101 deals with India under review

Bangladesh is reviewing all 101 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) and agreements signed with India by the previous government to determine whether they continue to serve the country’s national interests, Jatiya Sangsad Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni said on Thursday.

The review could lead to some existing arrangements being retained, amended or cancelled, although the government has yet to indicate which agreements may be affected.

“We are discussing all the agreements – all 101 MoUs. You will get the outcome very soon,” Moni told journalists at a press conference following the third session of the 13th parliament.

Asked whether the government might cancel some agreements, including arrangements allowing vessels of a friendly country to use the Chattogram and Mongla ports, the chief whip reiterated that all 101 MoUs and agreements with India were under review.

“You will see the outcome very soon,” he said.
Moni did not, however, specify which agreements would remain in force or whether any would be scrapped or amended.

The review comes as Bangladesh seeks to reassess bilateral arrangements with India from the perspective of its own strategic, economic and national interests.

Any decision on the agreements is expected to be taken after examining their implications for Bangladesh.

The chief whip made the remarks while briefing the media on the nine-working-day parliamentary session, which ended on Thursday.

He said six bills were introduced and passed during the session, while 1,678 questions raised in parliament were answered. Of these, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman answered 15 questions directly.

Moni expressed hope that future parliamentary sessions would be held on schedule in accordance with constitutional provisions.

He said the third session had been convened as part of the constitutional requirement for parliament to sit at regular intervals and that the next session would also be held accordingly.

The review of the India agreements is likely to attract particular attention because they cover a broad range of bilateral cooperation and have implications for Bangladesh’s trade, connectivity, transport and strategic interests.

However, the government has not yet disclosed the full list of agreements under review or provided details of the criteria that will be used to assess them.

Moni’s comments indicate that the government intends to complete the review before making decisions on the future of the arrangements.

The chief whip said the outcome of the review would be announced soon.