Modi, Hasina seal pacts: Vaccines to trains, tech to nuclear energy

A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled his roadmap for a shared future with Bangladesh, New Delhi and Dhaka got here up Saturday with a sequence of focused, tangible steps to provide a push to bilateral ties.
Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla quoted Modi — he returned to New Delhi Saturday night time — telling Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina that this go to had given “nayi urja, nayi gati (new vitality, new tempo) to the connection.
Prime Minister Modi on the Bangabandhu Mausoleum Complex on Saturday. (Source: Twitter/@narendramodi)
From creating a nuclear energy plant to frame haats; extra consignments of Covid vaccines to a brand new practice service; from a start-up conclave that may convey collectively entrepreneurs from each international locations to India’s participation within the first-ever air present in Bangladesh in 2022, from cooperation in area to synthetic intelligence — a slew of outcomes masking a number of areas have been listed within the joint assertion issued after the Mod-Hasina bilateral.
According Hasina’s spokesperson Ihasanul Karim, the Bangladesh PM is learnt to have raised the problem of water-sharing of frequent rivers, together with that of the Teesta River, when she mentioned the choice of signing the Teesta water-sharing treaty was taken collectively 9 years in the past and was nonetheless to be carried out.

Karim quoted Prime Minister Modi as replying: “We are committed to a reasonable solution to sharing of water of all the rivers.”
The joint assertion acknowledged this: “She (Hasina) underscored that to alleviate the sufferings and save the livelihoods of millions of people dependent on the Teesta river basin, it is necessary that Bangladesh receives its fair share of the Teesta waters, the draft agreement of which has already been agreed upon by both Governments in January 2011. Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated India’s sincere commitment and continued efforts to conclude this agreement, in consultation with the relevant stakeholders.”
New Delhi continued its deal with well being cooperation gifting 1.2 million Covid vaccine doses. Bangladesh is the most important international recipient of India-made vaccines – 10.2 million doses, together with 3.2 million as a present. Delhi has additionally given 109 life-support ambulances, a few of them particularly meant for Rohingya refugee camps at Cox’s Bazaar.
Both leaders emphasised the significance of “effective border management for ensuring a tranquil, stable and crime-free border”, the joint assertion mentioned. And directed border forces to boost “people-oriented measures for ensuring border security and bring down such death of civilians to zero”.

The Bangladesh aspect reiterated its request for a 1.3-km Innocent Passage – permitting passage of the opposite aspect’s boats with restrictions — by the river route together with River Padma close to Rajshahi District. The Indian aspect gave an assurance that it might think about the request. India requested for completion of border-fencing in all pending sectors on the earliest, starting with the Tripura-Bangladesh sector. Dhaka assured Delhi that it might look into the matter.
Both sides reiterated their sturdy dedication to eliminating terrorism in all its varieties and manifestations. Modi expressed India’s appreciation for the cooperation prolonged by Bangladesh in security-related issues, the joint assertion mentioned.
Recalling that Bangladesh launched its first satellite tv for pc, Bangabandhu Satellite (BS-1) in 2017, Hasina mentioned that the nation would launch its second satellite tv for pc quickly. Both Prime Ministers agreed on additional collaboration and know-how switch in area and satellite tv for pc analysis, the joint assertion mentioned.
Emerging cutting-edge areas of “science, artificial intelligence, peaceful uses of nuclear technology, big data and technology-enabled services in health and education,” have been recognized as new sectors of co-operation. To facilitate additional youth exchanges between the 2 international locations, Modi invited 50 younger entrepreneurs from Bangladesh to go to India and pitch their concepts to enterprise capitalists.
On Rohingya refugees, “Hasina requested India, as a member of the United Nations Security Council, to play a strong role in the early repatriation of the displaced Rohingyas back to Myanmar. India assured its continued support in this regard,” the joint assertion mentioned.
Modi expressed appreciation on the generosity of Bangladesh in offering humanitarian help to the 1.1 million forcibly displaced individuals from the Rakhine State of Myanmar.
Both sides emphasised on the short conclusion of the continued examine on the prospects of coming into right into a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
Modi, who later met Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid, mentioned that India will at all times stand by the progress and growth of Bangladesh as a trustworthy buddy.
Pacts have been signed within the areas of Disaster Management; commerce remedial measures; provide of ICT tools; coaching for a digital service; institution of sports activities amenities.
Both sides additionally inaugurated Mitali Express, a passenger practice service on the Dhaka-New Jalpaiguri-Dhaka route by the Chilahati-Haldibari rail hyperlink and introduced linking the historic highway between Mujibnagar and Nadia.
Earlier within the day, Modi spoke to Matua neighborhood members after providing prayers at their temple in Gopalganj’s Orakandi; visited the mausoleum of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the centuries-old Jeshoreshwari Kali temple.

Secretary Shringla mentioned: “These are not two countries where we just visit each other’s capitals and go back, or have meetings in drawing rooms and go back. These are countries with so much shared history and cultural legacy that we go to different parts of the country.”