Bangladesh Prime Minister(PM) H.E.Sheikh Hasina made a two-day state visit to India from 21st to 22nd June ,2024 and She was the first state guest hosted by India after the formation of the new government.
- This was the 3rd consecutive time India and Bangladesh partnered and established bilateral ties with each other.
- It included signing of 10 Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs), including seven new and three renewals. Three of the new MoUs were vision documents in the area of digital partnership, green partnership and blue economy.
- Thirteen announcements were also made including e-visa for Medical Patients from Bangladesh and opening of a new Indian consulate in Rangpur in Bangladesh.
MoUs signed between India and Bangladesh:
Shared Vision for India-Bangladesh Digital Partnership:
i.The main aim of the MoU is to boost collaboration in emerging technologies and digital economies.
ii.Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh Masood Bin Momen and India’s Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra carried out the exchange of documents.
Shared Vision on the India-Bangladesh Green Partnership:
i.The MoU was signed with a focus on environmental initiatives and sustainable development goals and strengthen existing cooperation in renewable energy and environmental sustainability.
ii.The MoU was signed in the presence of Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh Masood Bin Momen and India’s Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra.
MoU exchanged on Maritime Cooperation and Blue Economy:
i.Bangladesh is a key part of India’s SAGAR doctrine and the Indo-Pacific vision.
ii.The objective of the MoU is to strengthen ties in maritime security and cooperation and exploring opportunities in the blue economy sector.
iii. Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh Masood Bin Momen and India’s Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra carried out the exchange of documents.
MoU for Cooperation on Health and Medicine:
i.An MoU for Cooperation on Health and Medicine was renewed, showing the ongoing collaboration in healthcare between the two nations.
ii.The MoU was renewed in the presence of Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh Masood Bin Momen and India’s Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra.
MoU between In-SPACe and Bangladesh’s Ministry of ICT and Telecom:
i.An MoU between Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (In-SPACe) and Bangladesh’s Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Telecom was signed with an aim to enhance cooperation in space technology and satellite communication.
- This includes partnering in joint development of a small satellite for Bangladesh and its launch using an Indian launch vehicle.
ii.It was signed by Chairman and CEO of Bangladesh Satellite Company Ltd, Shahjahan Mehmood and India’s Secretary Department of Space, S Somnath.
MoU between the Ministry of Railways (India) and Bangladesh’s Ministry of Railways:
i.The MoU focuses on enhancing railway connectivity and providing smoother cross-border transportation.
ii.The MoU was exchanged by Military Personnel of Bangladesh, Major General Mohamed Humayun Kabir and Chairperson of the Railway Board of India, Jaya Sinha.
MoU for Cooperation in Oceanography:
i.An MoU for Cooperation in Oceanography was signed Bangladesh Oceanographic Research Institute (BORI) and India’s National Institute of Oceanographic (NIO) under Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
ii.The aim of the MoU is to promote joint research and exploration in ocean sciences.
iii.It was signed by the High Commissioner of Bangladesh to India, Mohammed Mustafizur Rahman and High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh, Pranay Verma.
MoU between NDMA (National Disaster Management Authority, India) and Bangladesh’s Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief:
i.An MoU between the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and Bangladesh’s Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief was renewed to strengthen disaster management strategies and resilience efforts.
ii.It was signed by the High Commissioner of Bangladesh to India, Mohammed Mustafizur Rahman and High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh, Pranay Verma.
MoU for Cooperation in Fisheries:
i.India and Bangladesh renewed their MoU on the cooperation in Fisheries to continue their joint efforts in sustainable fisheries management and aquaculture.
ii. It was signed and renewed by the High Commissioner of Bangladesh to India, Mohammed Mustafizur Rahman and High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh, Pranay Verma.
MoU between DSSC (Defence Services Staff College, Wellington) and DSCSC (Defence Services Command and Staff College, Mirpur):
i.An MoU was signed between Defence Services Staff College (DSSC) Wellington and Defence Services Command and Staff College (DSCSC) Mirpur that will enhance military education and strategic studies cooperation, exchanged in the field of defense.
ii.It was signed by Lieutenant General Mizanur Rahman Shameem, Principal Staff Officer, Armed Forces Division, Bangladesh and Pranay Verma, High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh.
Major Announcements and Upcoming Projects:
i.India will be starting e-medical visa facility for the people of Bangladesh who come to India for medical treatment.
ii.India is planning to open a new Assistant High Commission in Rangpur, Bangladesh in order to provide facilities to the northwest region of the country.
iii.PM Modi announced to resume the cross-border train service between Rajshahi, Bangladesh and Kolkata, India after a gap of 77 years.
- This will be the 4th international train between India and Bangladesh after Kolkata-Dhaka ‘Maitree Express’, Kolkata-Khulna ‘Bandhan Express’ and New Jalpaiguri-Dhaka ‘Mitali Express’.
iv.A new bus service has also been announced to operate between Chittagong and Kolkata.
v.Goods train services between Gede-Darsana and Haldibari-Chilahati upto Dalgaon will be commenced as per the announcement made by PM Modi.
vi.India will assist in constructing an Inland Container Depot (ICD) at Sirajganj.
vii.A 40 Mega Watt (MW) of power will be exported from Nepal to Bangladesh through Indian grid.
viii. The Ganga Water Treaty is an important agreement between India and Bangladesh, signed on December 12, 1996, is due for renewal in 2026. Thus, a joint technical committee will be formed to discuss upon the renewal of the Ganga Water Treaty.
ix.An Indian technical team will be visiting to Dhaka to discuss upon the conservation and management of Teesta River.
x.350 training slots will be allotted to the Bangladeshi police officers.
xi.The Muktijoddha Scheme for medical patients will have an upper ceiling of Rs 8 lakh per patient.
xii. Bangladesh decided to join the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) of India during the bilateral meeting which is a collaborative approach among stakeholders to address shared challenges.
xiii. A commercial agreement has been signed between National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and Bangladesh Bank to launch the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) in Bangladesh.
About Bangladesh:
Prime Minister(PM) – H.E.Sheikh Hasina
Capital – Dhaka
Currency – Bangladeshi Taka
