India and B'desh PMs set for bilateral summit

India's virtual summit with Bangladesh on December 17 is a very positive development to continue New Delhi's engagement with the country in the future, according to experts.

New Delhi:Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina is all set to hold a virtual bilateral summit on Thursday 17 December, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Monday.

During the Summit, the two leaders will hold comprehensive discussions on the entire spectrum of the bilateral relationship, including further strengthening cooperation in the post COVID era, the MEA said in a statement.

An expert said Bangladesh is an important country and that the virtual summit is a very positive development to continue India’s engagement with the country in the future.

Speaking to ETV Bharat, Joyeeta Bhattacharjee a Senior Fellow with Observer Research Foundation (ORF), a think tank in New Delhi and a foreign policy expert in Bangladesh, said” Virtual meeting gives us an option given the pandemic condition, to discuss the issues. It is more of a closer engagement and the summit is a run-up to the upcoming bilateral visit in March 2021. That way it is a very positive step together to continue engagement.

“This year is very important because it is ‘Mujib Borsho’ and Bangladesh soon will be celebrating its Golden Jubilee of the Liberation War and their independence. Keeping that in mind, the virtual meeting will pave the way for more engagement and cooperation together”, Bhattacharjee points out.

She says when it comes to bilateral issues; India always perceives India-Bangladesh relationship as independent of any country together.

Prime Ministers of India and Bangladesh has been meeting from time to time at the digital platform and there has been ample of projects inauguration together. The meetings reflect the momentum of discussions and there has been engagement at the diplomatic level including Foreign Secretary’s visit to Bangladesh, regular interaction is in place, Joyeeta added.

“India and Bangladesh have continued to maintain regular exchanges at the highest level. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid an official visit to India in October 2019. Prime Minister Modi delivered a video message on the historic occasion of Mujib Borsho in March 2020. Both leaders have remained in regular touch during the COVID pandemic”, MEA said in a statement.

Earlier on Sunday Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said during the summit both sides will raise major issues, including water and border ones.

“We’ll raise our major issues, which we usually raise,” he told media, adding that several “quick-impact” projects will be inaugurated.

Further, Joyeeta said, “Virtual meeting at the summit level gives a direction how India-Bangladesh will shape its future relation together. It gives added focus and pushes forward the relationship further. It showcases how close India is with Bangladesh and how India sees Bangladesh as a partner to work together for a better corporation. More interaction means understanding each other’s viewpoint, which is a positive stand altogether, given the overall global situation”.

Chilahati-Haldibari rail link, a pre-1965 connectivity line, will be inaugurated along with some other projects during the Summit between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Bangladesh foreign minister, however, said the month of victory will come up in a big way at the meeting because it is also a victory for India as they helped Bangladesh achieve it. “We must acknowledge the contributions of the then Indian prime minister.”

Emphasizing on the “golden chapter” in bilateral relations, Momen said, “The two countries have set an example by resolving issues like LBA and maritime boundaries through dialogue and discussions”. Pointing out that the two countries can resolve all issues by discussions, he said, “Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has shown the leadership maturity in resolving problems”.

Highlighting the historical ties between Bangladesh and India, he said, “India is a time tested friend of Bangladesh. So, India has reasons to be proud of our victory”.

Notably, India’s High Commissioner to Dhaka, Vikram Doraiswami, has met PM Hasina for consultations ahead of the summit. Bangladesh has invited PM Modi to visit the country on March 26 in person, to jointly celebrate the Independence Day of Bangladesh. Prime Minister Modi is expected to travel to Dhaka in 2021.