Bangladesh, India sign 6 MoUs

Bangladesh and India have signed six memoranda of understanding (MoU) during a bilateral meeting between the foreign secretaries of Bangladesh and India at State Guesthouse Padma in Dhaka.

Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Harsh Vardhan Shringla and officials of different ministries concerned of Bangladesh have signed the MoUs on behalf of their respective sides.

The meeting between Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque and visiting Indian Foreign Secretary Vijay Keshav Gokhale started around 9:00am and continued till 12:20pm.

Six MoUs

A total of six documents were added to a growing list of meaningful agreements signed during the recent visits of PM Modi to Bangladesh and PM Sheikh Hasina to India.

"These include the implementation MoU on the friendship pipeline between Numaligarh and Parbatipur, an MoU on cooperation between Prasar Bharati and Bangladesh BETAR, an MoU for setting up an ICCR Urdu Chair in Dhaka University and an Addendum to the GCNEP-BAEC Interagency Agreement," Indian Foreign Secretary Vijay Keshav Gokhale said today.

"We have also signed 2 more MoUs for grant projects whereby we will set up language labs in 500 schools in Bangladesh and upgrade different roads in Rangpur city. This is part of our endeavour to undertake projects in Bangladesh in various socio-economic sectors, including education, culture, health, community welfare, road infrastructure etc. for which we are providing 1600 crore taka under grant financing," the foreign secretary added.

Indian foreign secy congratulates Bangladesh for LDC graduation

Expressing his pleasure in visiting Bangladesh for the first time, the Indian Foreign Secretary Vijay Keshav Gokhale today congratulated Bangladesh on achieving a very significant milestone in meeting the criteria for graduating from LDC to Developing Country recently.

The foreign secretary also said, "Bangladesh's humanitarian gesture in supporting lakhs of displaced persons from the Rakhine state of Myanmar is admirable," according to a press release.

"India has been fully supportive of the efforts being made to resolve the crisis, including early repatriation of the displaced people. On the part of the Government of India, we had sent relief materials for 300,000 people in September last year under 'Operation Insaniyat' to support Government of Bangladesh in its humanitarian efforts," he added.

The Indian foreign secretary further announced the second phase of humanitarian assistance for the relief camps in Cox's Bazar.

"Under this, medical field hospitals specially focused on women and child care with all necessary medical equipments and support systems are envisaged. Relief supplies including milk powder, baby food, dried fish, cooking stoves and cooking fuel, raincoats and gumboots are also planned," he said.

India wants solution to Rohingya crisis: Bangladesh foreign secy

After the meeting, Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque said, "We had a very good and fruitful meeting today."

All issues including the Rohingya crisis were discussed in the meeting, the secretary said adding, "We are happy as India wants a peaceful solution to Rohingya crisis and also wants to cooperate in this regard."

During a discussion on Teesta water sharing issues, India reiterated its commitment to sign the water-treat agreement as soon as possible, he added.

Later in the day, the Indian foreign secretary will attend a bilateral conclave on India-Bangladesh relations: "Deepening Cooperation and the way ahead" at Sonargaon Hotel.

Gokhale, who came to Dhaka yesterday afternoon for a two-day visit, will call on Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the afternoon.

He is due to depart for New Delhi tomorrow morning.