Hasina-Modi Meeting: Economy, stability to get priority
Regional peace, stability, and economic recovery will be the focus of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during the G20 summit and her meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi.
"It is essential for the welfare of the people of the whole region. We don't want any proxy war in the Indo-Pacific that we have seen in the Middle East and Europe," Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen told journalists at a media briefing at the Foreign Service Academy yesterday.
Hasina is to leave for New Delhi today to attend the Summit as a guest invited by this year's G20 summit president India. She will have a bilateral meeting with Modi this afternoon.
She will address two sessions of the G20 on September 9 and 10.
On the sidelines of the summit, Hasina is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the presidents of the UAE, Argentina, and South Korea, Momen said.
Momen, Prime Minister's Private Sector Industry and Investment Adviser Salman F Rahman, Ambassador at Large Mohammad Ziauddin, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen and other senior officials concerned will accompany her.
The meeting of the world's richest countries is taking place at a time when the whole world is going through economic difficulties, especially in the aftermath of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the pandemic.
For Bangladesh, the Rohingya crisis has been a real headache for the last six years, while climate change is a perennial issue affecting millions.
Momen said Bangladesh wants to be the voice of the Global South at the summit, raising issues of climate change, the Rohingya crisis, food and energy challenges.
"Also, we have made significant achievements in terms of socio-economic development and women empowerment. We have been a leader in the Climate Vulnerable Forum. We want to showcase these achievements at the summit," he said.
"Our prime minister will also call on the global leaders for a solution to the Russia-Ukraine war. We want global stability because the people, especially the women and children, are being affected," he said.
The G20 members are responsible for 80 percent of the carbon emissions but the developing countries suffer due to this. They should take aggressive actions to reduce carbon emissions and help developing countries under the Loss and Damage initiative, which is yet to be operationalised, Momen said.
"We will also discuss safe and rights-based regular migration. They create jobs … ," Momen said.
DHAKA, DELHI TO SIGN 3 MOUs
MoUs on cooperation on agricultural research and education, extension of cultural exchange programme from 2023 to 2025, and on facilitating transactions of Rupee and Taka between the two countries will be signed, Momen said.
The two countries' trade is worth more than $14 billion. Talks are going on for the signing of a comprehensive economic partnership agreement.
India has extended $7.5 billion across three Lines of Credit (LoCs) since 2010 for 46 projects. As of June, only $1.5 billion has been disbursed.
Officials said during the meeting with Modi, Hasina may seek easier terms and conditions for the LoCs, which come with terms such as employment of Indian contractors, and procurement of 65-75 percent raw material from India.
Asked, Momen said Bangladesh always raises these issues and India has made some changes. He said Dhaka will not seek any new LoC.
The minister did not say anything when asked if the Teesta water-sharing issue would be raised.
Teesta water sharing agreement could not be signed despite all preparations made since 2011 due to the opposition from West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
On the Ganges Water Treaty, which is to expire in 2026, Momen said, "We already started making noise about it. In time, we will articulate this."
Asked if Hasina would discuss anything regarding the upcoming elections in Bangladesh, Momen said, "I don't know."
Bangladesh is committed to free and fair elections, he said, adding, "We will welcome if anybody wants to extend any support or recommendations, but we will not entertain any bossing."
He said the Awami League government over the last 14 years worked very hard and believes that the people will vote for the party again.
In the past, there had been many incidents of terrorism, strikes, violence and bombings. People don't want this, he said.
"We have transparent ballot boxes. So the voting will not be in the dark of the night," Momen said, adding that Bangladesh is an independent sovereign country and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is not afraid of any pressure.
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