TEESTA, FENI WATERS

Modi assures Dhaka of fair solution

Visiting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday expressed confidence that a fair solution to the Teesta and the Feni river dispute would be reached, with cooperation of the respective state governments in India.
“I am confident that, with the support of state governments in India, we can reach a fair solution regarding the Teesta and Feni rivers”, he said while making a joint press statement with his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina, after official talks at the Prime Minister’s Office.
“We should also work together to sanitise our rivers,” he added.
Regarding the common rivers, the Indian Prime Minister said: “Our rivers should nurture our relationship, not become an area of discord. Water sharing is, above all, a human issue. It affects lives on both sides of the border.”  
Modi described his first visit to Bangladesh as a special moment. “My personal journey has been enriched by the good wishes of the people here. We are not just neighbours. We are two nations bound by the threads of history, religion, culture, language, kinship, and, of course, the passion for cricket. We have the emotional bond of shared struggles and sacrifices that bring us together as sovereign and equal nations,” he added.
Referring to the launch of two bus services yesterday, Modi said this will connect both nations and their citizens, with more ease.
Terming connectivity as the catalyst for deeper engagement, he said Bangladesh’s decision to allow transit of power equipment and food grains to the northeast echoes the strength of Dhaka’s human values and shared economic opportunities.
“Connectivity by road, rail, rivers, sea, transmission lines, petroleum pipelines, and digital links, will increase. Today, we have unveiled some of the pathways to this future. As I have said before, we will deepen regional connectivity and cooperation between Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal. There is a natural logic to this arrangement,” he added.

Modi described the Dhaka-Delhi relationship to be of great importance. He said: “Now, we are successful fellow travellers on the road to development. Our growing cooperation is a picture of my deeply held belief in the shared prosperity of neighbours. That is why the future I dream for India is the future I wish for Bangladesh too.”
Modi said: “As we deepen our political engagement and celebrate our rich inheritance, our nations will become more prosperous, as our economies become more integrated and our people better connected. It will also open new economic doors for India’s northeast. And it will enable our two countries to integrate South Asia, and connect it with the dynamic East.”
The visit is at a historic moment, said the Indian Prime Minister. “We have resolved a question that has lingered since declaration of independence. Our two nations have a settled boundary. It will make our borders more secure and people’s lives there more stable. Our Parliament’s approval of the Land Boundary Agreement reflects on the consensus in India regarding relations with Bangladesh,” he said.
"We accepted the settlement of the maritime boundary last year. That is evidence of the maturity of our ties and our shared commitment to international laws. We stand at a moment of huge opportunity in our relationship. The Prime Minister and I recognise that. We will work together to harness the rich potential of our relationship. And we will address our challenges in a spirit of friendship, and from a position
of mutual trust and confidence,”
said Modi.
Regarding the huge trade gap in favour of India, Modi said: “I am conscious of the huge trade imbalance, despite duty free and quota free access to Bangladesh in India on all but 25 items. Yet, I have assured the Prime Minister that we'll do everything we can to bridge this gap.”
Regarding cooperation in the power sector, he said: “Power supply from India to Bangladesh will grow from 500MW to 1,100MW within two years. The 1,320MW Rampal power project is making progress in accordance with your rules and regulations. We can do more together in the power sector, both here and in India.”

 

TEESTA, FENI WATERS

Modi assures Dhaka of fair solution

Visiting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday expressed confidence that a fair solution to the Teesta and the Feni river dispute would be reached, with cooperation of the respective state governments in India. I am confident that, with the support of state governments in India, we can reach a fair solution regarding the Teesta and Feni rivers, he said while making a joint press statement with his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina, after official talks at the Prime Ministers Office. We should also work together to sanitise our rivers, he added. Regarding the common rivers, the Indian Prime Minister said: Our rivers should nurture our relationship, not become an area of discord. Water sharing is, above all, a human issue. It affects lives on both sides of the border. Modi described his first visit to Bangladesh as a special moment. My personal journey has been enriched by the good wishes of the people here. We are not just neighbours. We are two nations bound by the threads of history, religion, culture, language, kinship, and, of course, the passion for cricket. We have the emotional bond of shared struggles and sacrifices that bring us together as sovereign and equal nations, he added. Referring to the launch of two bus services yesterday, Modi said this will connect both nations and their citizens, with more ease. Terming connectivity as the catalyst for deeper engagement, he said Bangladeshs decision to allow transit of power equipment and food grains to the northeast echoes the strength of Dhakas human values and shared economic opportunities. Connectivity by road, rail, rivers, sea, transmission lines, petroleum pipelines, and digital links, will increase. Today, we have unveiled some of the pathways to this future. As I have said before, we will deepen regional connectivity and cooperation between Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal. There is a natural logic to this arrangement, he added. Modi described the Dhaka-Delhi relationship to be of great importance. He said: Now, we are successful fellow travellers on the road to development. Our growing cooperation is a picture of my deeply held belief in the shared prosperity of neighbours. That is why the future I dream for India is the future I wish for Bangladesh too. Modi said: As we deepen our political engagement and celebrate our rich inheritance, our nations will become more prosperous, as our economies become more integrated and our people better connected. It will also open new economic doors for Indias northeast. And it will enable our two countries to integrate South Asia, and connect it with the dynamic East. The visit is at a historic moment, said the Indian Prime Minister. We have resolved a question that has lingered since declaration of independence. Our two nations have a settled boundary. It will make our borders more secure and peoples lives there more stable. Our Parliaments approval of the Land Boundary Agreement reflects on the consensus in India regarding relations with Bangladesh, he said. We accepted the settlement of the maritime boundary last year. That is evidence of the maturity of our ties and our shared commitment to international laws. We stand at a moment of huge opportunity in our relationship. The Prime Minister and I recognise that. We will work together to harness the rich potential of our relationship. And we will address our challenges in a spirit of friendship, and from a position of mutual trust and confidence, said Modi. Regarding the huge trade gap in favour of India, Modi said: I am conscious of the huge trade imbalance, despite duty free and quota free access to Bangladesh in India on all but 25 items. Yet, I have assured the Prime Minister that well do everything we can to bridge this gap. Regarding cooperation in the power sector, he said: Power supply from India to Bangladesh will grow from 500MW to 1,100MW within two years. The 1,320MW Rampal power project is making progress in accordance with your rules and regulations. We can do more together in the power sector, both here and in India.