India and Bangladesh have committed to further cooperation in cutting-edge technologies including atomic energy, oceanography and space technology. The two countries will partner in jointly developing small satellites for Bangladesh and their launch using Indian launch vehicles.
India will extend the e-medical visa facility to Bangladeshis travelling to India for treatment. India has also agreed to open a new Indian High Commission in Rangpur, a step to facilitate speedy consular and visa services to people from northwest Bangladesh.
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Recognising the importance of water resources management in bilateral relations, India will continue to work on prioritising data exchange and developing an interim water resources sharing framework based on the recommendations of the Joint Rivers Commission.
As part of development cooperation, India will also conserve and manage the Tista river in Bangladesh with Indian assistance within a mutually agreed time frame.
During Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's official visit to India, the two countries announced to forge a new paradigm of future-oriented partnership through the 'Shared Vision of India-Bangladesh Digital Partnership' and the 'Shared Vision of India-Bangladesh Green Partnership for a Sustainable Future' in line with their respective broader visions of 'Bhikshit Bharat 2047' and 'Smart Bangladesh Vision 2041'.
A joint statement issued by India and Bangladesh said, “Highlighting the pivotal role of emerging technologies in building an inclusive, sustainable and digitalised society for the greater benefit of our people, in line with our respective broader visions of 'Bharat 2047' and 'Smart Bangladesh Vision 2041', we are forging a new paradigm of future-oriented partnership through the 'Shared Vision of India-Bangladesh Digital Partnership' and the 'Shared Vision of India-Bangladesh Green Partnership for a Sustainable Future'.”
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“These will build a transformative partnership between India and Bangladesh by leveraging green and digital technologies to promote economic growth, sustainable and climate-resilient development, environmental conservation, cross-border digital exchange and regional prosperity. We will also pursue collaboration in cutting-edge technologies including civil nuclear, oceanography and space technology. To this end, we will partner for joint development of small satellites for Bangladesh and their launch using Indian launch vehicles,” he added.
India and Bangladesh announced that they would strengthen their trade and investment ties. They also pledged to encourage and support their private sectors in exploring new investment opportunities in each other's economic development priority areas.
“Resolved to work towards enhancing prosperity for our people, we will strengthen mutual trade and investment linkages through early commencement of Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) negotiations, early operationalisation of the two Special Economic Zones (SEZs) at Mongla and Mirsharai offered by Bangladesh to India, opening of new border harts, trade facilitation to enhance bilateral trade, improving road, rail, air and sea connectivity, and improving trade infrastructure that can translate geographical proximity into new economic opportunities for our people,” the joint statement said.
“We will also encourage and support the private sector to explore new investment opportunities in each other's economic development priority areas,” he added.
The two countries committed to continue expanding power and energy cooperation and developing regional electricity trade, including through supplying competitively priced electricity produced from clean energy projects in India, Nepal and Bhutan through the Indian grid.
India and Bangladesh have agreed to expedite development of Katihar-Parbatipur-Bornagar 765kV high capacity interconnector, with appropriate financial support from India, to serve as the basis for power grid connectivity.
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina arrived in India on June 21 for a two-day state visit at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Newly appointed Minister of State for External Affairs Kirtivardhan Singh received the Bangladeshi Prime Minister at the airport upon her arrival.
This was the first bilateral state visit by Prime Minister Modi since he was sworn in as Prime Minister for a third consecutive term following the Indian Lok Sabha elections. Notably, Sheikh Hasina was among the world leaders who attended Prime Minister Modi's inauguration ceremony on June 9.
On June 22, Prime Minister Modi and Bangladesh Prime Minister Hasina held bilateral and delegation-level talks during Hasina's state visit to India.
“During the wide-ranging discussions, the two leaders recognised that India-Bangladesh partnership, based on deep historical, linguistic, cultural and economic ties, has strengthened over the past decade, inspired by the spirit of common sacrifice of 1971 and guided by new aspirations of the 21st century,” the joint statement said.
“This reflects a comprehensive partnership that goes beyond a strategic partnership, built on shared values ​​and interests, equality, trust and understanding, and rooted in mutual sensitivity to each other's aspirations and concerns,” it added.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina met President Draupadi Murmu at the Presidential House in Delhi on Saturday. She also met Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar at the Vice President's House in Delhi on Saturday.
