India agrees to give 100mw electricity on priority basis

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Signalling a great deal of significant developments on the diplomatic front, Bangladesh and India discussed India's use of Chittagong seaport as well as designated Ashuganj as a new port of call under the bilateral Inland Water Transit and Trade Agreement, reports UNB.
A joint statement issued Thursday after Foreign Minister Dipu Moni's three-day tour of New Delhi said Dhaka agreed to give India access to Ashuganj Port to facilitate the transportation of Over Dimensional Consignments for the Palatana Power Project in Tripura.
Dhaka and New Delhi also agreed "to conclude agreement for mutual legal assistance on criminal matters, transfer of sentenced persons and combat against international terrorism, organised crime and illegal drug trafficking", said the joint communiqué.
Both sides agreed to enhance cooperation in the power sector. India agreed to provide at least 100mw electricity to Bangladesh on a priority basis.
Ahead of this, India will also undertake a feasibility study on power grid inter-connectivity for transmission lines, etc., from India to Bangladesh.
During her visit, Dr Moni held official talks with Indian External Affairs Minister SM Krishna on September 8 on a range of bilateral issues -- some of those were longstanding and considered irritants in the relations between the two next-door neighbours.

Under an apparent package deal, the two sides recognised the need of expediting negotiations to finalise an agreement for sharing the waters of Teesta River, one of 54 common rivers.
They agreed to mandate their respective foreign offices to discuss technical and other parameters of this issue. They also agreed to "immediately commence joint hydrological observations" on the river, considered lifeline of Bangladesh's northern-most districts.
The two sides also agreed to undertake bank-protection works, dredging of Ichhamati River and minor irrigation/drinking-water schemes on Feni River.
In another major outcome of the Delhi meet - held against the backdrop of new governments taking over charge in both the countries - the Indian side agreed to facilitate Nepal-Bangladesh and Bhutan-Bangladesh cross-border connectivity, according to the joint statement.
The two sides reached another agreement on the reopening of Sabroom-Ramgarh trade point as well as opening a land route along Demagiri-Thegamukh line on Mizoram border in the landlocked northeastern India for bilateral trade.
In the land-transportation sector, India agreed in principle to provide a line of credit for railway projects and supply of locomotives, coaches and buses. India offered to take up construction of Akhaura-Agartala rail-link under Indian assistance.
The Indian side also agreed to assist Bangladesh in the dredging sector, as most rivers in the country have been silted up and the new government designs a massive dredging recipe.
Both sides agreed to start border haats on the Bangladesh-Meghalaya frontier and movement of containerised cargo by rail and waterways for boosting bilateral trade.
They welcomed the meeting of the Joint Working Group on Trade last month and discussed broad economic issues with a view to fully activating all institutional mechanisms to promote the two-way trade, initiating long-pending trade-facilitation measures and facilitating movement of business people and professionals.
Bangladesh raised the issue of duty-free access of Bangladeshi commodities to the Indian market, removal of non-tariff and para-tariff barriers and improvement of infrastructures on the Indian side.
Delhi expressed their readiness to assist Bangladesh in strengthening the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI). They also requested removal of barriers to Indian investments and port restrictions on specific commodities.
On the boundary issue -- as old as partition of the subcontinent in 1947 -- both sides agreed to address all outstanding land-boundary issues and expressed their intent to resolve the outstanding issues relating to Dahagram and Angarpota enclaves and the Tinbigha Corridor.
They also recognised the need for electrification of Dahgram and Angarpota enclaves under a humanitarian gesture, as the inhabitants over there live in primitive conditions being cut off by an Indian corridor from the Bangladesh mainland.
The Bangladesh side thanked the host side for cooperation extended to the Bangladesh Parliamentary delegation during their visit to the proposed Tipaimukh Dam site. Dhaka welcomed India's assurance that the project would have no adverse impact on Bangladesh.
The two foreign ministers reaffirmed a resolve to strengthen bilateral cooperation to deter the recurrence of terrorist incidents. Both sides also reiterated their pledge not to allow the use of their territories for activities inimical to each other's security interests.