[🇧🇩] Indo-Bangla Relation: India's Regional Ambition, Geopolitical Reality, and Strategic Options For Bangladesh

[Bilal9]

New Delhi's foreign policy has evolved from the Cold War to the present day. India is aiming to maintain its position as a regional leader in South Asia despite challenges from external influences and its own errors. But increasing Chinese influence and tensions caused by mishandled political developments have strained New Delhi's ties with its neighbours. The need for New Delhi is to respect its neighbours, combat hyper-nationalism and focus on leading, rather than policing, the region.

India’s regional challenges | East Asia Forum

New Delhi must improve its ties with South Asian neighbours to maintain its role as a key player in the region.

eastasiaforum.org

 

[Bilal9]

India is sending top official to Dhaka to stop China Bangladesh military drills and Teesta Project.

I guess some feathers finally started getting ruffled ?

Or is it their typical MoFA over-reaction in New Delhi?

 

[Saif]

I guess some feathers finally started getting ruffled ?

Or is it their typical MoFA over-reaction in New Delhi?

It is clearly an over reaction in New Delhi. Bangladesh and China are going to conduct an anti terrorism drill which is not detrimental to India's national security.

 

[Saif]

One Indian youtuber has talked about 'how Bangladesh could be a threat to India' and 'how India should tackle such threat' in the future.

 

[Saif]

India making efforts to keep Bangladesh under control: Fakhrul

India's continuous efforts to control Bangladesh instead of resolving water-sharing issues with its neighbours have been criticized by BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, who accused the current regime of failing to stand up for the people's interests.

en.prothomalo.com

India making efforts to keep Bangladesh under control: Fakhrul
UNB
Published: 16 May 2024, 21: 14

Mirza Fakhrul Islam AlamgirFile photo

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday alleged that neighbouring India has been continuously making efforts to keep Bangladesh under its control instead of resolving the pressing issue of water-sharing of common trans-border rivers.

Speaking at a discussion meeting on Farakka Long March Day, he also criticised the Awami League government for its failure to take action in resolving the water problem with India, stating that the current regime has been in power solely to secure the interests of its foreign master.

"We see that our neighbour (India) has always been carrying out all their activities to keep Bangladesh under control, since its birth. Not only the Farakka dam, not the Ganga water, but they have always been negligent in the water distribution of 154 common rivers. They're not resolving the problem," Fakhrul said.

He mentioned that the current Awami League government has long been buying time, promising the country's people to ink the Teesta water-sharing deal without success.

"The root cause of this failure lies in the fact that this is completely a subservient regime. It has consistently failed to take a stand in favour of the people's interests as they are extremely feeble in dealing with India."

Bhasani Anusari Parishad arranged the programme at the National Press Club, marking the historic 'Farakka Long-March Day', commemorating populist leader Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani's long march towards the Farakka Dam 48 years ago.

On 16 May, 1976, Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani led a massive long march from Rajshahi towards India's Farakka barrage, demanding the demolition of the barrage constructed by the Indian government to divert the flow of Ganges water inside its territory.

Fakhrul said the current government's only job is to protect their own interests and those of their masters by repressing the country's people since it usurped power through a unilateral election.

'How will they (AL govt) resolve the problems of the Teesta and Farakka? How will they resolve the water-sharing problem of other common rivers? Because they captured power with special assignments (by others)," he observed.

In such a situation, the BNP leader said the people of Bangladesh must stand on their own feet to restore their lost democratic rights.

He said the BNP and many other opposition parties have been carrying out struggles for the restoration of the democratic rights of people. "For this, many of us have sacrificed our lives and many of us have to endure oppression and persecution."

Fakhrul also said there is now no alternative path to waging a united movement by all opposition parties rising above division and misunderstanding among them for ousting the current monstrous regime.

"We must move forward in unison in our own interests to reach our desired goal. No one will do it for us; we have to do it ourselves."

He said the government jailed BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia by implicating her in false cases and filed cases against 60 lakh leaders and activists of the party to hang onto power. "Oppression and arrests are still ongoing...our leaders and activists are being convicted and sent to jail."

The BNP leader said the Awami League has retained power by manipulating elections through various tactics as it knows it will face a massive debacle in a free, fair and credible election.​

 

[Saif]

India involved in damaging democracy in Bangladesh: Oli

Liberal Democratic Party president Oli Ahmad on Saturday alleged that the Indian government was directly and indirectly responsible for the damage of democracy and...

www.newagebd.net

India involved in damaging democracy in Bangladesh: Oli
Staff Correspondent 19 May, 2024, 00:23

Oli Ahmad | File photo

Liberal Democratic Party president Oli Ahmad on Saturday alleged that the Indian government was directly and indirectly responsible for the damage of democracy and the establishment of dictatorship in Bangladesh.

'We know that the Indian government is very concerned about the security of its seven eastern states. I would like to tell them, we do not want to stick our nose into any other country's affairs,' Oli told a press conference at his Maghbazar party office.

The press conference was held following a liaison committee meeting with the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party.

'It is our hope that the government of India will refrain from associating itself with any particular person or party, and will focus on establishing friendship between the people of India and the people of Bangladesh. Let us complement each other and live as good neighbours,' he said.

The government of India should not act hostile towards the people of Bangladesh, he said, adding that the 18 crores people of Bangladesh wanted to be good neighbours.

'The present government [Bangladesh] has allowed you to use the sea ports, land ports and various roads of our country. A number of unbalanced agreements have also been signed. As a result of which Bangladesh is suffering,' he said.

The LDP is in the simultaneous movement against the government led by the BNP and for the first time BNP leaders were present at any press conference of the LDP.

BNP vice chairman Mohammad Shahjahan was sitting next to Oli Ahmad, while BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan was also supposed to be there, but he reportedly did not attend as his wife was ill.

Oli said that the LDP would announce the new programme under the leadership of the BNP as soon as possible.

