CONTEXT:
Recently, India and Bangladesh have held a virtual summit covering comprehensive discussions on all aspects of bilateral relations and exchanged views on regional and international issues.
MAIN POINTS:
- Sealed seven agreements to expand cooperation in diverse areas viz. hydrocarbons, elephant conservation, sanitation, and agriculture, and restored a cross-border rail link which was in operation till 1965.
- Inaugurated a digital exhibition on Mahatma Gandhi and Bangladesh’s founder, Sheikh Mujibur Rehman. Reiterating the highest priority India attaches to Bangladesh under India’s Neighbourhood First policy, India assured that vaccines for Covid-19 would be made available to Bangladesh as and when produced in India.
- India also offered collaboration in therapeutics and partnership in vaccine production.
- Bangladesh appreciated India’s conducting capacity building courses for medical professionals in Bangla language.MJointly unveiled a commemorative postal stamp issued by the Government of India on the occasion of birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
- India thanked Bangladesh for issuing a stamp in honour of Mahatma Gandhi on the occasion of his 150th birth anniversary celebrations.
- Bangladesh requested India to consider Bangladesh’s proposal to name the historic road from Mujib Nagar to Nodia on Bangladesh-India border as “Shadhinota Shorok” commemorating the historic significance of the road during Bangladesh’s Liberation War.
BORDER MANAGEMENT AND SECURITY COOPERATION:
- Agreed to hold an early meeting of the Joint Boundary Conference to prepare a new set of strip maps with a view to finalizing the delineation of the boundaries.
- It was agreed to carry out necessary work to convert the International Boundary along Kuhsiyara river into a fixed boundary.
- Kuhsiyara river (known as Barak river in India) is one of the transboundary rivers between India-Bangladesh.
- Bangladesh reiterated the request for 1.3 km Innocent Passage through river route along River Padma (main channel of Ganga in Bangladesh) near Rajshahi district (Bangladesh). India assured to consider the request.
- Stressed on the full implementation of the ongoing Coordinated Border Management Plan.
- Expressed satisfaction on efforts against smuggling of arms, narcotics and fake currency and to prevent trafficking, particularly of women and children.
- Directed officials to expeditiously conclude the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the area of disaster management cooperation as both countries are prone to frequent natural disasters.
- Bangladesh requested for early implementation of India’s commitment to remove remaining restrictions on entry/exit from land ports in India for Bangladeshis travelling on valid documents in a phased manner.
SOURCE: PIB