7 MoUs to be cleared tonight for signing by Dhaka and New Delhi: FS

Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen has expressed optimism that pre-signing procedures of the planned seven MoUs will be completed by Monday night and will be handed over during bilateral talks between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on Tuesday. 

“These are likely to be finalized tonight,” he told reporters after Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Responding to a question, he said interim water sharing of Kushiyara River is one of them. Earlier, Bangladesh and India finalised the text of a memorandum of understanding (MoU).

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen on Sunday said Bangladesh and India are likely to sign seven bilateral documents on water management, railway, science and technology; and information and broadcasting during  Hasina's India visit.

Jaishankar, who met PM Hasina at her place of residence (ITC Maurya), said he is delighted to meet the Bangladesh Prime Minister

"The warmth and frequency of our leadership level contacts is a testimony to our close neighborly partnership," he tweeted.

The foreign secretary said Bangladesh wants more predictability on “strategic commodities” that Bangladesh needs.

The visit will further strengthen the multifaceted relationship between the two countries, said the Ministry of External Affairs.

A red carpet was rolled out as the Bangladesh premier arrived in New Delhi on a four-day state visit at the invitation of her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.

On arrival at Palam Airport at 11:40am local time (BD time 12:10pm) the premier was received by State Minister for Railways and Textiles of India Darshana Vikram Jardosh and Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Muhammad Imran.

A group of women, clad in colourful saris, danced and played music to greet the Bangladesh leader at the airport.

From the airport Sheikh Hasina drove in a ceremonial motorcade to ITC Maurya, where she will be staying during the visit. The streets along the route were decked with national flags of Bangladesh and India. Portraits of Hasina and Modi were also installed along the way.

The visit is seen as significant amid the Ukraine crisis, global economic downturn and ongoing Covid-19 pandemic as the two South Asian neighbours seek enhanced cooperation to overcome the challenges.

Source - Daily Sun