'We have been protesting against the current government in a movement led by the BNP for a long time. As soon as possible we will announce the new programme under the leadership of BNP,' he said, adding that new possibilities would open in the country.

Responding to a question about various parties' reluctance regarding co-opting the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami in the simultaneous movement, he said eloquently, 'It is cow which is needed to plough the field; even if it is a weak cow, you need it. One cannot plough the field with a goat.'

'We have seen the last 10–20 years. Everyone knows what we have achieved. Now you understand what is needed, I also understand. We have 62 parties here. How many of these parties have the strength to march down the street?' he said, adding that there were some parties which stand in names only.

When asked why the movement to bring down the government was not successful, Oli said, 'BNP secretary general can answer why we did not succeed. I don't have an answer for that because I'm a small party's leader devoid of any shields and swords.'

When asked whether he gave any advice to the BNP, Oli Ahmad said, 'The advice to the BNP was given in the meeting. It will not be possible to say in front of everyone.'​

 

[Saif]

Bangladesh springs up in discussions amid polls in India

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal raises concerns over Indian democracy, compares it to Bangladesh amid Lok Sabha polls

en.prothomalo.com

Bangladesh springs up in discussions amid polls in India
Saumya BandyopadhyayNew Delhi
Published: 25 May 2024, 16: 54

Delhi chief minister and Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal Screengrab from a Facebook video

Bangladesh is suddenly cropping up in talks across India amid the ongoing Lok Sabha polls for two different reasons. Such widespread coverage of Bangladesh in almost all Indian news media for such a long period of time is probably unprecedented.

The killing of ruling Awami League lawmaker Anwarul Azim in Kolkata got massive coverage in the news media across all states over the last few days.

While the police and intelligence of the two countries are busy unravelling the mystery behind the killing, Delhi chief minister and Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal brought up Bangladesh in his political debate. He openly admitted that if Narendra Modi comes to power for the third consecutive term, then the Indian democracy will be like that of Bangladesh.

if Modi becomes the prime minister again, then it will be the end of democracy in India. He referred to Bangladesh to explain the possible consequence of the ruling party forming the government again.

They (BJP) will amend the constitution and the country will move towards dictatorship Either there will be no elections, or the elections will be like those in Russia, where Vladimir Putin has either put the entire opposition in jail or has got them killed. Elections were held only after that and he bagged 87 per cent votes. In Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina put everyone (opposition activists) in jail and won by a landslide margin Arvind Kejriwal, chief minister of Delhi.

He is not bringing up the example of Bangladesh only in rallies or road shows. He brought up Bangladesh even during an interview with an India newspaper, The Indian Express on Friday. There, too, he put the democracy of the neighbouring ally on the same seat as Russia and Pakistan.

Arvind Kejriwal was asked about the possible aftermath, if Modi becomes the prime minister for the third time.

In response he said, "They (BJP) will amend the constitution and the country will move towards dictatorship. Either there will be no elections, or the elections will be like those in Russia, where Vladimir Putin has either put the entire opposition in jail or has got them killed. Elections were held only after that and he bagged 87 per cent votes. In Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina put everyone (opposition activists) in jail and won by a landslide margin."

To read the rest of the news, please click on the link above.​

 

[Saif]

Bangladesh-India trade dynamics

It was 50 years ago when Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the then Prime Minister of Bangladesh, visited the Indian capital, New Delhi, at the invitation of Indira Gandhi, the then Prime Minister of India. The five-day visit from May 12 to 16, 1974, was the second and the last and most critical o

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Bangladesh-India trade dynamics
ASJADUL KIBRIA
Published :
May 25, 2024 23:01
Updated :
My 26, 2024 21:43

It was 50 years ago when Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the then Prime Minister of Bangladesh, visited the Indian capital, New Delhi, at the invitation of Indira Gandhi, the then Prime Minister of India. The five-day visit from May 12 to 16, 1974, was the second and the last and most critical official visit to India. Two years before, he visited Kolkata from February 6 to 8, 1972. In between the two trips, many critical developments took place. These include Indian PM Indira Gandhi's visit to Bangladesh from March 17 to March 19, 1972; the singing of the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Peace between the two countries in 1972; the singing of the bilateral trade agreement in 1972, and the singing of the protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade in 1972.

During Bangabandhu's visit to India in 1974, several critical issues were discussed by the heads of the two governments. Regarding the bilateral trade issue, two parties agreed to set up two joint commissions to improve the jute sector and curb unauthorised transactions. The two parties also agreed to make the optimal use of a Balanced Trade and Payments Arrangement (BTPA). The arrangement was included in the three-year bilateral trade agreement, which replaced the first bilateral trade agreement, signed in 1972 and expired in September 1973. The agreement provided an opportunity for border trade between the two countries. It allowed people living up to 16 km on either side of the border to dispose of their goods daily. There was no customs and currency regulation for the border trade. The only restriction was the specific number of commodities. The agreement also provided an opportunity for a balanced rupee trade worth Rs. 250 million (or US $35 million) each way annually. In the new three-year trade agreement that became effective after the expiration of the first agreement in September 1973, two parties agreed to enhance the balanced trade to Rs. 305 million (US$ 42 million) worth of exports each way during the first year of the deal.

To read the rest of the news, please click on the link above.​

 

[Saif]

Dhaka, Delhi to further boost travel of nationals from both sides

Bangladesh and India have agreed to further strengthen the bilateral Revised Travel Arrangement (RTA) to facilitate movement of nationals from both sides

www.thedailystar.net

Dhaka, Delhi to further boost travel of nationals from both sides

Photo: UNB

Bangladesh and India have agreed to further strengthen the bilateral Revised Travel Arrangement (RTA) to facilitate movement of nationals from both sides.

Both sides reiterated their commitment to continue promoting people-to-people exchanges.

