India and Bangladesh have entered into 22 agreements in various sectors, today, with Bangladeshi Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina and Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi.
The 22 pacts were signed on a wide range of bilateral partnership between the two countries, which includes energy, defence cooperation and infrastructure.
Modi held extensive discussions with Hasina, after which he announced a USD 4.5 billion credit line for implementation of projects in Bangladesh, in priority sector and an additional line of credit of USD 500 million to to Bangladesh for military supplies. Modi said, it will be driven by the Country.
However, the controversial and much-delayed Teesta-water sharing issue remained unsolved. Stressing that the deal was “important” for India-Bangladesh ties, Modi assured India's commitment to the issue.
He further said, “an early solution can and will be found” to the Teesta water sharing issue.
The statement came in the presence of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who has some reservations on the issue regarding water for the farmers of the state.
The Teesta deal was set to be signed during the former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Bangladesh in September, 2011, but Mamata Banerjee raised objections then.
The Teesta river water is crucial for the farmers of Bangladesh in the leanest period from December to March when the water flow often temporarily comes down to less than 1,000 cusecs from 5,000 cusecs.
Additionally, the two leaders jointly inaugurated a bus service, that will run between Kolkata, Khulna and Dhaka; a new passenger train service from Khulna to Kolkata through Petrapole from the Indian side and Benapole from the Bangladesh side; and a new rail link between Radhikapur and Birol for running goods trains.
India will also finance diesel oil pipeline from Numaligarh-Parbatipur wherein Indian companies will enter into a long-term agreement for supply of high-speed diesel.
PM Hasina said, “Regional cooperation is very, very important for development in South Asia. We both want to make our borders free from criminal activity. We decided to take our bilateral relations to a new high. PM Modi and I agree greater connectivity is important for the region.”
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By Supraja
