News Analysis India

Tag: India Bangladesh ties

  • Defence, security key aspects of India-Bangladesh ties: Union Minister Ajay Bhatt

    By PTI

    GUWAHATI: Defence and security are important aspects of bilateral ties between India and Bangladesh with armed forces of both the countries cooperating and coordinating with each other at various levels, Union Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt said here on Tuesday.

    Both India and Bangladesh have highly skilled and professional armies and they cooperate with each other to maintain peace in the Eastern region, Bhatt said while addressing the ‘Swarnim Vijay Varsh’ seminar organised to commemorate 50 years of Bangladesh’s liberation.

    He said armies of both the countries recently conducted joint exercises which helped in bolstering bilateral ties.

    The North-eastern region is regarded as the Gateway to South East Asia under the Act East Policy with a potential for varied employment opportunities and this is a “special reason why the region is like the rising sun for both the countries”, he said.

    India and Bangladesh occupy a special place in the subcontinent with both the countries connected by history, culture, language, a 4096.7-kilometres long border and 54 rivers, he said.

    The two neighbouring nations are considered as pillars of regional cooperation and economic development, the minister said.

    “The relation between the two countries is one that cannot be defined but it is all pervasive with both interlinked by the principles of equality, trust, understanding and partnership,” Bhatt added.

    The Land Boundary Agreement (LBA), signed in 2015 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Dhaka, had further strengthened the ties between India and Bangladesh and led to speedy development and progress in some sectors, the minister said.

    “Both the countries are committed to ensure sustained growth and development while keeping a focus on trade, commerce, cultural ties, agricultural development and security of the region. There is still a long way to go but we will traverse the path together,” he said.

    The two countries are committed to strengthen trade ties and water connectivity will play a major role in this regard with raw materials, tea, machinery, textile, paper and chemicals to be transported using the river route, he said.

    “The strong ties between the two countries will also promote tourism which in turn will help people of both the countries understand the culture and heritage of each other,” the minister added.

    At the seminar, GOC-IN-C, Eastern Command, Lt Gen Manoj Pandey said the seminar was a platform to share ideas, and generate opportunities to further strengthen the relationship between the two countries.

    Joint Secretary in charge of India’s ties with Bangladesh and Myanmar, Ministry of External Affairs, Smita Pant, in her keynote address, said India has made a proud contribution to the liberation of Bangladesh.

    During the pandemic when trade via roadways between the two countries was hampered, railway links were opened to deal with the problem, she said at the seminar organised under the aegis of the Eastern Command and the Gajraj Corps.

    ‘Swarnim Vijay Varsh’ celebration is being undertaken throughout the country to commemorate the 50 years of liberation of Bangladesh with victory in the 1971 war between India and Pakistan.

  • Indian Army to participate in military exercise in Bangladesh from April 4-12

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The Indian Army will participate in a four-nation military exercise in Bangladesh from April 4 to 12 which is being organised to mark the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and 50 years of that country’s liberation war, officials said on Thursday.

    A 30-member Indian Army team comprising officers, junior commissioned officers (JCOs) and soldiers from the Dogra regiment will participate in the exercise ‘Shantir Ogroshena’ (front runner of peace), they said.

    Besides armies of Bangladesh and India, the exercise will be participated by Royal Bhutan Army and Sri Lankan Army, the defence ministry said.

    “The theme of the exercise is ‘Robust Peace Keeping Operations’. Military observers from the US, UK, Turkey, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Singapore will also be in attendance throughout the exercise,” it said.

    The year 2021 marks the 50th anniversary of the liberation of Bangladesh and the birth centenary of Rahman.

    In reflection of close ties, India is also hosting a number of events to mark the 50th anniversary of the 1971 war that led to liberation of Bangladesh.

    Around 93,000 Pakistani troops had surrendered before the joint forces of the Indian Army and the “Mukti Bahini” on December 16, 1971 that paved the way for the birth of Bangladesh.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Bangladesh on March 26 and 27 during which he attended the golden jubilee celebration of independence of that country.

  • India-Bangladesh meet on river water sharing on March 16

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Top officials of the water resources ministries of India and Bangladesh will meet here on Tuesday to discuss issues related to river water-sharing and flood forecast, sources said on Monday.

    The Indian delegation will be headed by Pankaj Kumar, secretary in the Jal Shakti Ministry.

    The Bangladesh side will be headed by senior secretary Kabir Bin Anwar, the sources added.

    The meeting takes place ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Bangladesh later this month.

    Sources said the two sides will discuss water sharing of Manu, Muhuri, Khowai, Gumti, Dudhkumar and Dharla rivers.

    They added that discussions are also expected to take place on withdrawing water from Feni river for the Sabroom town in Tripura.

    Further, talks are also expected on a possible Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for drawing water from the Surma river.

    India and Bangladesh have a robust mechanism in place to address water issues at different levels.

    An Indo-Bangladesh Joint Rivers Commission (JRC) is functioning since 1972.

    It was established with a view to maintain liaison in order to ensure the most effective joint effort in maximising the benefits from common river systems.

    This enables meetings at the ministerial, secretary and at technical experts level.

  • India and Bangladesh charted unique model for cooperation: Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The relationship between India and Bangladesh has withstood the test of time and both countries have charted a unique model for regional cooperation that is quite unparalleled in South Asia, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said on Friday.

    He said that both the countries have been blessed with history, culture, language and above all an ardent belief in freedom, justice and pluralism, and described the commonalities as the “bridge” to a future of peace and prosperity.

    Shringla was speaking at the inaugural function of the third Bangladesh film festival in Kolkata. “India and Bangladesh have together charted a unique model for regional cooperation, quite unparalleled in South Asia,” he said.

    “The India-Bangladesh bilateral relationship has withstood the test of time, and even as the world undergoes great upheaval in the post-pandemic era, our relationship grows from strength to strength,” Shringla said.

    The foreign secretary also mentioned the robust exchanges that both sides had in recent months including his two visits to Dhaka, notwithstanding the coronavirus pandemic. “Cooperation is moving forward inexorably. Our prime minister is looking forward to his visit to Dhaka,” he said.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to travel to Dhaka in March. Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen visited India last month to prepare ground for Modi’s visit to that country. In his address, the foreign secretary referred to the historical bond between the two nations while delving into the Bangladesh liberation war.

    “I say it with great pride that the deep historical bond between our two nations has been etched in golden letters with the blood of our soldiers. It was protected and preserved by the sheer determination of our peoples,” he said.

    “It was the spirit of 1971 that helped free Bangladesh, it was the spirit of 1971 that spurred the India-Bangladesh relationship and it is this same spirit of 1971 that we recognise today as the foundation of the relationship for the years to come,” Shringla added.

    Around 93,000 Pakistani troops had surrendered before the joint forces of the Indian Army and the “Mukti Bahini” on December 16, 1971 that led to the birth of Bangladesh. The year 2021 marks the 50th anniversary of the liberation of Bangladesh, the 50th year of bilateral diplomatic ties as well as the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

    Shringla said the shooting of the biopic on ‘Bangabandhu’ Sheikh Mujibur Rahman began last month in Mumbai. “This year would see a plethora of events in both our countries as well as in third countries, and at the UN headquarters in New York, through which India and Bangladesh will jointly celebrate Mujib Barsho, celebrate the people of Bangladesh and their tireless struggle for ‘Swadhinota’ (freedom) and the golden anniversary of the India-Bangladesh relationship,” he said.