The agreement came at the 4th round of India-Bangladesh Consular Dialogue in New Delhi on Wednesday, according to a message received here.

Dr Aman Puri, joint secretary (CPV), led the Indian delegation, while the delegation from Bangladesh side was led by Rokebul Haque, director general (South Asia), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, according to the Ministry of External Affairs.

The India-Bangladesh Consular dialogue mechanism was instituted in 2017 with a purpose to strengthen people to people contacts by having a regular channel of communication on consular, visa and mutual legal assistance cooperation matters between India and Bangladesh.

The two sides held wide-ranging discussions on mechanisms to strengthen coordination and cooperation on consular issues, visa matters, repatriation, MLAT and Extradition cases, etc.

They agreed to hold the next round of the dialogue in Dhaka on a mutually convenient date.​

 

[Saif]

India now wants to run Mongla port

Neighbouring India now wants to operate Bangladesh's second-seaport Mongla where it already enjoys transhipment facility to transport cargoes to and from its landlocked north-eastern states, sources said. The proposal is being seen as part of their expanding footprint in strategically import

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

India now wants to run Mongla port
Currently enjoys trade transhipment
SYFUL ISLAM
Published :
Jun 01, 2024 00:02
Updated :
Jun 01, 2024 00:02

Neighbouring India now wants to operate Bangladesh's second-seaport Mongla where it already enjoys transhipment facility to transport cargoes to and from its landlocked north-eastern states, sources said.

The proposal is being seen as part of their expanding footprint in strategically important Asian ports.

To pursue the plan, a delegation of India Ports Global Limited (IPGL), an entity under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, visited the Mongla seaport, days before striking a long-term deal to operate Chabahar port in Iran in mid-May.

In April this year, India also secured right to operate Sittwe Port in Myanmar, which will also be managed by IPGL.

Managing Director of IPGL Sunil Mukundan led the Indian delegation to Mongla port where he expressed interest in operating the seaport. The delegation members included other high officials from the IPGL and also some officials from the Indian High Commission in Dhaka.

They had a meeting with Lieutenant Colonel Md Firoz Al Wahid, Chief Engineer (Mechanical & Electrical), Mongla Port Authority, and his team after visiting the jetties and other facilities of the port.

Contacted, Mr Wahid told the FE Thursday that the Indian delegation expressed interest in operating the port.

"We welcomed their offer and asked them to submit their proposal in writing," he said.

Mr Wahid said once received, the port authority would evaluate the pros and cons of the proposal before taking a decision.

To read the rest of the news, please click on the link above.​

 

[Saif]

Looking forward to working together to further strengthen people-centric partnership with Bangladesh: Modi

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has thanked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her warm wishes following his election victory. "India and Bangladesh share historic relations, which have seen unprecedented growth in the last decade," Modi said. In a message shared through X, formerly known as Tw

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Looking forward to working together to further strengthen people-centric partnership with Bangladesh: Modi
Published :
Jun 05, 2024 23:22
Updated :
Jun 05, 2024 23:22

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has thanked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her warm wishes following his election victory.

"India and Bangladesh share historic relations, which have seen unprecedented growth in the last decade," Modi said.

In a message shared through X, formerly known as Twitter, Modi said he looks forward to working together to further strengthen the people-centric partnership between Bangladesh and India, reports UNB.

Narendra Modi invited Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to attend the swearing-in ceremony of his government, to be held June 8.

Sheikh Hasina accepted the invitation.

Earlier, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina congratulated Narendra Modi on the resounding victory of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) inLok Sabah elections.

"As the leader of the largest democracy in the world, you carry the hopes and aspirations of the people of India," she said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a congratulatory telephone call from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for the victory of NDA in the 18th Lok Sabha elections, according to Press Information Bureau of India.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was among the first foreign leaders to congratulate the Prime Minister Modi, reflecting the warmth and personal rapport between the two leaders, it said.

The two leaders pledged to continue working together to further deepen the historic and close ties under the renewed mandate towards achieving under the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 and Smart Bangladesh 2041.

They acknowledged the significant improvements achieved in the lives of the people of both countries in the last decade and looked forward to further enhancing the transformative relationship across all domains that include economic and development partnership, energy security, connectivity including digital linkages and people-to-people contacts among others.​

 

[Saif]

Hasina to attend Modi’s swearing-in ceremony

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to leave for New Delhi tomorrow to attend her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi’s swearing-in ceremony at his invitation.

www.thedailystar.net

Hasina to attend Modi's swearing-in ceremony

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to leave for New Delhi tomorrow to attend her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony at his invitation.

PM's Speechwriter M Nazrul Islam yesterday confirmed her joining the ceremony slated for Sunday. She will return home on June 10, he added.

Modi is likely to take oath as the prime minister of India for the historic third term in a row on June 9 after his BJP-led NDA alliance won the election to Lok Sabha, the lower house of Indian parliament.

Hasina and Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe are among the foreign leaders who have been invited to Modi's oath-taking ceremony.

Earlier, Modi invited Hasina to attend the swearing-in ceremony of his government and she accepted the invitation.

Modi has thanked PM Hasina for her warm wishes following his election victory.

Hasina was among the first foreign leaders to congratulate Modi, reflecting the warmth and personal rapport between the two leaders.

"India and Bangladesh share historic relations, which have seen unprecedented growth in the last decade," Modi said.

In a message shared through X, Modi said he looks forward to working together to further strengthen the people-centric partnership between Bangladesh and India.

Modi received a congratulatory telephone call from Hasina for the victory of NDA, according to the Press Information Bureau of India.

To read the rest of the news, please click on the link above.​

 

[Saif]

Hasina, Modi want to deepen ties further

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi expressed their desire that the existing bilateral relations between the two...

www.newagebd.net

Hasina, Modi want to deepen ties further
Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha . New Delhi 10 June, 2024, 10:55

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi expressed their desire that the existing bilateral relations between the two neighbouring countries would be further strengthened in the future.

