Post COVID-19, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is leaving on a two day take a look at to Dhaka (March 26-27, 2021). This is his initially take a look at overseas immediately after the international pandemic lockdown. According to the foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, “Prime Minister Modi will hold talks with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and will travel across the length and breadth of Bangladesh.” Several agreements and MoUs involving the two nations are anticipated to be inked. “We are still in the process of firming up the agreements, to be signed during the visit,” the foreign secretary told the media.
Besides PM Modi, other heads of state and government from Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and the Maldives will be amongst the foreign guests to join Bangladesh in its celebrations of 50 years of the country’s independence and the birth centenary of its founder ‘Bangabandhu’ Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Places PM Modi will take a look at
To spend homage to the martyrs at the National Memorial in Savar.
To spend tribute to Bangladesh’s founding father at the Bangabandhu Museum at Dhanmondi 32.
Two Hindu temples positioned outdoors Dhaka – one in Gopalganj and in southwestern Satkhira. These are temples exactly where the Hindu Matua Community goes to worship.
Teesta water sharing
In response to a media query, the foreign secretary reiterated India’s commitment to conclude the Teesta Agreement. According to him, “It is an important issue and will be discussed. We are interested in concluding the Teesta Agreement. There are a large number of rivers and Teesta is only one of them.”
Recently the two nations through the water sources secretary-level meeting met and have agreed to expand cooperation in difficulties relating to water sources.
What is the Teesta Water Issue?
There are 56 rivers that flow involving India and Bangladesh. And it is not just about the flow of water. The difficulties involve the water flows getting employed for drinking and irrigation purposes. And the two nations are producing efforts to resolve this amicably.
The Teesta River flows by way of Sikkim ahead of getting into West Bengal. And, then, ultimately merges with the Brahmaputra in Assam and then the Jamuna in Bangladesh.
Last December, through their virtual summit Prime Minister Hasina had raised the matter with PM Modi. Why? Because it has turn into a contentious situation in Dhaka’s domestic politics and In India, water is a state topic and the matter has to be resolved immediately after discussions with the State Government ahead of the matter can be resolved.
Read: India, Bangladesh ink 7 agreements Connectivity and power cooperation best agenda
Bangladesh & BRI
“Bangladesh continues to be India’s `closest neighbour’. The ties the country has entered a `golden era’,” stated the foreign secretary.
He was responding to a query on Bangladesh getting component of China’s Belt and Road initiative. And, also the reality that Dhaka is keen to be component of the Indo-Pacific initiative.
Enhanced Connectivity with Bangladesh
India is organizing to get Bangladesh below the umbrella of Indo-Pacific Cooperation and towards this finish has been focusing on enhancing connectivity with Bangladesh.
Read: Neighbourhood First: India and Bangladesh to operationalise route 9 and 10, superior connectivity to improve trade
Recently, PM Modi and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina practically inaugurated the ‘Maitri Setu’. This will assistance in connecting the landlocked Northeast to get an simple access to the Chittagong Port of Bangladesh.
As has been reported earlier, this 1.9-km bridge, which is constructed more than the Feni River, will connect Tripura with Bangladesh. And, on the Indian side, this bridge will be connected with an integrated verify post on the land border involving Sabroom in India and Ramgarh in Bangladesh.
Other connectivity projects that are higher on the priority list involve the Asian Highway Network routes (AH-1 and 2). This will connect the two nations at the Petrapole-Benapole, Fulbari-Banglabandha and Dawki-Tamabil points. And, the rail hyperlink involving Akhaura (Bangladesh) and Agartala (India).