How Will Sheikh Hasina's Four-Day Visit To India Would Strengthen Ties?

PM Narendra Modi received Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on her arrival at Rashtrapati Bhavan. After this, Sheikh Hasina was given a ceremonial welcome there.

Hasina, who arrived on a four-day visit to India, said that India has always been a good partner of ours. I look forward to a positive dialogue between India and Bangladesh. When our country became independent, India and the people of India supported us, I thank India's contribution made during that time.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has tweeted on the joint address with Bangladesh PM Hasina.

Bangladesh Is India's 6th Largest Trade Partner

Bangladesh is India’s sixth largest trading partner with bilateral ties increasing from USD 2.4 billion in 2009 to USD 10.8 billion in 2020-21. The neighbouring country also imports some essential industrial raw materials from India on which its exports are dependent.

In 2020, India sent out USD 7.91 billion to Bangladesh. The primary items that India sent out to Bangladesh are raw cotton (USD 700 million), non-retail pure cotton yarn (USD 657 million), and electricity (USD 425 million). During the most recent 25 years, the products of India to Bangladesh have expanded at an annualised pace of 8.46 per cent, from USD 1.04 billion in 1995 to USD 7.91 billion in 2020.

In 2020, Bangladesh sent USD 1.01 billion to India. The primary items that Bangladesh sent out to India were other pure vegetable oils (USD 112 million), non-knit men's suits (USD 98.3 million), and textile scraps (USD 65.8 million). During the most recent 25 years,s the products of Bangladesh to India have expanded at an annualised pace of 10.2 per cent, from USD 88.5 million in 1995 to USD 1.01 billion in 2020.

Matters To Be Prioritised During Hasina's Visit

This is an official visit for Sheikh Hasina to India. According to officials, issues related to security cooperation, investment, enhancing trade ties, power and energy sector cooperation, sharing of common rivers, water resource management, border management and drug trafficking and human trafficking were discussed during the talks between Hasina and Modi.

The agreements expected to be signed during the visit include agreements on water management, railways, science and technology and information and broadcasting. The Prime Ministers of both countries can issue a joint statement.

Agreements Signed Between Neighbours Today

Several important MoUs were signed between India and Bangladesh on Tuesday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina were present on the occasion. During this, the Prime Ministers of India and Bangladesh signed an agreement on the sharing of water of the Kushiyara River, which would benefit southern Assam and the Sylhet region of Bangladesh.

One of the marked oUs is, the withdrawal of 153 cusec water from the Kushiyara River by Bangladesh the under upper Surma-Kushiyara project, Sylhet through Rahmipur.

One more MoU was endorsed between Scientific Cooperation and the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), India and Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR).

Other agreed MoUs were between the National Judicial Academy, Bhopal, India and the Supreme Court of Bangladesh.

Two MoUs were endorsed between the Ministry of Railways, India and Bangladesh Railway for preparing Bangladesh Railway staff at the preparation Institutes of Indian Railway and between the Ministry of Railways, India and Bangladesh Railway for a coordinated effort for IT arrangements in Bangladesh part.

MoU between Prasar Bharati and Bangladesh Television was additionally marked.

In the meantime, one more MoU between both sides was, the signed paperwork for collaboration in the space of Space Technology.

What's expected from Hasina's visit to India?

Hasina's delegation includes Foreign Minister Momen, Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi, Railway Minister Mohammad Nurul Islam Suzanne, Liberation War Minister AK M Mozammel Haque and Economic Affairs Adviser to the Prime Minister Masiur AK M Rahman.

While her address, Hasina said, "Our priority is to address the issues of the people, eradicate poverty and develop the economy. With these issues, I feel that both of us countries work together so that people can have a better life not only in India and Bangladesh but across South Asia."

As India's links with Bangladesh are civilisational, cultural, social and economic, it can be said that Sheikh Hasina's visit to India will build up these ties more strongly. Bangladesh's commodities could rise 182 per cent under an international alliance. This could become 300 per cent whenever joined with trade facilities and decreased transaction costs.

Also, one of the central points of contention on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's visit to India is energy collaboration to determine issues welcomed by high fuel and item costs. Furthermore, compelling collaboration between the two neighbours will likewise open doors for the locale to keep a steady energy system.

Apart from that, India’s projects with ASEAN and Bangladesh will lead the region to economic development. The finishing of the Bangladesh-India Friendship Pipeline and the Maitree Super Thermal PospeedProject would sped up both Bangladesh and India.