Dhaka to get 100 mw electricity Delhi to get access to Ashuganj port

Joint statement issued after Dipu Moni’s visit to India says
Bangladesh and India have recognized the need to expedite negotiations for finalizing an agreement to share the waters of Teesta river.
“Towards this end, they agreed to mandate their respective foreign offices to meet and discuss the technical and other parameters of this issue,” a joint press statement issued here Thursday said. The statement was handed over to newsmen at a press conference addressed by the visiting foreign minister Dr. Dipu Moni at the Bangladesh High Commission at Chanakyapuri here before her departure for home ending the four-day official visit to India.
The two sides also agreed to immediately commence joint hydrological observations on the river and to undertake bank protection works, dredging of Ichhamati river and minor irrigation/ drinking water schemes on Feni river.
While agreeing to enhance cooperation in the power sector, India decided to provide at least 100 MW to Bangladesh on a priority basis.
Bangladesh side agreed to provide access to Ashuganj Port to facilitate the transportation of the Over Dimensional Consignments for the Palatana Power Project in Tripura. The statement further said the Indian side agreed to facilitate Nepal- Bangladesh and Bhutan-Bangladesh connectivity.
Both sides agreed on the re-opening Sabroom-Ramgarh trade point as well opening a land route at Demagiri-Thegamukh on the Mizoram border for bilateral trade.
India agreed in principle to provide a Line of Credit for railway projects and supply of locomotives, coaches and buses. India offered to take up construction of Akhaura-Agartala railway link under Indian assistance.
“India also agreed to assist Bangladesh in the dredging sector,” the statement added. Both sides agreed to start Border Haats (markets) on the Bangladesh-Meghalaya border for mutual benefit of the people in these areas. They also agreed to movement of containerized cargo by rail and water for bilateral trade.
The two sides also welcomed the holding of the Joint Working Group on Trade last month and discussed broad economic issues to fully activate all institutional mechanism to promote two-way trade, initiate long pending trade facilitation measures and facilitate movement of businessmen and professionals.
Bangladesh specially raised the issue of duty free access to Bangladeshi commodities, removal of non tariff and para tariff barriers and improvement of infrastructures on the Indian side.
Dhaka and Delhi agreed to ‘comprehensively address’ all outstanding land boundary issues. Both sides expressed their intent to resolve outstanding issues relating to Dahagram and Angarpota enclaves and the Tin Bigha corridor.

Courtesy of BSS, New Delhi