Bangladesh and India yesterday expressed firm optimism about signing of an interim agreement on water sharing of the common rivers Teesta and Feni, and a framework deal on land border during Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Dhaka on September 6-7.
More deals on transit, import of power from India, joint venture power generation, cooperation in security, education, culture, and trade liberalisation, etc are on cards, details of which are being worked out, and both countries are expecting to complete the remaining task before the Indian premier's visit.
Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dipu Moni and Indian External Affairs Minister SM Krishna emerged with identical views on resolving long outstanding issues at a joint media conference in Hotel Sonargaon of Dhaka following an official talk between the two.
Prior to the media conference, Bangladesh and India signed two bilateral documents regarding promotion and protection of agreements, and movement of Bhutanese vehicles between India and Bangladesh land customs stations.
Replying to a question, Dipu Moni said river waters will be shared based on equity and fairness, while the issues of demarcation of 6.5 kilometres of border, transfer of enclaves, and adversely possessed lands will be solved under "a package" in the spirit of 1974 Mujib-Indira Land Boundary Agreement.
On the issue of transit, she said they discussed various initiatives that have been taken by the two sides for passage of goods through Bangladesh to various destinations.
"It is a part of the whole transit issue. We have undertaken an exercise to consider in a holistic manner various issues under this broad heading, including physical infrastructure, customs matters, services, availability of transports, legal issues, environmental consideration, etc," she said.
She informed the media that there will be several smaller protocols under a larger framework, such as the proposed protocol for the use of Mongla and Chittagong ports. "We're trying to come out with that framework under the whole transit issue and work is going on to sign a number of protocols," the Bangladesh foreign minister said adding that the framework of agreement also encompasses Nepal and Bhutan.
However, the Indian external affairs minister said there are some nitty-gritty, which are currently being worked out. "Talks on transit are at the final stage and we will be able to reach an agreement soon," he added.
Dipu Moni said the Joint Rivers Commission nearly finalised the issue of Teesta and Feni waters sharing. "We will be able to sign something during the visit of the Indian prime minister," she said.
She further said there is also satisfactory progress in other water management areas such as construction of river bank protections, repair and maintenance of embankments, and dredging of Ichhamati river. Krishna said water sharing will be beneficial for both countries.
About killing of Bangladeshi civilians by the Indian Border Security Force, Dipu Moni said Dhaka's concern was conveyed to her Indian counterpart during the official meeting.
She said India reassured that the killings at the border will be brought down to zero through a joint border management.
The Bangladesh foreign minister and the Indian external minister both reiterated that no insurgent, extremist or terrorist group will be allowed to use the soil of their respective countries.
Replying to a question about cooperation in the energy sector, Krishna said both countries have made significant forward movement in the power sector cooperation, including establishment of grid connectivity up to 500 MW of power from India to Bangladesh.
He said India will supply 250 MW of that electricity to Bangladesh by the end of 2012 or early 2013 at a preferential rate by which India's largest power producer National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) supplies electricity to Indian states.
The external affairs minister of India responded positively to Bangladesh's request for setting up of a high technology joint venture thermal power plant of 1,320 MW capacity at Khulna, the feasibility report for which has already been completed.
Responding to another question about bilateral trade gap, he said Bangladesh's export to India has increased by 56 percent in the first 10 months of 2010-11 fiscal year, and India wants growth of export from Bangladesh.
Krishna reiterated that under the duty-free quota, India has already increased the volume of export of readymade garments from Bangladesh from 8 million to 10 million pieces.
Source : The Daily Star
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