India, Bangladesh discuss counter terrorism cooperation

India and Bangladesh have reiterated their firm commitment to fight against all forms of terrorism so that both countries can remain peaceful.

“We are satisfied with the cooperation in areas of counter terrorism. Our prime minister has pledged zero tolerance for terrorism.” said Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque after his meeting with India’s National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval in New Delhi.

“We are collaborating with India to establish sustainable peace,” he stated.

A Bangladesh delegation led by Haque called on Doval on Tuesday.

An official privy to the meeting told bdnews24.com that the two sides agreed to continue real time information and intelligence sharing.

Shahidul Haque

The Bangladesh foreign secretary also met India’s water resources ministry’s Special Secretary Amarjit Singh during the day.

On Monday, Md Haque called on his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar in New Delhi.

The Bangladesh foreign secretary was on a two-day bilateral visit to New Delhi at the invitation of his Indian counterpart.

“The meetings were successful. They took place in a cordial and friendly atmosphere; we discussed regional and global issues,” said Md Haque.

He said border issues were also discussed.

Md Haque, during his meeting with Amarjit Singh, raised the issue of the Teesta water sharing deal.

“We discussed all issues related to water resource management. We are optimistic of collaboration in this field,” the visiting Bangladesh foreign secretary said without elaborating further.

Ajit Doval

He also indicated that the Joint River Commission (JRC) between New Delhi and Dhaka would meet soon.

“The Indian side is very positive on JRC,” he said.

JRC between both the countries is supposed to meet annually. But its last meeting was held in New Delhi in 2010.

The meeting is significant for Bangladesh as river-water sharing has been a thorn in its ties with India.

Md Haque said the issue of BBIN collaboration has also been discussed.

“Railway connectivity is also an integral component here,” he said.

He said that the first meeting of the task force on maritime cooperation will take place in Dhaka in the first week of March.

The foreign secretary level meeting between India and Bangladesh on Monday took stock of the joint declaration issued during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bangladesh visit in June last year.

“The progress is really satisfactory,” Md Haque said.

Twenty-two agreements were signed and exchanged during Modi’s first visit to Bangladesh after he became India’s prime minister.