With an eye on GenNext, India, Bangladesh to enhance ties in IT, space

Taking next important steps to strengthen their bilateral ties, India and Bangladesh have signed seven pacts in areas ranging from of railways, science and technology to space technology and broadcasting and focused on deepening connect between the younger generation of the two countries.

The pacts were signed in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina in New Delhi on September 6.

In an important step to intensify their cooperation in shared water resources, India and Bangladesh signed a memorandum of understanding on sharing of waters of Kushiyara river, a pact that will benefit people residing in southern Assam and the Sylhet division of Bangladesh. “Today, we have signed an important agreement on sharing water of the Kushiyara river. This will benefit southern Assam in India and Sylhet region in Bangladesh,” Mr. Modi told reporters after the talks with Ms. Hasina. He said there were 54 rivers that pass through the Indo-Bangladesh border, and have been linked to the livelihood of the people of the two countries for centuries. “These rivers, folk tales about them, folk songs, have also been witness to our shared cultural heritage,” Mr. Modi said.

“I recall that the two countries have resolved many issues in the spirit of friendship and cooperation. We hope that all outstanding issues, including Teesta water sharing agreement, will be concluded as an early date,” Ms. Hasina said at a joint media interaction at the Hyderabad House. “There are 54 rivers. As long as Prime Minister Modi is here, India and Bangladesh will resolve all these issues,” she said.

In a significant step, Mr Modi announced the decision to start discussions on the Bilateral Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, which can be a game-changer for transforming and upgrading economic ties which are already on an upward trajectory. “With the expansion of connectivity between our two countries, and the development of trade infrastructure on the border, the two economies will be able to connect more with each other, support each other,” he said. India is the largest market in Asia for Bangladesh’s exports.

The two sides also focused on enhancing cooperation in sectors like IT, space and nuclear energy, with a view to connecting younger generations of the two countries.

India’s assistance in mitigating energy crisis in the neighbouring country was crystallised in the unveiling of the first unit of Maitree Thermal Power Plant, which will increase the availability of affordable electricity in Bangladesh.

Against the backdrop of rise in extremism in Bangladesh, the two sides stressed on enhancing cooperation against terrorism and radicalism.

In realizing the vision of a stable, prosperous and progressive Bangladesh that Bangabandhu had seen, India will continue to walk step by step with Bangladesh, PM Modi assured her Bangladeshi counterpart.

Author Profile

Manish Chand

Manish Chand is Founder-CEO and Editor-in-Chief of India Writes Network (www.indiawrites.org) and India and World, a pioneering magazine focused on international affairs. He is CEO/Director of TGII Media Private Limited, an India-based media, publishing, research and consultancy company.