India-Bangladesh pledges to deepen ties with 6 MoUs in development cooperation

Dhaka, April 10: To strengthen development cooperation between India and Bangladesh, the two countries on Monday inked six MoUs, including one for the construction of a 129.5-km long oil pipeline between Siliguri and Parbatipur, and discussed the Teesta water sharing issue.

“We have also signed 2 more MoUs for grant projects whereby we will set up language labs in 500 schools in Bangladesh and upgrade different roads in Rangpur city. This is part of our endeavour to undertake projects in Bangladesh in various socio-economic sectors, including education, culture, health, community welfare, road infrastructure etc. for which we are providing 1600 crore taka under grant financing,” the foreign secretary added.

Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale who is on three day visit to Bangladesh said in a statement after a meeting with his Bangladeshi counterpart Md Shahidul Haque that, India also extended full support to Bangladesh's efforts for resolving the Rohingya refugee crisis, including the early repatriation of the displaced people to Myanmar.

The Indian Foreign Secretary said Bangladesh is India’s biggest trade partner in South Asia.

Some 13 agreements in the private sector worth nearly US$ 10 billion were signed during the visit of Prime Minister of Bangladesh to India last year, in areas such as energy, logistics, education and medicine.

“We are committed to further tap the immense potential that exists in this field,” Mr Gokhale said.

The cooperation in the area of energy and power sector is a source of immense satisfaction to both of them, he said.

India is currently supplying 660 MW of power to Bangladesh and they are on course to add at least 500 MW more by this June.