During his one-day visit to Bangladesh on Thursday, Indian External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar highlighted the importance of Bangladesh to India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy, to which his counterpart AK Abdul Momen replied that India is Bangladesh’s “most important neighbour.”
In particular, Jaihankar discussed enhancing cross-border connectivity with Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina and Foreign Minister Momen. However, he also set the base for Hasina’s upcoming visit to New Delhi.
According to PM Hasina’s spokesperson, Ihsanul Karim Hasina, the Bangladeshi leader offered India’s northeastern states, such as Assam and Tripura, access to the Chittagong Port.
Positive discussions with Bangladesh FM Dr. A.K. Abdul Momen.
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) April 28, 2022
Agreed that our close neighbourly partnership is progressing steadily. Our shared endeavour would be to take it forward.
Looking forwed to hosting him for the Joint Consultative Commission. pic.twitter.com/ehw5LROql3
She also discussed initiatives to revive cross-border routes that were shut down during the 1965 India-Pakistan war, at which time Bangladesh was known as East Pakistan, before India helped it gain independence in 1971.
Meanwhile, a press release by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs said Jaishankar extended PM Narendra Modi’s greetings to Hasina and more importantly an invitation to visit New Delhi. The top diplomat also expressed interest in launching bilateral projects in the power and energy sectors, and echoed Hasina’s call for greater cross-border connectivity.
Thank Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her warm reception. Conveyed personal greetings of PM @narendramodi.
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) April 28, 2022
Our bilateral relations are moving from strength to strength under the guidance of the two leaders. pic.twitter.com/3KAV8P1c0g
The Bangladeshi spokesperson revealed that the 30-minute meeting also featured discussions on bilateral and international issues, such as defence cooperation, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Ukraine war.
Likewise, the Bangladeshi Foreign Ministry said, “[The leaders] expressed satisfaction about the ongoing Bangladesh-India cooperation, vowed to further strengthen the bilateral ties, stressed on regional stability for socio-economic development as a whole.”
In a statement, the Bangladeshi Foreign Ministry informed that Hasina and Jaishankar “emphasised on promoting trade, commerce, and connectivity, especially in light of supply chain disruption resulting from COVID-19 restrictions and the recent conflict in Ukraine.”
EAM of India @DrSJaishankar called on Prime Minister #SheikhHasina at Ganabhaban and extended an invitation to her on behalf of Prime Minister @narendramodi to visit India in July this year. Dr. Jaishankar lauded Bangladesh's socio-economic development in the recent past. pic.twitter.com/b7fAxWOBam
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bangladesh (@BDMOFA) April 28, 2022
On this topic, Jaishankar said that the pandemic has made clear the importance of regional supply chains—particularly for essential commodities and oxygen, medicine, and food—and of being able to “count on each other” during difficult times.
After his meeting with Hasina, Jaishankar met with Momen, wherein his Bangladeshi counterpart called for the expeditious completion of India-funded energy projects. Jaishankar, meanwhile, stressed the need to ensure “regional stability for economic development.”
In a joint press conference, Jaishankar announced that India seeks greater cooperation in the energy sector, particularly in hydropower. “I want to say that India will continue to take the lead to structure progressive partnerships of production, transmission and trade in our region in this area,” he affirmed, adding, “India is a large producer and consumer of energy, and we are very glad to work with our neighbours in that regard, including in the BBIN (Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal) framework.”
Dr. Momen and @DrSJaishankar discussed the bilateral issues between Bangladesh and India. They expressed satisfaction about the ongoing 🇧🇩 🇮🇳 cooperation, vowed to further strengthen the bilateral ties, stressed on regional stability for socio-economic development as a whole. pic.twitter.com/rdA2sD3L8e
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bangladesh (@BDMOFA) April 28, 2022
Meanwhile, the Bangladeshi diplomat celebrated the increase in trade between the two countries, expressing satisfaction about Dhaka’s decision to award 200 scholarships to family members of Indian veterans who played a role in the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.
The pair also discussed water-sharing issues and hoped that all the “minor” outstanding concerns, including the expeditious conclusion of the Teesta Water Sharing Treaty (TWST), would be resolved soon.
New Delhi and Dhaka have been discussing the TWST for over a decade, with no progress since the deal was called off following staunch opposition from West Bengal’s Chief Minister (CM), Mamata Banerjee. Taking this delay into account, China has stepped in and offered a $1 billion loan for the management of the Teesta River. In fact, Bangladesh’s Water Development Board and the Power Construction Corporation of China signed a non-binding agreement for this project in 2016.
In this regard, The Indian EAM underlined the importance of Bangladesh in India’s “Neighbourhood First Policy,” through which New Delhi seeks to develop closer ties with smaller countries in its immediate vicinity. In response, Momen declared that India is “the most important neighbour for Bangladesh.”
External Affairs Minister of India @DrSJaishankar left Dhaka for Bhutan after completing a brief but significant visit. Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen @FSMasud saw him off. Exchange of frequent high level visits is the key to maintaining excellent relations between 🇧🇩 and 🇮🇳. pic.twitter.com/2Gi4fZT9SH
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bangladesh (@BDMOFA) April 29, 2022
According to several local media reports in Dhaka, Momen also urged New Delhi to help with Washington’s sanctions against Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) officers, including its current and former director generals, for alleged “serious” human rights abuses committed during the government’s war on drugs.
Bangladesh has criticised the sanctions by saying that the RAB has been at the “forefront of combating terrorism, drug trafficking and other heinous transnational crimes,” which are “considered to be shared priorities” with the United States (US).
However, Jaishankar declined to speak on the issue and redirected the question to his Bangladeshi counterpart at the joint press conference.
In a similar vein, Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi refused to comment on matters involving a third country. “I am not going to say anything at this point on what the discussions have been or have received it in advance… Let the visit happen and then we will see if we are in a position to share with you any further details on this,” he said.
Delighted to be back in Bhutan. Good to see @FMBhutan Tandi Dorji.
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) April 29, 2022
Look forward to a productive visit. pic.twitter.com/LxeyCmMEob
Jaishankar is also understood to have set a date for the Seventh Bangladesh-India Joint Consultative Commission (JCC), which is designed to overlook the progress made on bilateral projects, in New Delhi. The previous meeting was held in September 2020, when the two sides discussed pressing issues of bilateral concern, such as the TWST, illegal border crossing, and the Rohingya Muslim refugee crisis.
After his visit to Bangladesh, Jaishankar arrived in Bhutan on Friday morning. He is being accompanied by Foreign Secretary-designate Vinay Mohan Kwatra and scheduled to meet Bhutanese PM Dr Lotay Tshering and Foreign Minister Dr. Lyonpo Tandi Dorji. According to an MEA release prior to the meeting, the leaders “will discuss all issues of mutual interest, including the upcoming high-level exchanges, economic development and hydropower cooperation.”