'The two leaders have expressed their hopes that the existing bilateral relations between Bangladesh-India will be deepened further in the days to come,' foreign minister Hasan Mahmud told a news briefing in the early hours of on Monday.

The expectations came at a one-to-one meeting (tete-e-tete) between the two prime ministers after the swearing-in ceremony of the cabinet of the Modi government at Rashtrapati Bhaban on Sunday evening.

During the meeting held in a very warm and friendly atmosphere, the Bangladesh prime minister invited her Indian counterpart to visit Dhaka at his convenient time, Hasan said.

The bilateral relations between Bangladesh and India have reached a new height under the prudent leadership of Sheikh Hasina and Narendra Modi, he said.

The foreign minister said that the two premiers later attended a banquet hosted by Indian president Smt Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Senior Indian ministers, Bangladesh delegation, the invited heads of the other governments and states attended the dinner where they had brief interactions, he said.

Hasan said that they also had exchanged pleasantries at that time.

Replying to a query about expectations from each other as the Modi government has run his state for the last 10 years along with Sheikh Hasina's tenure for already 15 years in Bangladesh, the foreign minister said that Bangladesh and India had multifaceted relations.

'Many issues are involved between the two countries. As both the governments continue, there are some benefits in doing work together,' he said.

The people from both countries benefit in terms of different aspects that include connectivity from the friendly relations of both nations, he added.

'Our multi-dimensional deep relations will spread and be consolidated further in the future,' Hasan hoped.

Bangladesh high commissioner to India Md Mustafizur Rahman and PM's press secretary M Nayeemul Islam Khan were present, among others, at the briefing.

Sheikh Hasina also held separate meetings with the president of Sri Lanka Ranil Wickremesinghe and union minister of India and its former external affairs minister S Jaishankar in New Delhi on Monday morning.

The Bangladesh prime minister arrived in New Delhi on Saturday to attend the oath-taking ceremony of the new Indian government at the invitation of her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.​

 

[Saif]

India now wants to run Mongla port

India now wants to run Mongla port
SYFUL ISLAM | Saturday, 1 June 2024

Neighboring India now wants to operate Bangladesh's second-seaport Mongla where it already enjoys transshipment facility to transport cargoes to and from its landlocked north-eastern states, sources said.

The proposal is being seen as part of their expanding footprint in strategically important Asian ports.

To pursue the plan, a delegation of India Ports Global Limited (IPGL), an entity under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, visited the Mongla seaport, days before striking a long-term deal to operate Chabahar port in Iran in mid-May.

In April this year, India also secured right to operate Sittwe Port in Myanmar, which will also be managed by IPGL.

Managing Director of IPGL Sunil Mukundan led the Indian delegation to Mongla port where he expressed interest in operating the seaport. The delegation members included other high officials from the IPGL and also some officials from the Indian High Commission in Dhaka.

They had a meeting with Lieutenant Colonel Md Firoz Al Wahid, Chief Engineer (Mechanical & Electrical), Mongla Port Authority, and his team after visiting the jetties and other facilities of the port.

Contacted, Mr Wahid told the FE Thursday that the Indian delegation expressed interest in operating the port.

"We welcomed their offer and asked them to submit their proposal in writing," he said.

Mr Wahid said once received, the port authority would evaluate the pros and cons of the proposal before taking a decision.

However, the port authority has yet to receive a formal proposal from the IPGL authorities.

"So far we did not receive any written proposal from the Indian company," Mongla Port Authority chairman Rear Admiral Shaheen Rahman told the FE Thursday.

The IPGL Managing Director, Sunil Mukundan, told the FE correspondent over the telephone on Friday that he visited a number of Asian ports, including those in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, in recent months with the aim of expansion of business.

"But this is a government-to-government matter," he said, adding: "I am yet to submit a report on the visit to our government."

Mr Mukundan said the plan could advance only after governments of the two countries would take decision jointly. "I will write a formal letter after getting directives from the government."

In the recent past the government decided to invite foreign investments in the port sectors through appointing globally reputed port operators. Already, the newly-built Patenga Container Terminal has been handed over to Jeddah-based Red Sea Gateway Terminal (RSGT) for operation.

Abu Dhabi Ports Group, PSA Singapore, DP World, and local East Coast Group and its partners have lined up to invest more than US$8 billion for construction of Bay Terminal. Also, Danish port giant Maersk Group will invest $400 million in building Laldia Container Terminal in Chittagong.

The Mongla seaport presently has five jetties where both container and bulk-carrier ships are handled. Two more jetties are under construction to expand its capacity as shippers are showing increased interest in using the port after construction of the Padma Bridge that shortened its distance with the capital.

The port is set to get rail connection soon, facilitating faster and cheaper transportation of cargoes and containers.

In April last year, Bangladesh granted permanent transit and transhipment facility to India to transport cargoes to its seven-sister states by using Chittagong and Mongla seaports.

The Mongla port is strategically important with both India and China having come forward to finance the upgrading and modernisation of its facilities, including the construction of terminals.

To read the rest of the news, please click on the link above.
​

 

[Saif]

Indian firm to upgrade Mongla port

Egis India Consulting Engineers Private Limited has been appointed as consultant for a capacity building project worth Tk 6,014 crore at Mongla port, the second largest seaport in Bangladesh.

www.thedailystar.net

Indian firm to upgrade Mongla port
Agreement signed for the Tk 6,014cr project

Once the project is implemented, Mongla port will be able to handle 1,800 vessels and 50 lakh tonnes of cargo annually, according to the port authority, while the port's annual revenue is expected to increase by Tk 150 crore. Photo: Anisur Rahman

Egis India Consulting Engineers Private Limited has been appointed as consultant for a capacity building project worth Tk 6,014 crore at Mongla port, the second largest seaport in Bangladesh.

