S Jaishankar calls on Bangladesh PM Hasina as she arrives on 4-day visit | India News
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NEW DELHI: Ahead of the India-Bangladesh summit, foreign minister S Jaishankar called on Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who arrived here on Monday for a four-day visit. The visit will see Hasina and her counterpart Narendra Modi discussing ways to further intensify cooperation in trade, connectivity, capacity building, defence and water sharing.
“The warmth and frequency of our leadership level contacts is a testimony to our close neighbourly partnership,” tweeted Jaishankar after his meeting with Hasina. According to Bangladesh authorities, seven MoUs are likely to be signed during the visit covering areas like water management, science and technology, railway, law, information and broadcasting among others.
Trade will be a major focus area for both countries with official sources underlining that in 2021-22, Bangladesh had emerged as the largest trading partner for India in south Asia and fourth largest export destination for India. “India is the second biggest trade partner of Bangladesh. It is also the largest export market of Bangladesh in Asia,” said an official.
With the operationalisation of the Haldibari (India) – Chilahati (Bangladesh) rail link, five out of six pre-1965 rail links have been revived between India and Bangladesh. Both sides are also constructing the Akhaura – Agartala rail link.
“Inland water connectivity between two sides have also been strengthened with both sides signing the 2nd Addendum to the Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade in May, 2020. Trade through protocol routes is cost effective and an environmentally cleaner mode of transportation. Both sides are accordingly undertaking dredging of certain routes in Bangladesh to improve navigability,” said the official.
“The warmth and frequency of our leadership level contacts is a testimony to our close neighbourly partnership,” tweeted Jaishankar after his meeting with Hasina. According to Bangladesh authorities, seven MoUs are likely to be signed during the visit covering areas like water management, science and technology, railway, law, information and broadcasting among others.
Trade will be a major focus area for both countries with official sources underlining that in 2021-22, Bangladesh had emerged as the largest trading partner for India in south Asia and fourth largest export destination for India. “India is the second biggest trade partner of Bangladesh. It is also the largest export market of Bangladesh in Asia,” said an official.
With the operationalisation of the Haldibari (India) – Chilahati (Bangladesh) rail link, five out of six pre-1965 rail links have been revived between India and Bangladesh. Both sides are also constructing the Akhaura – Agartala rail link.
“Inland water connectivity between two sides have also been strengthened with both sides signing the 2nd Addendum to the Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade in May, 2020. Trade through protocol routes is cost effective and an environmentally cleaner mode of transportation. Both sides are accordingly undertaking dredging of certain routes in Bangladesh to improve navigability,” said the official.
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