Advisor Asif announces ‘cancellation’ of 10 Bangladesh-India projects, foreign advisor coy

The foreign advisor has declined to comment on the matter

Local Government Advisor Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain has shared details of the “cancellation” of 10 Bangladesh-India projects and agreements.

Posting a photocard on his verified Facebook page on Sunday, he said: “Discussions on the agreements began after the interim government took office, and the decision was made following a proper review.”

However, Foreign Advisor Touhid Hossain has remained tight-lipped about the matter. When approached by journalists at his office on Monday, he said: “I will not say anything about this today.”

The photocard posted by Asif read, “Ten agreements signed with India during Hasina regime have been cancelled, the rest are also under consideration.”

The advisor shared the information under three categories: the name of the agreement or project, the year it was signed, and the type of decision taken.

In his list, Asif mentioned several Bangladesh-India projects, including the Tripura-Chattogram rail link, Abhaypur-Akhaura railway line expansion, Ashuganj-Agartala corridor, Feni River water management project, road and waterway development linked to port use, Bangladesh’s financial cooperation proposals for Farakka-related projects, Sylhet-Silchar rail link, petroleum pipeline expansion, Indian Economic Zones (Mirsarai and Mongla IEZ), and a tugboat agreement with Indian defence firm Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE).

His photocard also lists the Kushiyara River water sharing project as “suspended”.

Additionally, he noted the reconsideration of the electricity import agreement with Adani Power and the renewal or reconsideration of the Ganges water sharing agreement.

Asif's information says that the Teesta River water-sharing treaty, previously in draft form, is now “under discussion for implementation”.