The Mongla Port Authority (MPA) and Egis India yesterday signed the related agreement, styled "Upgradation of Mongla port", at the Radisson Blu Dhaka Water Garden in the capital.

Of the estimated Tk 6,014 crore project, the government will finance Tk 1,555 crore from its own coffer while India will provide Tk 4,459 crore as assistance under its line of credit.

The project is scheduled to be complete by July 30, 2024.

The upgradation works include constructing a container terminal, handling and delivery yards, a residential complex and community facilities, marine workshop, multi-storey car lots, service jetty, and more.

Besides, the MPA will procure eight vessels to support port operations, such as loading and unloading goods from larger ships.

Once implemented, Mongla port will be able to handle 1,800 vessels, 50 lakh tonnes of cargo, 4 lakh twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEUs) containers and 10,000 vehicles annually, according to the MPA.

In addition, the port's annual revenue is expected to increase by Tk 150 crore while that of related customs and other agencies could grow by as much as Tk 3,000 crore.

Rear Admiral Mohammad Musa, chairman of the MPA, and Laurent Germain, chief executive officer of Egis India, signed the agreement on behalf of their respective parties.

Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, the state minister for shipping, was present as chief guest while Pranay Verma, the Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, acted as a special guest.

Chowdhury said the seaport will achieve new heights in regards to handling import-export cargo once the upgradation work is complete.

"Mongla port will move closer to Chattogram port's capacity. Not just Bangladesh, but neighbouring nations will also benefit from the port," he added.

The shipping minister went on to say that the project will help expand business and employment opportunities in the country through enhanced multimodal connectivity.​

 

[Saif]

PM likely to visit India on June 21

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is likely to visit India on June 21 less than 15 days after attending the inauguration of her counterpart Narendra Modi’s third term on June 9. The prime ministers of the two countries are expected to hold bilateral meetings on the following day at the Hyderabad

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

PM likely to visit India on June 21
She is expected visit Beijing after New Delhi
Published :
Jun 15, 2024 14:21
Updated :
Jun 15, 2024 14:21

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is likely to visit India on June 21 less than 15 days after attending the inauguration of her counterpart Narendra Modi's third term on June 9.
The prime ministers of the two countries are expected to hold bilateral meetings on the following day at the Hyderabad House, local news portals said on Saturday citing diplomatic sources at Dhaka and New Delhi.

Besides, a foreign ministry official said, Sheikh Hasina is expected to visit China on July 8. She will hold bilateral meetings Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Li Qiang.​

 

[Bilal9]

India now wants to run Mongla port

Neighbouring India now wants to operate Bangladesh's second-seaport Mongla where it already enjoys transhipment facility to transport cargoes to and from its landlocked north-eastern states, sources said. The proposal is being seen as part of their expanding footprint in strategically import

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

India now wants to run Mongla port
Currently enjoys trade transhipment
SYFUL ISLAM
Published :
Jun 01, 2024 00:02
Updated :
Jun 01, 2024 00:02

View attachment 6221

Neighbouring India now wants to operate Bangladesh's second-seaport Mongla where it already enjoys transhipment facility to transport cargoes to and from its landlocked north-eastern states, sources said.

The proposal is being seen as part of their expanding footprint in strategically important Asian ports.

To pursue the plan, a delegation of India Ports Global Limited (IPGL), an entity under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, visited the Mongla seaport, days before striking a long-term deal to operate Chabahar port in Iran in mid-May.

In April this year, India also secured right to operate Sittwe Port in Myanmar, which will also be managed by IPGL.

Managing Director of IPGL Sunil Mukundan led the Indian delegation to Mongla port where he expressed interest in operating the seaport. The delegation members included other high officials from the IPGL and also some officials from the Indian High Commission in Dhaka.

They had a meeting with Lieutenant Colonel Md Firoz Al Wahid, Chief Engineer (Mechanical & Electrical), Mongla Port Authority, and his team after visiting the jetties and other facilities of the port.

Contacted, Mr Wahid told the FE Thursday that the Indian delegation expressed interest in operating the port.

"We welcomed their offer and asked them to submit their proposal in writing," he said.

Mr Wahid said once received, the port authority would evaluate the pros and cons of the proposal before taking a decision.

To read the rest of the news, please click on the link above.​

This is insane. The clueless Bangladeshi officials should always look at reciprocity. If India lets Bangladesh operate one of their ports, then this can be a matter of discussion. Otherwise, no cigar. India is not Dubai or Singapore, their port standards are the worst globally. This is a fact, not opinion.

How does the Indian side even propose something like this , is beyond me. Their ports (even private ones) are probably the most inefficiently run ports, and forget about container throughput standards.

The container throughput of the entire collection of East Coast Indian ports (Kolkata Haldia, Chennai, Vizag et al) is below that of Chittagong, ONE port in Bangladesh (over three and a half million TEU yearly and going up 20% when new jetties (Patenga) were added.

Then we have other ports like Mongla, expansion of jetties in Chittagong, and a massive new port coming up in Matarbari. I think Indians need to run their own ports efficiently first, before they propose to run ports in other countries. Khayesh and Khayali Pulau are some things, and reality is another.

Clearly "control" is at play here, not running ports.

 

[Bilal9]

Indian firm to upgrade Mongla port

Egis India Consulting Engineers Private Limited has been appointed as consultant for a capacity building project worth Tk 6,014 crore at Mongla port, the second largest seaport in Bangladesh.

www.thedailystar.net

Indian firm to upgrade Mongla port
Agreement signed for the Tk 6,014cr project

View attachment 6416
Once the project is implemented, Mongla port will be able to handle 1,800 vessels and 50 lakh tonnes of cargo annually, according to the port authority, while the port's annual revenue is expected to increase by Tk 150 crore. Photo: Anisur Rahman

Egis India Consulting Engineers Private Limited has been appointed as consultant for a capacity building project worth Tk 6,014 crore at Mongla port, the second largest seaport in Bangladesh.

