PMs India Visit Three MoUs to be signed

Staff Reporter  :
The long-standing Teesta water sharing issue is not expected to see any progress during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s imminent visit to India for the G-20 Summit from September 8-10.

However, Foreign Ministry stated that both countries will ink three Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during this visit to increase the engagement between the two nations.

During Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to New Delhi, there will be agreements signed in three significant areas: financial transactions in both Indian Rupees and Bangladeshi Taka, agricultural research cooperation, and cultural exchanges.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said this during a press briefing at the Foreign Service Academy on Thursday on the occasion of Prime Minister’s upcoming visit to Delhi to attend the G-20 Summit at the invitation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Meanwhile, without having a treaty on the fair share of water from the Teesta River, India has been reportedly diverting water unilaterally without caring the international laws on the trans-boundary rivers.

In reply to the query of progress of Teesta agreement, Foreign Minister said, “We prepared a draft of Teesta agreement for a long time ago. But it has not been materialised yet.

You (journalists) know the reason and we also know the cause why it has not been implemented.”

Asked about what will happen with the issue of Teesta agreement this time during PM’s visit to India, Foreign Minister said, “I don’t know.”

In another question regarding the ending of the Ganges River agreement in 2026, he said, “We will start making noise in time. We will articulate our concerns.”

During Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Bangladesh in September 2011, extensive preparations had been undertaken for the signing of the Teesta treaty.

However, the Teesta treaty encountered a significant roadblock in September 2011 due to staunch opposition from Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Minister of West Bengal.

The Teesta River is often referred to as the lifeline of the northern region of the country. It flows through extensive agricultural lands on both of its banks.

However, during the peak agricultural seasons, it runs dry, leaving the farmers in a constant struggle for water.

Unfortunately, their pleas have gone unanswered year after year, as most of the river’s water is diverted by the Indian side.

This is due to the inability of the Indian central government to reach a fair water-sharing agreement with Bangladesh.

Regarding participation in the G-20 Summit, Foreign Minister Momen stated, “Our participation in the G-20 is one of Bangladesh’s most significant achievements, as it provides us with a platform to voice our concerns. We are the sole South Asian country to receive this invitation.”

Regarding the Prime Minister’s itinerary, Momen said, “She will hold bilateral talks with the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi. Additionally, on the sidelines of the summit, there is the possibility of meetings with leaders such as the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, the President of Argentina, the President of South Korea, and the President of the United Arab Emirates.”

Furthermore, during her stay in Delhi, the Prime Minister will inaugurate the planting of mango saplings of the ‘Hadi Bhanga’ variety in Haldibari, a gesture symbolising friendship and cooperation.

On September 9, the G-20 Summit will be inaugurated.

Bangladesh’s Prime Minister will participate in various sessions of the summit. The Prime Minister will deliver speeches in two plenary sessions titled “One World and One Family”.

On September 10, the Prime Minister will pay her respects at the Mahatma Gandhi Samadhi (Gandhi’s memorial) at Rajghat and later participate in the concluding session of the G-20 Summit.

As part of her visit to New Delhi, the Foreign Minister Momen, Advisor for Private Industry and Investment Affairs to the Prime Minister Salman F Rahman, Ambassador-at-Large (joining the G-20 Summit as a Sherpa for Bangladesh), State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md. Shahriar Alam, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, officials from the Prime Minister’s Office, and representatives from the Governor, Bangladesh Bank, and relevant ministries will accompany the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister will return to Dhaka from New Delhi on September 10.

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen stated that Bangladesh aims to represent the Global South’s concerns at the G20 Summit, focusing on matters such as climate change, the Rohingya crisis, and the food and energy challenges stemming from the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

In reply to a query, Momen stated that the government does not succumb to any foreign pressure regarding elections.

“We will not tolerate any undue interference in election. We are not under any pressure. We will conduct a free and fair election.

Whether others like it or not, it’s their problem,” he said.

In another question of regional stability, he said, “We always desire peace and stability. Therefore, Bangladesh will not engage in any form of proxy wars.”