India-Bangladesh relations now ‘truly multifaceted’

The third round of the India-Bangladesh foreign ministers’ Joint Consultative Commission (JCC) meeting has ended in New Delhi noting that the relations have become “truly multifaceted”.

Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali and Sushma Swaraj reviewed the entire range of relations on Saturday.

This was the first meeting of the JCC after they assumed the office of foreign ministers.

Both ministers acknowledged that high-level visits can infuse dynamism into the relations.

They issued a joint statement after the meeting acknowledging “the importance of high level visits for providing dynamism and sustaining momentum in bilateral relations”.

“…the two sides looked forward to visits of the President of Bangladesh to India, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh to India and the Prime Minister of India to Bangladesh,” according to the statement.

They expressed “satisfaction” at the “significant forward movement” in implementation of decisions taken in the last year’s JCC.

This has widened the scope of bilateral cooperation and relations have become truly multifaceted, according to the statement.

The areas of co-operation they noted include trade and investment, security, connectivity, border management, water, power, shipping, renewable energy, development cooperation, art and culture, people to people exchanges, human resource development, among others.

Both ministers noted that visits of the India’s External Affairs Minister in June this year and her deputy in August to Dhaka have helped “propel the bilateral agenda forward”.

They noted the significance of the visit of the Bangladesh Foreign Minister to India as this is the first ministerial visit from Bangladesh since BJP formed the new government in India in May.

The foreign minister took eight key secretaries of the government along with him including the foreign secretary that the Indian side noted with “appreciation”.

Both sides welcomed regular exchanges at official level, which have helped “create an environment conducive to maintaining the friendly and comprehensive partnership that has developed between the two countries”.

They agreed that in order to maintain the momentum of relations, it was necessary for senior officials to meet regularly.

It was decided that bilateral meetings of the Power, Commerce and Shipping Secretaries would be held at an early date.

The two Ministers expressed satisfaction at the settlement of the maritime boundary between the two countries.

“This development will enhance mutual understanding and goodwill, bring an end to the maritime boundary issue, and pave the way for cooperation in sustainable exploitation of the maritime resources of the Bay of Bengal,” according to the joint statement.

India also welcomed Bangladesh's initiative for hosting a workshop on blue economy in Dhaka.

The ministers noted that the ratification process following the signing of the Protocol to the Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) 1974 was underway.

The Protocol is expected to pave the way for resolution of pending boundary related issues, they said.

Security issues

They also expressed satisfaction at the “constructive” discussions at recent security related meetings.

The Indian Minister expressed India’s “appreciation” for the cooperation extended by Bangladesh in security related matters.

She also welcomed Bangladesh’s assurance that its soil will not be allowed to be used for terrorism against any country, particularly India.

The two Ministers stressed on the need for effective implementation of the Coordinated Border Management Plan (CBMP), including regular coordination and exchanges between nodal officers at different levels.

Bangladesh “appreciated” Indian measures to bring down the number of border killings.
Both sides agreed that the number should come down “to zero”.

They also agreed on the need for early completion of fencing of remaining vulnerable patches along the border.

They also welcomed the new arrangement of holding meetings of Deputy Commissioners (DCs) and District Magistrate (DMs) level of bordering districts.

These meetings would be held alternately in India and Bangladesh and would begin from next month.

They also agreed to work together to hold a Conference of all DCs/DMs of bordering districts of both countries in early next year in India.

Responding to Bangladesh ’s request for immediate opening of immigration facilities at Phulbari-Banglabandha, India conveyed that construction work has begun at Phulbari and that the immigration post would be operationalised soon.

Line of Credit

The ministers reviewed the status of implementation of projects under the $ 800 million concessional Line of Credit extended by India to Bangladesh.

The Bangladesh side appreciated the contribution of the Line of Credit to infrastructure development in Bangladesh and asked for “favourable consideration” of their request for a second Line of Credit.

The Indian Minister expressed gratitude to Bangladesh for facilitating the movement of food grains to meet the Public Distribution System (PDS) needs of the people of Tripura.

They also agreed that trial runs of coastal shipping would be held in Oct.

Both countries also agreed to enhance cooperation in new areas including nuclear science and technology, space, health, jute and textiles, renewable energy, maritime, fisheries, oceanography, meteorological, and other areas related to development of the blue economy of the region.

Both the Ministers welcomed growing exchanges between the two peoples which is helping to foster greater understanding and goodwill between the two countries.

In this regard, both sides welcomed the visit of 100 member youth delegation from Bangladesh to India scheduled to take place from Oct 13 to Oct 20.

Both Ministers expressed satisfaction at the progress in training and capacity building.

International co-operation

They also noted with satisfaction the coincidence of views on regional and international issues.

India congratulated Bangladesh on the inauguration of the BIMSTEC Secretariat in Dhaka on Sep 13, and assured Bangladesh of its full support to the smooth and successful operation of the Secretariat.

Both ministers expressed optimism that the forthcoming BCIM-EC meeting to be held in Bangladesh will impart “dynamism to cooperation amongst the BCIM countries”.

Both Ministers agreed to closely cooperate in the run up to the 18th SAARC Summit in Kathmandu in Nov this year, and to ensure “an outcome oriented” Summit.

The two Ministers welcomed the signing of the MoU on Nalanda University in Bihar.

Both sides agreed to hold the next JCC meeting in Dhaka at a mutually convenient date.