Connectivity, not water, will be Bangladesh’s main focus at official talks during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Dhaka.
“Our main focus of discussion will be connectivity,” Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali said at a press conference yesterday.
Water-sharing is a top priority for Bangladesh as livelihoods, agriculture, fisheries and river salinity depend on it. This year saw the lowest-ever flow recorded in the Teesta River.
“How we can improve connectivity will be discussed at the bilateral talks,” the foreign minister said.
Bangladesh has played an important role in promoting regional connectivity under the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) and the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Regional Cooperation Forum (BCIM), he said.
The Indian prime minister is scheduled to arrive in Dhaka today on a two-day visit at the invitation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, also a member of Modi’s entourage, arrived in Dhaka Friday night and is scheduled to leave today.
About the Teesta water issue, Mahmood Ali said it was an ongoing process and negotiations would continue.
When asked whether he was disappointed that the issue had not been included in bilateral discussions, the foreign minister responded negatively.
“It is an ongoing process … nothing happens overnight. Diplomacy never happens publicly, it always takes place behind the scenes. Many things are happening [about Teesta],” he said.
A Foreign Ministry senior official said Bangladesh would flag its concerns about the water issue. He added that it is expected that it will be reflected in the joint statement. About transit fees, the foreign minister said India had agreed, in principle, to pay transit fees.
Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque said the bilateral trade agreement, which will be renewed during Modi’s visit, had some new features.
Provisions for transit fees and third country export through the facilitated mobility corridor had been included, he said.
This is Modi’s first visit to Dhaka.
During the visit, it is expected that some 20 instruments will be signed in the presence of the two prime ministers.
Instruments of ratification of the Land Boundary Agreement will be exchanged in the presence of the two premiers.
The renewal of the protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade and the protocols on the Dhaka-Shillong and the Kolkata-Agartala bus services agreement will also be signed. A cultural cooperation agreement and a cooperation agreement on the standardisation of products are expected to be signed.
In addition, memorandums of understanding covering cooperation between the two countries’ coastal security forces, human trafficking and the blue economy will be inked.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will receive Modi when he lands in Dhaka at 10am. He will be taken to Savar National Memorial Monument from the airport and will then visit Bangabandhu Memorial Museum.
Modi will meet with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at his place of residence before the beginning of official talks.
The prime ministers of Bangladesh and India will have a tete-a-tete prior to official talks, which will begin in the afternoon at the Prime Minister’s Office. Modi will also attend a state banquet where he will be served vegetarian dishes.
He will visit Dhakeshwari Temple, Ramakrishna Mission and the new Indian chancery complex tomorrow.
He will receive the Friends of Bangladesh Liberation War Award bestowed on former Indian prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee for the latter’s role in the Bangladesh Liberation War from President Abdul Hamid. Modi will then attend a lunch hosted by the president.
BNP Chief Khaleda Zia and leader of the opposition Rawshan Ershad will meet Modi at his place of residence in the afternoon.
He is scheduled to deliver a speech at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the evening.
