed with which funds disbursement under Govt of India-linked Lines of Credit have taken place, especially over the last year. Close to USD 1.1 billion of the concessional aid extended to Bangladesh has already been disbursed. Bangladesh is India’s top-most development partner. Bangladesh alone caters for about one-fourth or 25% of all development financing extended by India to other countries.  Enhancing bilateral and sub-regional trade and connectivity Both Leaders agreed to expedite efforts to operationalize Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal Motor Vehicles Agreement. Once agreed, seamless movement of vehicles, personal and commercial, will be possible across borders of the four countries. To enhance sub-regional connectivity, India proposed preparation of a Detailed Project Report on a new highway connecting Hili (West Bengal) via Bangladesh to Mahendraganj (Meghalaya). In this context, Bangladesh also proposed its participation in the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway. Read: Dhaka, Delhi reiterate strong commitment to eliminate terrorism Inviting Bangladesh’s business community to utilize the free transit offered by India through specified Land Customs Stations/Airports/Seaports on its territory, India welcomed Bangladeshi exports to third countries. This is over and above the free transit already in place for Bangladeshi businesses exporting to Nepal and Bhutan. Mutually beneficial two-way trade Successful trial runs under the 2015 Agreement on use of Chattogram and Mongla ports have been completed.  Maitri Bridge connecting Bangladesh with India’s Tripura also awaits operationalization and India requested Bangladesh to expedite completion of remaining infrastructure, immigration and customs facilities at Ramgarh. To enhance two-way business, removal of port restrictions imposed by Bangladesh on Indian goods was again emphasized on. Read: Hasina, Modi direct officials to start CEPA negotiations this year Both sides directed trade officials to start negotiations on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement within 2022 and complete the same before 2026, when Bangladesh graduates from its LDC status and to retain the Duty Free Quota Free benefits it currently enjoys. To facilitate movement of goods between Bangladesh and India, India’s proposal to fund and build a second freight gate at the country’s busiest landport, the Benapole-Petrapole ICP, was welcomed by Bangladesh. Bangabandhu and spirit of Liberation War The jointly produced biopic on Bangabandhu, “Mujib – the making of a nation”, is likely to complete soon and be launched next year. Joint production of a documentary on the Liberation War and compilation of rare video footage was agreed upon. Deep appreciation for India’s gesture to provide medical treatment provided to over 100 Bangladeshi Freedom Fighters at prestigious Indian hospitals, on gratis basis, since 2018. Read: Indian investors can set up industries in Bangladesh through buy-back arrangement: PM Futuristic areas of cooperation  First visit of a startup delegation from Bangladesh to India. Joint conservation of the Sundarbans. Augmenting cooperation in peaceful use of outer space, green energy, peaceful uses of nuclear energy, and technology enabled services in finance, health and education. Regional issues India expressed appreciation at the generosity of Bangladesh in sheltering and providing humanitarian assistance to over a million persons forcibly displaced from the Rakhine State in Myanmar and underlined its continuing commitment to ensure the safe, sustainable, and expeditious return of these forcibly displaced people to their homeland. India appreciated the contribution of Bangladesh in hosting the BIMSTEC Secretariat and developing its infrastructure. The Indian side reiterated its support to Bangladesh in its capacity as the Chair of Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA). Read: Dhaka to list Indian Oil as G2G supplier of refined petroleum products