New Delhi: Bangladesh on Monday promised not to
allow its territory to be used for terror against India as
they signed three agreements to jointly combat the menace
while India announced a one-billion dollar line of credit to
that country.
The significant Line of Credit offered by Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh during talks with his Bangladesh counterpart
Sheikh Hasina marked the highest one-time grant by India to
any country.
India decided to give 250MW of power to Bangladesh from
the Central grid while they signed a power-sharing agreement.
New Delhi sought to address Dhaka's concerns with regard
to non-tariff barriers by agreeing to remove these on more
items and assured that India will not take any step on
Meghalaya-based Tapaimukh dam which would hurt Bangladesh's
interests.
At the wide-ranging talks here between Singh and Hasina,
the two sides reached a number of decisions to revive the
traditional links of connectivity, which included
Akhaura-Agartala railway line.
The discussions covered the entire gamut of bilateral
ties, with particular focus on terrorism, security,
connectivity, trade and investment, border-related issues and
sharing of water and power resources.
During the discussions, Hasina told Singh that her
government will not allow Bangladesh to be used for terrorism
directed at India, an assurance aimed at addressing a major
concern here about North East insurgents taking shelter there.
The two leaders discussed ways in which the countries
could cooperate in checking the menace of terrorism.
Speaking at a Banquet hosted in her honour by Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh, the visiting leader emphasised that
"serious cooperation" between the two countries was
essential in countering terrorism.
Bangladesh, she said, was committed to eliminating "all
forms of terrorism from within its territory".
The Banquet was attended by Congress President Sonia
Gandhi, Union Ministers Pranab Mukherjee, P Chidambaram, S M
Krishna, Mamata Banerjee, Anand Sharma, Leader of the
Opposition Sushma Swaraj, Congress General Secretary Rahul
Gandhi, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and other
dignitaries.
Warmly praising the Bangladesh leader, Singh said her
life was an inspiration to those who cherish freedom and
independence. "We meet today as two vibrant and equal
democracies," he said.
Assuring Hasina that relations with Bangladesh was the
"highest priority" for India, Singh underlined there was very
little that divided the two countries and much that united
them.
Responding to his remarks, Hasina said, "the blood of
over 18,000 valiant Indians, mingled with the millions of our
own, culminated in Bangladesh's Independence, and laid the
basis of our special friendship."
Referring to the issue of river waters, Hasina said that
her country needed a guaranteed flow of water throughout the
year and to ensure that such a regular flow of Ganges water,
the two countries had signed the historic 30-year-old Ganges
Treaty of 1996.
"With the same spirit, we need to enter into treaties on
water sharing of river Teesta and other common rivers. On this
very important issue, I request for your support in arriving
at mutual agreements," she said.
Agreements signed and decisions taken today were very
significant achievements, she said, adding commendable was the
progress on long pending issues particularly on land
boundaries.
Hasina also invited Singh to visit Bangladesh.
PTI
First Published: Monday, January 11, 2010, 23:46