A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled his roadmap for a shared future with Bangladesh, New Delhi, and Dhaka signed a slew of targeted and tangible agreements to bolster the bilateral ties.

In a joint statement issued after PM Modi’s visit to Bangladesh, the two sides signed five memorandum of understandings (MOUs), which range from sending more consignments of Covid vaccines to new train service, from developing a nuclear power plant to border haats, from a start-up conclave that will bring together entrepreneurs from both countries to India’s participation in the first-ever air show in Bangladesh in 2022, from cooperation in space to artificial intelligence.

Cooperation in Public Health

India continued its focus on bringing the world back to health by gifting 1.2 million Covid vaccine doses to Bangladesh. The neighboring country is the largest recipient of India-made vaccines – 10.2 million doses, including 3.2 million as a gift. Furthermore, India has also given 109 life-support ambulances, some of them specifically meant for Rohingya refugee camps at Cox’s Bazaar. The Bangladesh side also requested India for greater mutual cooperation focusing on training, capacity building, and technology transfer. 
 
Water Resources Cooperation

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina reiterated Bangladesh’s long-pending request for concluding the interim agreement on the sharing of the waters of the Teesta river. She underscored that to alleviate the sufferings and save the livelihoods of millions of people dependent on the Teesta river basin. Prime Minister Narendra Modi acting swiftly reiterated India’s sincere commitment and continued efforts to conclude this agreement, in consultation with the relevant stakeholders. 

The two leaders directed their respective Ministries of Water Resources to work towards an early conclusion of the Framework of Interim Agreement on sharing of waters of six common rivers, namely, Manu, Muhuri, Khowai, Gumti, Dharla and Dudhkumar.

Connectivity for Prosperity

Both Prime Ministers reiterated the importance of enhancing connectivity for facilitating regional economic integration for the benefit of all the parties involved. India expressed gratitude for Prime Minister Hasina’s initiative of revitalizing the pre-1965 rail connectivity. In the same spirit, Bangladesh reiterated its eagerness to partner in the ongoing initiative of the India – Myanmar - Thailand trilateral highway project. To facilitate better connectivity and simplify the movement of passengers and goods between both the countries  agreed to an early operationalization of the BBIN Motor Vehicles Agreement.

Trade for Growth

To enhance trade between the two countries, both Prime Ministers underscored the need for the removal of non-tariff barriers. Both sides discussed the provisions of the new Customs rules, in the event of a conflict between a provision of these rules and rules of origin of a trade agreement. Further, for bilateral trade to flourish, both leaders stressed the need for predictability of trade policies, regulations and procedures.

 Both Prime Ministers stressed the urgent need for up-gradation of infrastructure and facilities of the Land Customs Stations (LCSs) / Land Ports in a coordinated manner to facilitate trade between the two countries.
 
Border Management and Security Cooperation

The two sides emphasized the importance of “effective border management for ensuring a tranquil, stable and crime-free border”, the joint statement stated. And directed border forces to enhance “people-oriented measures for ensuring border security and bring down such death of civilians to zero”.

In response to deepening existing defence cooperation between the two countries, both Prime Ministers emphasized on the frequent exchange of programs and enhancing cooperation in training and capacity building.