Hasina visit to boost ties with India

DHAKA, Jan 10 – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today left on a landmark visit to India, where she will ink key pacts, including a counter-terrorism deal in a bid to “open a new chapter” in bilateral relations, reports PTI. Hasina will sign agreements on mutual legal assistance on criminal offences, transfer of sentenced persons and for combating international terrorism, organised crime and illegal drug trafficking.

The two countries will also sign an MoU on cooperation in the power sector during the three-day visit that is expected to give a push to the bilateral relations in the backdrop of recent positive atmospherics.

Earlier, the Foreign minister said a number of issues including water sharing of common rivers with particular reference to the Teesta, cross-border terrorism, Tipaimukh Dam issue, trade gap and tarrif and non-tariff trade barriers, railway connectivity and regional transits and border management were expected to feature in the talks.

Foreign policy analysts and leading Bangladeshi newspapers said Hasina’s India tour was expected to open up a new chapter in bilateral relations.

Hasina, who is making her maiden trip to India after taking over last January, is heading a 100-member delegation, including 41 businessmen to boost bilateral political and economic ties.

The security related agreements are aimed at addressing India’s concerns with regard to North-East insurgents finding shelter in Bangladesh as a legal framework would be put in place to transfer them, including those having undergone sentences in that country.

India has a lot of expectations on this front from the Hasina government. Dhaka has already taken a number of discreet measures to deny safe haven to North-East insurgents, which is reflected by the arrest of some top ULFA leaders like Arabinda Rajkhowa.

India and Bangladesh had inked a 30-year agreement on sharing of the Ganges waters, removing a longstanding irritation in bilateral ties during the 1996-2001 tenure of the Awami League government under Hasina.

The Awami League leader, who has close personal relationship with the Congress Party, is expected to take the ties to a new height since Bangladesh became independent in 1971 with crucial Indian military support.