India, Bangladesh are constructive partners, says Quader

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader has said India and his country are ‘constructive partners’ and the relations are ‘at a high” under Prime Minister Narendra Modi despite a regime change in New Delhi.

According to him, the long-pending disputes between the two countries including border demarcation and river-water sharing are going to be solved.

“The existing relations between Bangladesh and India are very cooperative. The change of regime (in Delhi) has not affected our relations, which continue to be friendly,” he said on Sunday.

“The Narendra Modi government has been positive about solving unresolved issues like the implementation of the Land Border Agreement 1974. As for the Teesta water-sharing agreement, Mamata Banerjee, who initially had differences, is now sounding positive,” he added.

He said she was going to Dhaka in February to attend International Mother Language Day celebrations there and that it was a step towards the implementation of the treaty.

“Discussions on the exchange of enclaves are proceeding satisfactorily. Hence, the relations between the two nations are one of constructive partnership and very cooperative. It is going to improve further in the coming days,” he said.

Quader, accompanied by the Indian High Commissioner in Bangladesh Pankaj Saran, met Tripura Transport Minister Manik De and other officials at the Agartala Integrated Check Post (ICP).

They discussed better connectivity through the construction of a four-lane highway from the Ashuganj river port to Agartala ICP.

Quader said, “We are looking at how the work can be expedited, as we have already decided to build the road. The report is with our foreign ministry and the final decision will be taken soon.”

The minister said Bangladesh had already proposed to India for the construction of a 51-km, four-lane highway linking the Ashuganj river port and the Akhaurha land port.

He said India was likely to fund the project.

“The estimated cost of building the road will be around Tk 16.08 billion, of which we are expecting Tk 15.73 billion in aid from India and Bangladesh will provide Tk 350 million for land acquisition,” Quader said.

The construction of the road will not only improve connectivity but also people-to-people and government-to-government contacts, he felt.

De, the Tripura transport minister, expressed similar sentiments.

He said the relations between India and Bangladesh were better now and could further improve with better connectivity, trade, mutual co-operation, and people-to-people contact, while conflicts could be resolved through discussions.

“Both the India and Bangladesh governments are trying to improve relations through trade, cultural exchange and other ways, and we are holding open talks.

“Some of the pending issues have been discussed to resolve them. I feel these are very positive things. We had detailed discussions to hasten work and overcome hurdles,” said De.

Work was also in progress on India's long-pending demand for access to the Chittagong port and transit through Bangladesh for the people of India’s northeast regions.

Tripura has an 856-km border and is surrounded by Bangladesh on three sides.

The first border haat (market) with Bangladesh was inaugurated at Srinagar in South Tripura district earlier this month. The second is coming up soon along the Kasba-Kamalasagar border.