India and Bangladesh sign several MoUs and agreements during Sheikh Hasina’s visit

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Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, paid a State Visit to India from five September to eight September 2022 at the invitation of Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi.

Smt. Hasina held discussions with her counterpart Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on the entire gamut of bilateral cooperation, including political and security cooperation, defence, border management, trade and connectivity, water resources, power and energy, development cooperation, cultural and people-to-people links. They also agreed to collaborate in new areas of cooperation, such as, environment, climate change, cyber security, ICT, space technology, green energy and blue economy.

They further discussed the various aspects of regional and global issues of interest. Keeping in mind the impact of COVID-19 pandemic and the supply chain disruptions due to global developments, the leaders emphasized the need for greater collaboration in the spirit of friendship and partnership for prosperity and development of the region.

The following MoUs and Agreements were signed and exchanged during the visit :

a) MoU between the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India and Ministry of Water Resources, Government of Bangladesh on Withdrawal of Water by India and Bangladesh from Common Border River Kushiyara;
b) MoU between the Ministry of Railways (Railway Board), Government of India and the Ministry of Railways, Government of Bangladesh on Training of Bangladesh Railway Personnel in India;
c) MoU between the Ministry of Railways (Railway Board), Government of India and the Ministry of Railways, Government of Bangladesh on Collaboration in IT systems such as FOIS and other IT Applications for Bangladesh Railway;
d) MoU on Scientific and Technological Cooperation between Council for Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), India and Bangladesh Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (BCSIR), Bangladesh;
e) MoU on Cooperation in the Areas of Space Technology between Newspace India Limited and Bangladesh Satellite Company Limited;
f) MoU between the Prasar Bharti and Bangladesh Television (BTV) on Cooperation in Broadcasting; &
g) MoU between the National Judicial Academy, India and the Supreme Court of Bangladesh on Training and Capacity Building Programme for Bangladesh Judicial Officers in India.

The following were unveiled/announced/released during the visit:

a) Unveiling of Unit-I of Maitree Super Thermal Power Plant, Rampal, Bangladesh;
b) Inauguration of Rupsha railway bridge;
c) Announcement of signing of project management consultancy contracts for Khulna – Darshana railway line and Parbotipur – Kaunia railway line.
d) Presentation of the book containing translation of the historic ‘7th March Speech’ of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 23 Indian and 5 languages of other South Asian countries, by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
e) Announcement regarding offer of 20 broad gauge locomotives to Bangladesh Railway on grant basis.
f) Announcement regarding supply of road construction equipment and machinery to Road and Highways Department, Government of Bangladesh.

Prime Minister Smt. Sheikh Hasina also thanked Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for the warm and generous hospitality of the Government and the people of India. Prime Minister Hasina extended a cordial invitation to Prime Minister Shri Modi to visit Bangladesh and the two Leaders looked forward to continuing interactions at all levels and fora.