Delhi moves to resolve disputes with Dhaka

NEW DELHI, May 7 (UNB): India plans to make important announcements on certain longstanding issues with Bangladesh including sharing of Teesta waters and border matters during Prime Minister (PM) Manmohan Singh's visit to Dhaka some time this year. "We've special relations with Bangladesh and we're fully aware of Bangladesh's concerns.We've to take steps expeditiously to resolve those concerns," Indian Finance Minister (FM) Pranab Mukherjee said here Saturday. Talking to a group of Bangladeshi journalists at his ministry in the South Block, Pranab admitted that there has been delay in implementing the commitments India made to Bangladesh. "It will remain merely words if it is not reflected in our actions on the ground. There have been some slippages. People want to see much more things visible," he said. Pranab, said he would talk to his cabinet colleagues of relevant ministries to see why things are being delayed and make sure there is expeditious implementation of the commitments envisaged in the joint communique. The joint communique was issued during Sheikh Hasina's visit to India in January last year. "Whatever we have committed, needs to be implement," Pranab said, adding "I do feel that some of the issues should be implemented quickly." Asked about the interim sharing of the water of the Teesta, he said: "We want to make announcement about it during the Prime Minister's visit (to Bangladesh) some time this year."' About the unabated killing of Bangladesh nationals at the border despite repeated assurances, he said that given the "deep and intense relations" with Bangladesh, such incidents are "extremely unwarranted." Pranab emphatically said under no circumstances, such incident should take place and "this should be stopped completely." About reduction of growing trade imbalance, he said he would look into shortening the Indian negative lists to allow duty-free access of more Bangladeshi export products to the Indian market. Pranab mentioned the Indian government decision on increasing duty-free access of 10 million pieces of garment from the present eight million pieces. On the use of Chittagong and Mongla seaports as agreed by Bangladesh, he said the ports need to increase their capacities and "we are discussing how we could contribute to it." Pranab said that when the transit would be in place, it would not only facilitate the communications but also contribute to reducing Bangladesh's trade deficit with India through increased volume of export and import as well as India's investment in Bangladesh. About the demarcation of 6.5 kilometers of border and exchange of enclaves and lands in adverse possession, Pranab said a meeting at Home Secretary level or their representative level will be held shortly to make a spot visit at the border. About non-realization of India's commitment to sell 500,000 tonnes of food grains to Bangladesh, Pranab said the food grains could not be exported as a court in India issued injunction on the exporting agency STC. He assured that if the government can not vacate the injunction it will look for other agency to export the food grains.