New Delhi, June 22 (UNI) India is to open a new consulate in Bangladesh’s Rangpur, start e-medical visa facility for Bangladeshi citizens, and both sides are to begin talks on a bilateral trade agreement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday after holding talks with visiting Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina here.
In his statement after holding bilateral talks with the Bangladeshi PM Sheikh Hasina, PM Modi said that the two sides have drawn up a futuristic vision on green partnership, digital partnership, blue economy, space, and that the bilateral cooperation on these fronts will benefit the youth of the two countries.
He said the Bharat-Bangladesh Maitri Satellite will give new height to the bilateral ties.
“We have kept connectivity, collaboration and commerce at the centre of our cooperation. In the last 10 years we have restored the connectivity of the pre-1965 times. Now we are to focus on digital and energy connectivity, which will give pace to the economy of our countries,” the PM said.
“We are in agreement to begin talks on a CEPA to give heft to our economic relations,“ the PM said, adding that India will support the construction of an inland water container terminal in Bangladesh’s Sirajganj.
Both countries have 54 common rivers connecting them, and both sides have been cooperating in flood management, early warning, drinking water projects, the PM said, adding that they have decided to begin talks at the technical level for renewal of the 1996 Ganga River Water Treaty.
An Indian team will go to Bangladesh to conduct a technical study for conservation and maintenance of the Teesta river, the PM said.
Both sides have held talks for boosting defence cooperation, ranging from defence production to modernisation of their armed forces and also for strengthening cooperation in counterterrorism, and countering extremism and for peace at the border.
He welcomed Bangladesh joining the Indo-Pacific Initiative, and said both sides will continue to cooperate on BIMSTEC and other regional forums.
“We will begin e-medical visas for Bangladeshis for medical treatment in India,” he said.
India is to open a new Assistant High Commission in Rangpur for the benefit of the people in northwest Bangladesh, the PM said.
“Bangladesh is India’s biggest development partner, and we give utmost importance to our ties with Bangladesh,” PM Modi said.
He congratulated PM Sheikh Hasina for giving direction to the vision of Sonar Bangla due to which in 2026 the country is going to become a developing country.
“I have full faith that together we will realise our vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 and Smart Bangladesh 2041,” the PM said.
UNI RN