The Mongla Port Authority (MPA) and Egis India yesterday signed the related agreement, styled "Upgradation of Mongla port", at the Radisson Blu Dhaka Water Garden in the capital.

Of the estimated Tk 6,014 crore project, the government will finance Tk 1,555 crore from its own coffer while India will provide Tk 4,459 crore as assistance under its line of credit.

The project is scheduled to be complete by July 30, 2024.

The upgradation works include constructing a container terminal, handling and delivery yards, a residential complex and community facilities, marine workshop, multi-storey car lots, service jetty, and more.

Besides, the MPA will procure eight vessels to support port operations, such as loading and unloading goods from larger ships.

Once implemented, Mongla port will be able to handle 1,800 vessels, 50 lakh tonnes of cargo, 4 lakh twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEUs) containers and 10,000 vehicles annually, according to the MPA.

In addition, the port's annual revenue is expected to increase by Tk 150 crore while that of related customs and other agencies could grow by as much as Tk 3,000 crore.

Rear Admiral Mohammad Musa, chairman of the MPA, and Laurent Germain, chief executive officer of Egis India, signed the agreement on behalf of their respective parties.

Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, the state minister for shipping, was present as chief guest while Pranay Verma, the Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, acted as a special guest.

Chowdhury said the seaport will achieve new heights in regards to handling import-export cargo once the upgradation work is complete.

"Mongla port will move closer to Chattogram port's capacity. Not just Bangladesh, but neighbouring nations will also benefit from the port," he added.

The shipping minister went on to say that the project will help expand business and employment opportunities in the country through enhanced multimodal connectivity.​

Useless project and money down the drain. India does not manufacture even one significant piece of container handling equipment (unlike China or other EU countries), so how they will "improve" container handling is beyond me.

And why this AL govt. awards projects to Indian firms is also questionable to me. The pedigree and experience of this Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury guy as a shipping minister was always open to debate, and now he has been proven to be "on the take" as well.

Look at the math. Tk 6,014 crore project and at an annual return in improvement of Tk. 150 crore. It will take roughly 40 years to pay this off to India with interest. Even that rate of return is questionable.

 

[Bilal9]

This is easily the most common view of India from Bangladesh, paid back in the same coin.

Until successive Indian govts. learn to respect a sovereign nation like Bangladesh in a mature manner, it will continue to be #IndiaOut, always.

We don't relish disrespecting a whole govt. but until things improve, populists in Bangladesh will continue to hold this opinion.
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View from Bangladesh: How Grateful is India?

One Bangladeshi writer laments how India disrespects his nation despite it being grateful for Delhi's help in his country's liberation war. "Our neighboring nation should have had a more mature attitude after all these years," he says.
By Ekram Kabir

I hope all of you remember how Mandira Bedi expressed her dissatisfaction on a show with Charu Sharma on SET Max TV when, to her displeasure, Bangladesh beat India. That was in 2007. God knows how many times she uttered the word "minnow" while talking about the Bangladesh team.

She was very rude, full of ridicule for Bangladesh's win. More than a billion viewers watched her anger as she fumed with jealousy against Bangladesh as if she was trying to say that it was okay to lose against anyone -- West Indies, Australia, England -- but NOT to BANGLADESH!

After all these years, I had the same feeling when I saw the news that Bangladesh was set to surpass India in terms of per capita GDP in 2020 as predicted by the International Monetary Fund and that it had come as a shock to many Indians. The IMF's latest World Economic Outlook report said: "Bangladesh's per capita GDP would rise to $1,887.97 at current prices at the end of this year, up 3.96% from $1,816.04 in 2019. India's per capita GDP would fall to $1,877 in 2020, a decline of 10.3%."

Some Indian media outlets have appreciated Bangladesh's progress, and have criticized their own government's policies. However, many others -- both on social and traditional media -- found this piece of information very hard to digest. Many were seen heartbroken regarding this.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also couldn't accept the fact, attacking the BJP government, saying: "Solid achievement of six years of BJP's hate-filled cultural nationalism -- Bangladesh set to overtake India."

Well, his mission seemed to have more to do with politics than Bangladesh's status as a "minnow," but the tinge of sadness in his mind was quite evident.

The reason I cited these two examples is because we in Bangladesh have a belief that India, the country that helped us during our Liberation War, still looks upon us as an unsuccessful nation. Millions of Indians tend to think that Bangladeshis will always remain in their backyard -- always dependent on them, Bangladesh will remain underdeveloped, and not much else can be expected from this nation.

This attitude pains me. I won't deny the fact that there's a strong anti-Indian sentiment running in the minds of many Bangladeshis, but no Bangladeshi considers India as a backward or unsuccessful country. We learn a lot from Indian culture, literature, politics, and history. And we quite often express our gratitude for their help in 1971.

However, we should always remember that Bangladesh is in no way in competition with any other nation. We rejoice in our success among ourselves and we feel sad in our own failures.

Since our independence, we have been giving more to India than we have taken. We contribute to the Indian economy in a big way.

Indians working in Bangladesh send an enormous amount of remittance to their country from ours. As of November 2019, a report said the total annual remittance inflow into India from Bangladesh had reached $16.67 billion.

If we look at the number of Bangladeshi patients seeking medical treatment in India, it will be clear how much India earns from us.

I don't have any current data, but I can cite a report released by the Indian government in 2017. The report said, one in three foreign patients in India was from Bangladesh. Of the 460,000 inbound patients in Indian hospitals, more than 165,000 were from Bangladesh. Bangladeshis had bought over $343 million worth of services.

There's more.

One report says that 60% of the buyers in West Bengal are from Bangladesh. Did you notice that West Bengal -- especially Kolkata -- markets during the last two Eids when the Covid-time travel restrictions were on? Their markets looked deserted.

