Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's Bangladesh visit had been affected the opposition to the proposed Teesta River water distribution agreement. Annoyed with it, Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina rejected the Feni River agreement, and has brought the very package of water distribution under question. Notwithstanding all this, the signing of 10 agreements on the very first day of Manmohan's visit is testimony that the two countries desire to come closer to each other, and want to get the water dispute resolved amicably.
Resolution of the boundary dispute between the countries is a great achievement of Dr. Singh's Dhaka visit. Under the agreement, both countries have agreed to demarcate their boundaries on the basis of give-and-take of 162 enclaves. To acquiesce Bangladesh, which was annoyed with the impasse over the Teesta agreement, India allowed the entry of 61 manufactured goods from Bangladesh into India as duty free. The Indian prime minister also announced to grant transit facilities to Bangladeshi citizens from the "Teen Bigha" corridor. The corridor would now remain open 24 hours a day for movement.
Strategic Partnership in Various Sectors
The 10 agreements signed relate to mutual cooperation, preparing a framework for development, declaring Sunderban a protected area, protecting Royal Bengal tigers, fisheries, protection of cattle, audio-visual media, cooperation between the University of Dhaka and New Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University, cooperation between institutes of fashion technologies in the two countries, and other areas. Common civilization and history have a significant role in mutual relations of the two countries, yet for Bangladesh it is of greater significance that at present, India is one of those developing countries, the economy of which is growing at a very fast pace, and Bangladesh can derive immense benefit from strategic partnership in various sectors, including science and technology, with India.
In Bangladesh, water is of greater significance because of the country's geographical location. That is why there were great expectations in India on the Teesta agreement prior to the prime minister's Dhaka visit. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Bannerjee termed the agreement against the interests of people of her state, and objected to it. She even refused to accompany the prime minister to Dhaka. It was after that the government had to clarify that any decision on the agreement would be made only after a detailed discussion. The Teesta water agreement was, therefore, kept aside, which clearly greatly dismayed Bangladesh. It was in this backdrop that on the eve of Manmohan Singh's Dhaka visit, the Bangladesh Foreign Office sent for India's High Commissioner to Bangladesh to express dismay on the issue, and demanded a clarification. Bangladesh, on the other hand, put aside the Fenni water agreement.
Expressing its annoyance, Bangladesh did not agree to permit India to use its territory for trade purposes. All this makes it clear that India's strategic and trade interests have been jeopardized. Yet, it is a matter of satisfaction that of the 10 agreements signed between the countries, the agreement on border dispute is the most significant. This makes it clear that there is desire to resolve all issues wisely and discreetly. In view of this, the prime minister's Dhaka visit assumes even greater importance.
Agreements Signed
Resolution of the boundary dispute between the countries is a great achievement of Dr. Singh's Dhaka visit. Under the agreement, both countries have agreed to demarcate their boundaries on the basis of give-and-take of 162 enclaves. To acquiesce Bangladesh, which was annoyed with the impasse over the Teesta agreement, India allowed the entry of 61 manufactured goods from Bangladesh into India as duty free. The Indian prime minister also announced to grant transit facilities to Bangladeshi citizens from the "Teen Bigha" corridor. The corridor would now remain open 24 hours a day for movement.
Strategic Partnership in Various Sectors
The 10 agreements signed relate to mutual cooperation, preparing a framework for development, declaring Sunderban a protected area, protecting Royal Bengal tigers, fisheries, protection of cattle, audio-visual media, cooperation between the University of Dhaka and New Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University, cooperation between institutes of fashion technologies in the two countries, and other areas. Common civilization and history have a significant role in mutual relations of the two countries, yet for Bangladesh it is of greater significance that at present, India is one of those developing countries, the economy of which is growing at a very fast pace, and Bangladesh can derive immense benefit from strategic partnership in various sectors, including science and technology, with India.
In Bangladesh, water is of greater significance because of the country's geographical location. That is why there were great expectations in India on the Teesta agreement prior to the prime minister's Dhaka visit. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Bannerjee termed the agreement against the interests of people of her state, and objected to it. She even refused to accompany the prime minister to Dhaka. It was after that the government had to clarify that any decision on the agreement would be made only after a detailed discussion. The Teesta water agreement was, therefore, kept aside, which clearly greatly dismayed Bangladesh. It was in this backdrop that on the eve of Manmohan Singh's Dhaka visit, the Bangladesh Foreign Office sent for India's High Commissioner to Bangladesh to express dismay on the issue, and demanded a clarification. Bangladesh, on the other hand, put aside the Fenni water agreement.
Expressing its annoyance, Bangladesh did not agree to permit India to use its territory for trade purposes. All this makes it clear that India's strategic and trade interests have been jeopardized. Yet, it is a matter of satisfaction that of the 10 agreements signed between the countries, the agreement on border dispute is the most significant. This makes it clear that there is desire to resolve all issues wisely and discreetly. In view of this, the prime minister's Dhaka visit assumes even greater importance.
Agreements Signed
The following agreements were signed during Manmohan Singh's Dhaka trip:
1. Framework Agreement on Cooperation for Development
2. Protocol to the Agreement concerning the demarcation of the Land Boundary between India and Bangladesh and related matters
3. Addendum to the MOU between India and Bangladesh to facilitate Overland Transit Traffic between Bangladesh and Nepal
4. Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation in Renewable Energy
5. Memorandum of Understanding on Conservation of the Sunderban
6. Protocol on Conservation of the Royal Bengal Tiger of the Sunderban
7. Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Fisheries
8. Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between Doordarshan and Bangladesh Television
9 Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between Jawaharlal Nehru University and Dhaka University
10 Agreement of Cooperation between National Institute of Fashion Design (NIFT), India and BGMEA Institute of Fashion Technology (BIFT), Bangladesh
1. Framework Agreement on Cooperation for Development
2. Protocol to the Agreement concerning the demarcation of the Land Boundary between India and Bangladesh and related matters
3. Addendum to the MOU between India and Bangladesh to facilitate Overland Transit Traffic between Bangladesh and Nepal
4. Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation in Renewable Energy
5. Memorandum of Understanding on Conservation of the Sunderban
6. Protocol on Conservation of the Royal Bengal Tiger of the Sunderban
7. Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Fisheries
8. Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between Doordarshan and Bangladesh Television
9 Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between Jawaharlal Nehru University and Dhaka University
10 Agreement of Cooperation between National Institute of Fashion Design (NIFT), India and BGMEA Institute of Fashion Technology (BIFT), Bangladesh
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