Bangladesh-India relations model for others in the region: Shringla

The Indian high commissioner in Dhaka says relations between Bangladesh and India have shaped up into a model for others in the region to follow as there is an “immense political will” on both sides to see the relationship grow.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 16 May 2017, 12:14 PM
Updated : 17 May 2017, 12:45 PM

“We are in an enviable position of being a model relationship for the rest of the region to follow,” Harsh Vardhan Shringla said on Tuesday highlighting Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to India.

The Bangladesh Heritage Foundation organised the discussion on the visit which Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said opened a “golden era” in friendship.

Shringla said the last month’s visit was “extremely significant” for the relationship. “Ours is a relationship of ‘Bandhutva’ between two peoples and not just states and institutions.”

He said the implementation of the land and maritime boundary agreements has shown the way forward and “our co-operation is growing from strength to strength”.

This was also manifested in the signing of a record number of agreements and MoUs during the prime minister’s visit. Some 36 instruments have been signed, the highest India has signed with any other country in a single visit.

Of those, 13 agreements were signed with Indian public and private sector companies, which will bring in $10 billion in new investments to Bangladesh in power, energy, logistics, education and medical sectors.

India also promised a $5 billion line of credit, including $500 million for defence purchase.

“Together with the 22 agreements signed during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we can say that almost 60 documents have been signed in a span of two years, which is no small achievement,” Shringla said.

“It demonstrates the breadth and depth of our bilateral relationship and the vast potential which still exists in co-operation.”

Most of these agreements are “new agreements and not merely renewals of existing agreements”, he said.

A road in the heart of Delhi was also named after Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in his memory. Two prime ministers also unveiled the Hindi translation of Bangabandhu’s unfinished memoirs.

A joint statement adopted by the two prime ministers said the “relations between India and Bangladesh are based on fraternal ties and reflective of an all-encompassing partnership based on sovereignty, equality, trust and understanding that goes far beyond a strategic partnership”.