Here in Bangladesh, the markets are normally flooded with Indian apparel during our Eids. Despite that fact, thousands of Bangladeshis still prefer to go to India for Eid shopping.

In 2017, an estimated 150,000 shoppers went to India. If the shoppers had bought goods worth at least $1,000 each, they would have ended up spending $1,170 crore. But many spend way more than that.

We are a market for many other Indian goods and products. The country earns enormously from selling these goods and products to 165 million Bangladeshis.

And this is how Bangladesh has always given more to India. Sometimes, we feel that we deserve to be praised by India but, instead, what we receive is high-pitched jealousy whenever we achieve something good.

We don't expect this from India, a country that should have become more mature in all these years.

Ekram Kabir is a yogi, a story-teller, and a communications professional. His other works can be found on ekramkabir.com.

 

[Saif]

Clearly "control" is at play here, not running ports.

Sea ports and Air ports are strategic assets. India wants to get a firm grip on Bangladesh by getting transit through Bangladesh and by controlling our ports. This way India manages to reduce our strategic value to China significantly.

 

[Saif]

Useless project and money down the drain. India does not manufacture even one significant piece of container handling equipment (unlike China or other EU countries), so how they will "improve" container handling is beyond me.

And why this AL govt. awards projects to Indian firms is also questionable to me. The pedigree and experience of this Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury guy as a shipping minister was always open to debate, and now he has been proven to be "on the take" as well.

Look at the math. Tk 6,014 crore project and at an annual return in improvement of Tk. 150 crore. It will take roughly 40 years to pay this off to India with interest. Even that rate of return is questionable.

We should have given the project to China instead of India. India with its subpar technology will end up making the Mongla port more inefficient in the name of improving it.

 

[Saif]

Teesta, connectivity to dominate talks

The Teesta development project, signing of the long pending Teesta water sharing deal, renewal of the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty signed in 1996 and connectivity of the...

www.newagebd.net

Teesta, connectivity to dominate talks
Staff Correspondent 20 June, 2024, 01:00

Sheikh Hasina and Narendra Modi

The Teesta development project, signing of the long pending Teesta water sharing deal, renewal of the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty signed in 1996 and connectivity of the north-eastern states of India through Bangladesh are likely to dominate the bilateral talks between Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi in New Delhi in June 22.

Foreign ministry officials have taken all preparations for the PM-level talks as Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to fly to New Delhi on June 21 on a two-day visit at the invitation of Narendra Modi, a second trip to India in less than 15 days after the Bharatiya Janata Party formed the government for the third consecutive term.

'Prime minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to leave Dhaka on Friday on a two-day bilateral visit to India at the invitation of her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi and the bilateral talks between the two leaders as per schedule would be held on June 22, ' foreign ministry spokesperson and also director general of the Public Diplomacy wing Seheli Sabrin told New Age on Wednesday.

Asked about the meeting agenda, she said that officials were still working on it.

India has very recently expressed its willingness to support a mega development plan on the trans-boundary River Teesta inside Bangladesh, where China has already shown its interest and completed a survey for a $1 billion project.

Indian external affairs secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra conveyed the message during a courtesy call on foreign minister Hasan Mahmud at his Segunbagicha office in Dhaka in May, taking to the fore India's interest to counter China in its bordering area.

Vinay Mohan also paid a courtesy call on prime minister Sheikh Hasina at her office during the visit.

However, this would be Sheikh Hasina's first bilateral meeting with Narendra Modi after taking over as prime minister for the fourth consecutive term through the January 7 general election. She attended administering of the oath to Narendra Modi as prime minister of India for the third term running on June 9.

The Teesta development project as well as the water sharing of common rivers, including Teesta, and the renewal of the 30-year Ganges treaty expiring in 2026 would remain high on agenda besides India's issue of connectivity of the north-eastern states through Bangladesh, trade and defence partnership in the bilateral talks, according to officials concerned.

New Delhi has long been foot-dragging on the Teesta water-sharing treaty with Dhaka, adversely affecting the lives and livelihoods of the people in the Rangpur region.

Talking on the issue, a retired foreign secretary recently told New Age if India seriously takes the project to counter China, it may go ahead but may face the same situation of the other projects under the Indian line of credit that were not advancing at an expected pace, while a former diplomat said that Bangladesh should weigh both proposals and look into their terms to find a better one.

The Teesta becomes almost dry in the lean season due to the unilateral withdrawal of water upstream in India, while in monsoon, the common river overflows, causing frequent floods in Bangladesh as Indian authorities open floodgates of the Gajoldoba barrage to offload water pressure.

Biodiversity and agriculture in Bangladesh's northern districts have been seriously affected in the absence of any water-sharing treaty between the two countries.

After finalisation of the draft of the Teesta deal by the two sides, India backtracked on signing the treaty just hours before the arrival of then-Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh in Dhaka on September 6, 2011, on the plea that West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee objected to the agreement.

To read the rest of the news, please click on the link above.​

 

[Saif]

Hasina-Modi bilateral meet and expectations

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to start for Delhi on June 21, for Indo-Bangladesh bilateral summit meeting. This will be her second visit to Delhi within 11 days as she concluded her last trip to Delhi on June 10. According to diplomatic circles, such visit within such a short span of t

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Hasina-Modi bilateral meet and expectations
MOSTAFIZUR RAHMAN
Published :
Jun 19, 2024 21:24
Updated :
Jun 19, 2024 21:24

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to start for Delhi on June 21, for Indo-Bangladesh bilateral summit meeting. This will be her second visit to Delhi within 11 days as she concluded her last trip to Delhi on June 10.
According to diplomatic circles, such visit within such a short span of time is rare. Of course, this reflects the closeness of ties between the two neighbours which is often termed a 'unique' relationship.

However, people in general are eager to see what benefits Bangladesh can derive from such a strong bilateral relationship.

