Will finish pending projects by next year, India assures Bangladesh

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 19

Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla wound up his two-day dash to Dhaka during which he discussed stepping up exchange of intelligence, sharing of Covid vaccine, possibility of several projects being completed next year and a roadmap for Indian developmental assistance with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and his counterpart Masud Bin Momen.

The importance of the visit can be gauged from the fact that this was Shringla’s first visit since the pandemic broke out. Similarly, Shringla was Hasina’s first overseas visitor since March.

Joint plans for Sheikh Mujib’s centenary

During his visit to Dhaka, Foreign Secretary HV Shringla discussed with PM Sheikh Hasina joint plans to observe Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s birth centenary and the 50th anniversary of Indo-Bangladesh ties. India is likely to release a postage stamp of Sheikh Mujib.

“I had a very satisfactory visit, a very short visit,” Shringla told the media in Dhaka. “When vaccine is developed, friends, partners, and neighbours will get it without any saying… for us Bangladesh is always a priority,” he said.

“The reason is that our PM felt during Covid time there is not much contact, but the relationship (India-Bangladesh) must continue. We must continue to move forward towards our strong bilateral relations and I came primarily to look at that point,” he said.

The Indian side opted to play up the intelligence-sharing angle in view of the dire strait of Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh amidst reports that their poverty was a breeding ground for criminal activity as well as radicalisation. Given India’s sensitivity on Pakistan once again trying to revive its network, this time through the Rohingyas, it was decided to hold a meeting between the two foreign ministers in the near future.

Shringla explained to Hasina the Indian approach to contributing to Bangladesh’s development, including easy loans and possibility of completing several projects such as the Akhaura-Agartala rail link and the Khulna thermal plant on time to the mark the 50th anniversary of Indo-Bangladesh ties. He also spoke on the starting of a cargo ferry service and discussed the plans for an air bubble between the two nations.