Khurshid hands over $50 million grant to Bangladesh
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has emphasised need to find solutions to major bilateral issues, including Teesta water sharing between India and Bangladesh without further delay. Her concern was communicated to visiting External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid when he met her on Sunday. She expects India to take a “progressive view” to solve the complexities involved in Teesta water sharing.
Faced with stiff opposition from West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, New Delhi failed to sign the Teesta agreement when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visited Dhaka in 2011.
Mr. Khurshid said India was making efforts to reduce the number of killings along the India-Bangladesh border to “zero level.”
Bangladesh has been demanding that the BSF use non-lethal weapons to deal with suspected criminals and smugglers. Ms. Hasina said it was only to be expected that there would be problems between neighbouring countries, but they must be addressed.
Mr. Khurshid handed over a cheque of $50 million to Ms. Hasina as the first instalment of a $200-million grant by India.
“I am happy to announce that we are ready now to release the first tranche of $50 million of the total grant of $200 million soon for projects of priority to Bangladesh,” Mr. Khurshid said at a joint press briefing after the second meeting of the India-Bangladesh Joint Consultative Commission (JCC) on Saturday.
Bangladesh Finance Minister A.M.A. Muhith had indicated that the grants would be used for the Padma multipurpose bridge project, as and when they implement the biggest-ever infrastructure project with their own resources. India and Bangladesh signed a $1 billion line of credit in August 2010, of which $200 million was in grants.
Bangladesh Home Minister Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir said Bangladesh and India exchanged lists of convicts and criminals to be handed them over to their respective countries under the extradition treaty signed in January. The two countries signed the much-awaited agreement in Dhaka on January 28.
Keywords: India-Bangladesh relations, bilateral ties, Teesta River water sharing issue, Sheikh Hasina, Salman Khurshid, Indo-Bangla Joint Consultative Commission
Really hope crucial TEESTA agreement gets signed soon, which is
absolutely critical for getting transhipment facility for Northeast
(especially TRIPURA) and cementing ties with KEY neighbour Bangladesh!
We really need to move forward by developing TRIPURA with world class
infrastructures and bring it at par with best of the other Indian
states in the shortest possible time!
Yes - we do have logistical issues in terms of connectivity, tough
terrains - which slowly but surely being overcomed with multiple links
opening up through Bangladesh, Myanmar!
Appreciating TRIPURA Govt and Center on the development works so far,
would request to set higher goals and aim to make TRIPURA the new face
of emerging India!
Funny. Hasina gets aid from India. Then preaches to India about being more
"progressive"! The Bangla PM has already forgotten that India delivered Bangladesh
to her people!
Then she reminds India that it MUST negotiate a railway line access to India's north east
through Bangladesh.
It sounds as if India just plans to build it on Bangla territory without signing for
rights of way and compensation for the same!
India should sign the Teeste river water sharing with Bangaladesh as soon as possible. The West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banergee cannot dictate Indian government regarding international relations with Bangaladesh or any other country. The action of India supercede the objections of West Bengal. I hope the Teeste agreement and the 1974 Land Boundary Agreements will be signed at the time of the visit of Indian President Pranab Mukherjee in March. India is guilty of the undue delay in the ratification of these border issues with Bangaladesh.
India must negotiate to build railway transit lines through Bangladesh for improved and faster connectivity with Indias north eastern states.
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