In her last three tenures since 2009, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina walked extra miles to strengthen ties with the biggest neighbour of the country. Transit and trans-shipment were provided, a band of insurgent leaders were handed over to India and tough stance was taken to ensure that Indian insurgents cannot use any part of Bangladesh as hideouts.

Once there was bold opposition among many Bangladeshis against providing India the transition and transshipment facilities, which have brought out a sea change in the transportation of goods and people between the two wings of India. But against all odds, Hasina took this phenomenal step.

However, it is widely believed that Indian political leadership has failed to reciprocate the very generous gesture of Bangladesh. The first example is its failure to ink the deal on the water sharing of Teesta River.

The deal was agreed by both sides and was supposed to be signed during the then Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Dhaka in 2011.

But at the last minute, India backed out citing opposition from the West Bengal government. Despite promises that the deal would be concluded 'very soon', it remains unfulfilled till now and there is no sign of materialising it in the near future.

Next comes the issue of border killing. Every year a good number of Bangladeshi people are killed by the Birder Security Forces (BSF) of India.

In every bilateral meetings, the Indian leadership promised to put an end to such killing of unarmed civilians by the BSF. And on several occasions both sides agreed to stop the use of lethal weapons by the border guards, but to no avail.

In no other parts of the world, border guards of a country kill unarmed civilians of its neighbours.

The BSF claim that they are compelled to shoot when they themselves are attacked by 'criminal elements' from Bangladesh. It is no secret that crime like smuggling or human trafficking is not a one-sided affair.

People from both sides are involved in such criminal activities. Even involvement of border forces of either side is often revealed in several reports. In any case, killing of civilians is not acceptable. And it is a major barrier to creating a true and lasting friendship between the people of the two countries, who have a long history of shared struggle and prosperity.

It is widely believed that an appropriate step from Delhi's political leadership is enough to stop such border killings. India recently took some steps to resolve the age-old disputes that include signing of the Land Boundary Agreement and lifting of export ban on essential commodities like onion. But people of Bangladesh expect that Indian leadership will also go the extra mile for resolving issues like border killing and water sharing.

Let us hope that during the upcoming visit, there will be a significant outcome in this regard.​

 

[Saif]

PM’S India Visit: Defence, Teesta project, port likely to be on agenda

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s upcoming visit to New Delhi on June 21-22 will focus on some key issues in bilateral relations that have regional geopolitical significance.

www.thedailystar.net

PM'S India Visit: Defence, Teesta project, port likely to be on agenda
Both sides finalising several deals, MoUs, say diplomatic sources

File photo of PM Sheikh Hasina/PID

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's upcoming visit to New Delhi on June 21-22 will focus on some key issues in bilateral relations that have regional geopolitical significance.

Issues such as water, port and defence will be discussed, The Daily Star has learnt from diplomatic sources in Dhaka and New Delhi.

Fresh loans from India under a new framework will also be high on the agenda of the bilateral talks as Bangladesh grapples with a crunch in foreign currency reserves, they said.

Besides, the Myanmar crisis, especially the intense fighting in Rakhine State, will feature prominently during the delegation-level meeting between Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.

The Bangladesh premier is scheduled to reach New Delhi in the afternoon tomorrow. On June 22, she will hold the delegation-level meeting centring on a new phase in the bilateral relationship, a diplomat told The Daily Star yesterday.

The two countries are finalising several agreements and memorandums of understanding that may be signed during Hasina's tour of India.

TEESTA PROJECT

The issue of funding for the "Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project" will feature prominently in the talks, according to diplomatic sources in Dhaka and New Delhi.

The agreement was finalised in 2011, but could not be inked due to opposition from West Bengal.

The Economic Relations Division sought a $983.27 million loan from China to implement the Teesta project, which includes river dredging, setting up reservoirs and building townships along the river.

On October 13, 2022, then-Chinese ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jiming said his country was serious about implementing the project, but also had a sense of reluctance due to sensitive issues surrounding it.

During a visit to Dhaka on May 9, Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra told Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud that India was interested in financing the Teesta project.

On June 13, Hasina told the parliament that the government was considering a proposal for a detailed feasibility study for the Teesta project as China's evaluation pointed out that there was a lack of detailed proposals on land development and water navigation.

"Our government needs to know whether India would sign the Teesta water sharing agreement because the river restoration and management project would depend on this," said Faiz Ahmad, a former ambassador of Bangladesh to China.

India and China also can fund different components of the project, said Ahmad, also a former chair of the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies.

A diplomat in New Delhi said the two prime ministers will also discuss the renewal of the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty that was signed in 1996. The treaty is set to expire in 2026.

To be continued.............​

 

[Saif]

MONGLA PORT

India is keen to manage the Mongla river port, which is crucial for better connectivity between Kolkata and India's north-eastern states, said a diplomatic source in New Delhi.

According to a report in India's The Economic Times, India has shown interest in managing Mongla port as it aligns with the country's broader strategy to counter China's expanding influence in the region.

It should not be an issue if Bangladesh gives the port handling work to India, Ahmad said.

"Japan is already working on Matarbari deep sea port, and China can manage the Payra Port in Patuakhali. But we need to be careful so that we don't upset anyone by satisfying another," he added.

India is also keen to develop an alternative network of railway routes through Bangladesh to connect its northeast with the rest of the country. This would reduce India's reliance on the existing route through Siliguri, according to a report by The Times of India.

"Detailed negotiation on such projects is needed to know whether Indian trains will run on Bangladesh's territory and whether Bangladesh's trains can use India's territories," Ahmad said.

According to sources, India may in principle approve the supply of electricity from Bhutan to Bangladesh using its power grid.

India is also likely to push for defence equipment sales to Bangladesh under the $500 million line of credit.

Bangladesh will seek smooth supply of essentials like wheat, sugar and onions from India.

The two leaders may also announce the launch of formal negotiations for a comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA), said Bangladesh foreign ministry sources.

The issue of border killings will also be on the agenda.​