List of Bangladesh-India bilateral deals signed during Modi’s Dhaka visit

Bangladesh and India have pushed for stronger bilateral ties during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s historic Dhaka visit.

A number of deals have been signed including one for exchanging enclaves, ending the contentious bilateral issue that has been lingering since 1974.

The neighbouring countries have also agreed for greater regional connectivity for the development of South Asia.

Bangladesh and India renewed bilateral trade agreement and a protocol on inland water transit and trade.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed for extending a $2 billion line of credit by India.

Other MoUs covered areas like blue economy and maritime cooperation in the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean.

Below is a list of bilateral documents signed, exchanged, adopted and handed over during the visit of Prime Minister of India to Bangladesh:

i. Exchange of Instruments of Ratification of 1974 Land Boundary Agreement and its 2011 Protocol

ii. Exchange of letters on Modalities for implementation of 1974 Land Boundary Agreement and its 2011 Protocol

iii. Bilateral Trade Agreement (renewal)

iv. Agreement on Coastal Shipping between Bangladesh and India

v. Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade (renewal)

vi. Bilateral Cooperation Agreement between Bangladesh Standards & Testing Institution (BSTI) and Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) on Cooperation in the field of Standardization

vii. Agreement on Dhaka-Shillong-Guwahati Bus Service and its Protocol

viii. Agreement on Kolkata-Dhaka-Agartala Bus Service and its Protocol

ix. Memorandum of Understanding between Coast Guards

x. Memorandum of Understanding on Prevention of Human Trafficking

xi. Memorandum of Understanding on Prevention of Smuggling and Circulation of Fake Currency Notes

xii. Memorandum of Understanding between Bangladesh and India and for Extending a New Line of Credit (LoC) of US$ 2 billion by Government of India to Government of Bangladesh

xiii. Memorandum of Understanding on Blue Economy and Maritime Cooperation in the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean

xiv. Memorandum of Understanding on Use of Chittagong and Mongla Ports

xv. Memorandum of Understanding for a Project under IECC (India Endowment for Climate Change) of SAARC

xvi. Memorandum of Understanding on Indian Economic Zone

xvii. Cultural Exchange Programme for the years 2015-17

xviii. Statement of Intent on Bangladesh-India Education Cooperation (adoption)

xix. Agreement between Bangladesh Submarine Cable Company Limited (BSCCL) and Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) for leasing of international bandwidth for internet at Akhaura

xx. Memorandum of Understanding between University of Dhaka, Bangladesh and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, India for Joint Research on Oceanography of the Bay of Bengal

xxi. Memorandum of Understanding between University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh and University of Jamia Milia Islamia, India

xxii. Handing over of Consent Letter by Insurance Development and Regulatory Authority (IDRA), Bangladesh to Life Insurance Corporation (LIC), India to start operations in Bangladesh.

In the same event, the two Prime Ministers unveiled/inaugurated/flagged off the following:

1. Unveiling of Foundation Stone for Construction of Khulna-Mongla Railway line

2. Unveiling of Foundation Stone for Rehabilitation of Kalaura-Shahbajpur section of Bangladesh Railways.

3. Inauguration of Tarapur-Kamlasagar Border Haat

4. Unveiling of Foundation Stone for Bangladesh – India Friendship Building at National Police Academy, Sardah

5. Inauguration of Upgraded Laboratories at BSTI

6. Unveiling of Foundation Stone of Rabindra Bhaban Kuthibari, Shilaidaha

7. Unveiling of Foundation Stone for Construction of Bangladesh – India Friendship Bridge-1 over Feni River

The two Prime Ministers formally flagged off the following bus services between Bangladesh and India:

1. Dhaka-Sylhet-Shillong-Guwahati Bus Service

2. Kolkata-Dhaka-Agartala Bus Service

Prime Minister Modi handed over the following to Prime Minister Hasina:

1. Audio recording of Bangbandhu’s Speech at Brigade Maidan, Kolkata (06 February 1972)

2. DVD of Parliamentary Debate on Land Boundary Agreement

3. Mementos of INS Vikrant

4. Replica of a dredger supplied to Mongla Port

5. Photo and replica of one of the 24 Automatic Weather Stations installed in Bangladesh under the STORM programme

Prime Minister Hasina handed the following to Prime Minister Modi:

1. A photograph of the “Signing Instrument of Surrender 1971”

2. A map indicating the location of SEZs for India

3. A photograph of the model of the Maitree Super Thermal Power Project (2X660 MW) at Rampal.