Dhaka, Delhi strive for more accords during Hasina visit

DHAKA - Bangladeshi and Indian experts began deliberations Friday to sort out details of a bilateral pact on sharing of Teesta river waters, ahead of summit level talks scheduled in New Delhi Dec 19.

Bangladeshi officials say they are working to remove hurdles on the way for a decision that would require “intervention at the highest level”.

“We are trying to persuade India for several years to come to an agreement on sharing of the waters of the Teesta river. We have started preparing a draft agreement for handing it over to the Indian side,” a senior foreign ministry official said.

“But the government is yet to decide whether the draft agreement will be placed at the highest level or at the technical level through the Joint Rivers Commission.”

The neighbours have a Ganga water pact in place, but share a number of river systems.

Officials are working to sort out many issues before Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who enjoys positive vibes with the government in New Delhi, pays a three-day visit.

They are weighing the prospects of striking two deals in addition to the three accords the two sides so far have agreed to sign.

“One or two more agreements are in the pipeline,” Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty told media Thursday after a meeting with Foreign Secretary Mohamed Mijarul Quayes.

He, however, declined to specify the agreements, New Age newspaper said.

The home secretaries of the two countries finalised drafts of three agreements at a three-day meeting which ended in New Delhi Wednesday.

The agreements are on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters; combating international terrorism, organised crime and illicit drug trafficking; and transfer of sentenced persons.

A Bangladesh foreign ministry official here said that the two countries were examining the possibilities of signing agreements or memorandums of understanding on exchanging electricity and India’s investment in developing infrastructures, including railway and road facilities in Bangladesh.

Hasina had earlier said that she was in touch with Indian Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee to help improve the rail network of Bangladesh.

New Delhi is also pursuing its proposal to designate Ashuganj in Brahmanbaria as a new port of call and to allow India to use Chittagong port.

Foreign ministry officials said Hasina was likely to reach New Delhi Dec 18 after attending the UN conference on climate change in Copenhagen.