Delhi promises early conclusion of Teesta water sharing
Bangladesh has urged India to take steps for sharing the water of all the common rivers and resolving the long-pending Teesta water-sharing deal, reports UNB.
Foreign minister AK Abdul Momen raised the issue at the fifth meeting of the Joint Consultative Commission (JCC) between Bangladesh and India held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Bhavan in New Delhi on Friday afternoon.
Foreign minister Momen and Indian external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj co-chaired the JCC meeting.
In reply, the Indian external affairs minister assured that they would work for the early conclusion of the Teesta water sharing agreement, according to Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi.
Minister Momen emphasised that economic diplomacy is emerging as a foreign policy priority for Bangladesh.
He noted that resource mobilisation for achieving the SDGs and the importance of South and triangular cooperation for developing countries, where India could play a crucial role.
Following the talks, the two ministers witnessed the signing of four MoUs were signed between both sides related to training of Bangladesh mid-career civil servants in India, on cooperation in the field of medicinal plants, on cooperation on anti-corruption issues and for facilitating investments in the Indian Economic Zone in Mongla.
The external affairs minister hosted a lunch in honour of foreign minister Momen and his delegation. India’s minister of state for external affairs general Vijay Kumar Singh (retd) was also present during the lunch.
On his arrival, the Indian external affairs minister received the Bangladesh Foreign minister at Jawaharlal Nehru Bhavan.
She highlighted that both countries are the two of the fastest growing economies in the world and India stands in full support of prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s development agenda.
The Indian external affairs minister noted with satisfaction that the Bangladesh-India bilateral relations are passing a good time.
The Bangladesh foreign minister highlighted that the relations have reached an unprecedented height under the leadership of prime minister Sheikh Hasina and prime minister Modi.
Momen, who is leading a 21-member delegation to India, is scheduled to return home on Saturday.