Bangladesh and India are going to ink at least 12 instruments, mostly on economy, trade, education, culture, information and technology, during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s four-day official visit to India.

Besides, both Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Indian prime minister Narendra Modi will discuss a number of bilateral issues, including the signing of "framework agreement" on sharing of common river waters, including the Teesta, initiative to ensure optimum use of the Ganges water-sharing treaty, cutting down border killings to zero, easing the visa process, increase mutual cooperation in maintaining regional peace, and stability and resist terrorism.

In addition, Bangladesh will seek India's cooperation in the process of repatriation of Rohingya people.

Foreign minister AK Abdul Momen came up with the statement before journalists at a press conference on the occasion of the Prime Minister’s visit to India.

He said Prime minister Sheikh Hasina would leave Dhaka today to take part in the India Economic Summit in Delhi, organised by the World Economic Forum (WEF). This is going to be the first visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina after her party, the Awami League, formed the government for the third consecutive term.

During her visit to India from 3-6 October at the invitation of Indian prime minister Narendra Modi, she will be accompanied by a host of ministers like the foreign minister, commerce minister, education minister, land minister, economic, international and private industry and investment advisers, state minister for power, energy and mineral resources, state minister for foreign affairs, deputy minister for water resources, chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, PMO officials, secretaries of different ministries and a host of eminent persons.

The foreign minister said: “Our Prime Minister will attend the India Economic Summit from October 3-4. She will take part in the country strategy dialogue with the elected representatives of the International Business Council on the first day of her visit.”

The International Business Council is a forum of top 100 trade bodies of the world. Generally, leaders of G-20 are invited at the dialogue. The World Economic Forum will be chaired by its president and Norwegian politician and diplomat, Borge Brende.

On October 4, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will exchange views with the guests of the concluding session of the Summit on improving South Asian regional cooperation. Deputy prime minister of Singapore and finance minister Heng Swee Keat will take part in the session. Later, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will pay a courtesy call on Keat. On October 5, the delegations of both countries, led by the prime ministers of Bangladesh and India, will hold a high level meeting at 11:30 am. The meeting will discuss bilateral issues.

“We expect at least 10 to 12 instruments will be signed between the two friendly countries to further enhance cooperation in various levels,” said Momen.

Sources said three bilateral instruments on sharing of White Shipping Information, Air Services and SOP on the use of Chattogram and Mongla port for the movement of goods to and from India would be signed. The MoUs, likely to be signed during the visit, will focus on youths and sports, BSTI, cultural exchange programme, textiles and jutes, trade remedial measures, coastal surveillance system, film co-production between the two countries, oceanographic research, Mirsarai SEZ, cooperation in the hydrocarbon sector, disaster relief, establishment of permanent office of the EXIM Bank of India, ICT and cooperation in supporting start-ups-innovations and incubations. In his briefing, the foreign minister said: “Various effective initiatives will be taken to cut down border killings to zero and curb black marketing by strengthening mutual communication and cooperation between the border forces of the two countries. In order to increase people-to-people connectivity between the two countries, various initiatives will be taken, like free movement of Bangladesh nationals having Indian visa. We will also talk on increasing mutual cooperation to resist terrorism and maintain regional peace and stability.”

Regarding the water sharing treaty, Momen said: “Joint initiatives will be taken to ensure optimum use of the Ganges water sharing treaty. Discussion will also be held on signing a framework agreement regarding water sharing of common rivers, including the Teesta.”

The foreign minister also said: “Initiatives will be taken to sign the ‘BBIN MVA’ agreement to increase regional and sub-regional cooperation. We will also discuss increasing rail, air and road communication.”

During the visit, the Prime Minister will discuss joint celebration of the 100th birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, 50th anniversary of the independence of Bangladesh and 50th anniversary of Bangladesh-India diplomatic relations.

During the visit, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will call on Indian President Ram Nath Kovind on October 5 and pay a courtesy call on the Indian external affairs minister, S Jaishankar, the same day.  On October 6, she will meet Indian Congress Party president Sonia Gandhi.

The foreign minister said relations between the two countries are more strong than at any other time after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina took office in 2009. This visit will strengthen the existing relations between the two countries and consolidate mutual interest on various issues, he added.

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