In line with the NDA government’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy, leaders from the neighbourhood including Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina are arriving in New Delhi to attend the oath-taking ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Accompanied by a senior official delegation, the Bangladesh leader after receiving an invitation from PM Modi will leave Dhaka on a special flight on Friday and will remain here in the national capital until June 9.
According to reports in the public domain, M Nazrul Islam, the speechwriter for the Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina has “Prime Minister Hasina is departing tomorrow from Dhaka to Delhi to participate in the oath-taking ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi after receiving an invitation from him.”
However, there is no official confirmation about the possibility of a bilateral meeting between the two leaders in New Delhi soon after the ceremony.
Importance of the visit
Sharing his views with Financial Express Online, Gautam Lahiri, Bangladesh Commentator and Senior Journalist, says: “When two leaders meet definitely, they will flag issues of mutual concern. This, however, will not be a structured bilateral meeting.
The two leaders will agree on bilateral new engagement for further discussion in the coming month (July), “It’s expected that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina may visit India again for comprehensive dialogue,” Lahiri added. Adding, “Economic partnership agreement may take shape during discussion.”
According to him, “Apart from connectivity, new areas of cooperation are being explored including solar energy, space, nano technology. India is keen to expand defence cooperation with Bangladesh. Bangladesh wants to resolve Teesta water sharing. Pending this, both countries are looking for alternative projects like dredging and infusing more water into the river.”
Financial Express Online has reported previously that the Bangladesh leader is scheduled to visit China next month and during her visit to New Delhi over the weekend, “India will convey their concern on security issues. Bangladesh has promised they will not allow any project to China which may annoy Delhi,” Lahiri explained.
Last month in a significant diplomatic move, Foreign Secretary, Vinay Kwatra, embarked on an official visit to Bangladesh from May 8-9, 2024. This marked the first official visit to Bangladesh following the formation of the new government in January 2024, underlining the importance accorded to bilateral relations.
Key Meetings and Discussions
During his visit, Kwatra held meetings with key dignitaries, including Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud, and his counterpart, Masud Bin Momen. These meetings were crucial in reaffirming India’s commitment to its ‘Neighbourhood First’ Policy, a cornerstone of its foreign relations strategy.
Comprehensive Review of Bilateral Relations
At the core of discussions were various facets of the bilateral relationship, spanning political and security cooperation, water management, trade and investment, power and energy collaboration, defence ties, connectivity initiatives, and sub-regional cooperation. The comprehensive review of these areas underscores the depth and breadth of the Indo-Bangladesh partnership.
Importance of the Indo-Bangladesh Partnership
Bangladesh holds a special place as India’s leading development partner and its largest trade partner in the region. Against this backdrop, Kwatra’s visit aimed to not only consolidate existing ties but also inject fresh momentum into bilateral cooperation across diverse sectors.
Fostering Stability and Development
As the region witnesses rapid geopolitical shifts and evolving security threats, the significance of strong, mutually beneficial relationships cannot be overstated. India’s proactive outreach to its neighbours underscores its commitment to fostering stability, peace, and development in the South Asian region.