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Agartala, Sep 07, 2011 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the policy makers in New Delhi threw a spanner to long cherished hope of North East and Tripura in particular when they failed to get transit route through Bangladesh for the region. The much hyped Delhi Dhaka talks virtually fell through, as far as Tripura is concerned, despite all sweetie talks before the meet.
India declined to give Bangladesh their much needed Teesta water and in reply Dhaka denied any transit through its territory for Indian goods to North East.
Besides settling the disputed land issues the major success that could benefit Bangladesh is that India agreed to finance 13 projects that involve $746 million, and two loan agreements involving about $41 million that were signed. The Indian Line of credit would entail 1.75 per cent interest per annum and it will be repaid in 20 years with five years' grace period.
Besides as an addendum Bangladesh’s demand for transit corridor to Nepal through Indian territory was also included.
On trades, Delhi agreed to provide duty-free access to the Indian market to 46 textile tariff lines, as per the request of Bangladesh, with immediate effect. Bangladesh had demanded 64 items for this. This is aimed at bridging the gap between trade imbalance between India and Bangladesh .
India will also help Bangladesh in power sectors.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Sheikh Hasina sought to sound optimist when they in a joint statement said, "Our common rivers need not be sources of discord, but can become the harbingers of prosperity to both our countries”. And as usual, it continued : "We have decided to continue discussions to reach a mutually acceptable, fair and amicable arrangement for the sharing of the Teesta and Feni river waters".
The two neighbouring countries have signed an agreement, a protocol and eight memoranda of understanding.
There were indication from Monday that agreement between New Delhi and Dhaka on Teesta water would be acceptable to the satisfaction of West Bengal government as well as to Bangladesh.
Mamata Banerjee had earlier declared that she would not accompany Prime Minister, but when Water Resource Minister Paban Banshal also did not go to Dhaka, it became clear that Teesta Water sharing deal had run into rough weather.
Indian refusal to share Teesta water as per Dhaka’s demand not only dashed the hope of Bangladesh but also sparked wild disappointement and frustration among general public there. The bangladesh response by not allowing transit put entire north east to square one as far as its opening to Indian heartland via Bangladesh is concerned. Disappointement in Tripura is loud and clear.
The only success that emerged from the largely botched up meet include, Land Boundary Agreement with both the governments signing a protocol to implement the land boundary agreement signed in 1974 between Indira Gandhi and Sheikh Mujibur Rehman. Bangladesh has 111 Indian enclaves and India houses 51 Bangladeshi enclaves . Added to it were undemarcated boundary of 6.5 kms and some adversely possessed land.
The problem was as old as 1947 and several attempts to settle it once and for all could not succeed. About 51,000 people live in the enclaves- and among them 34,000 happened to be Bangladeshi and 17000 Indians.
As a result , of the Protocol to the Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) of 1974 both the countries have now demarcated the entire land boundary as well as resolved the issue of status of the enclaves and adversely possessed areas.
According to Singh, both the parties worked out 24-hour access to the enclaves of Dahagram-Angarpota through the Tin Bigha Corridor which means Bangladeshi people in Dahagram and Angorpota from now on would be able to move unrestricted through the Tin Bigha Corridor. The land boundar problem is as old as 1947 .
But the most shocking set back came for India was Dhaka’s denial even to exchange ‘letter’ on transit as it was decided earlier as they did not get the Teesta water.
However, the existing agreement and protocol will be the basis for providing the transit service through Bangladesh. Which means Bangladesh will allow ONGC to bring in their OVCs via Ashuganj as per the predermined deal. Not after that as Ashuganj port was given on Palatana specific terms.
The joint statement of Singh and Hasina said, "We have embarked on a series of measures to improve border infrastructure. These will facilitate Bangladesh's exports to India and provide it greater opening to India and other neighbouring countries."
"We are addressing issues relating to non-tariff barriers together with Bangladesh," he said.
The two prime ministers also signed a framework agreement on cooperation for development of a contemporary blueprint to encompass all forms and sectors of cooperation.
India will also help Bangladesh in its power sector.
"We will supply bulk power to Bangladesh by connecting our national grids. We will assist in setting up of a 1320 megawatt joint venture power plant in Khulna," Singh said.
India relaxed its conditions of procuring 85 per cent Indian manpower and machine under $1 billion line of credit in two construction sites at Khulna-Mongla port rail line including feasibility study, and second Bhairab and second Titas bridge including feasibility study with approach rail line.
Besides, Bangladesh and India also inked an addendum to the MoU between India and Bangladesh to facilitate overland transit traffic between Bangladesh and Nepal, an MoU for cooperation in renewable energy, another on conservation of the Sundarbans, a protocol on conservation of the Royal Bengal Tiger of the Sundarbans, an MoU on cooperation in fisheries, one on cooperation between Doordarshan and Bangladesh Television, an MoU on cooperation between Jawaharlal Nehru University and Dhaka University, and an agreement of cooperation between the National Institute of Fashion Designing, India and BGMEA Institute of Fashion Technology, Bangladesh.
Agartala, Sep 07, 2011 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the policy makers in New Delhi threw a spanner to long cherished hope of North East and Tripura in particular when they failed to get transit route through Bangladesh for the region. The much hyped Delhi Dhaka talks virtually fell through, as far as Tripura is concerned, despite all sweetie talks before the meet.
India declined to give Bangladesh their much needed Teesta water and in reply Dhaka denied any transit through its territory for Indian goods to North East.
Besides settling the disputed land issues the major success that could benefit Bangladesh is that India agreed to finance 13 projects that involve $746 million, and two loan agreements involving about $41 million that were signed. The Indian Line of credit would entail 1.75 per cent interest per annum and it will be repaid in 20 years with five years' grace period.
Besides as an addendum Bangladesh’s demand for transit corridor to Nepal through Indian territory was also included.
On trades, Delhi agreed to provide duty-free access to the Indian market to 46 textile tariff lines, as per the request of Bangladesh, with immediate effect. Bangladesh had demanded 64 items for this. This is aimed at bridging the gap between trade imbalance between India and Bangladesh .
India will also help Bangladesh in power sectors.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Sheikh Hasina sought to sound optimist when they in a joint statement said, "Our common rivers need not be sources of discord, but can become the harbingers of prosperity to both our countries”. And as usual, it continued : "We have decided to continue discussions to reach a mutually acceptable, fair and amicable arrangement for the sharing of the Teesta and Feni river waters".
The two neighbouring countries have signed an agreement, a protocol and eight memoranda of understanding.
There were indication from Monday that agreement between New Delhi and Dhaka on Teesta water would be acceptable to the satisfaction of West Bengal government as well as to Bangladesh.
Mamata Banerjee had earlier declared that she would not accompany Prime Minister, but when Water Resource Minister Paban Banshal also did not go to Dhaka, it became clear that Teesta Water sharing deal had run into rough weather.
Indian refusal to share Teesta water as per Dhaka’s demand not only dashed the hope of Bangladesh but also sparked wild disappointement and frustration among general public there. The bangladesh response by not allowing transit put entire north east to square one as far as its opening to Indian heartland via Bangladesh is concerned. Disappointement in Tripura is loud and clear.
The only success that emerged from the largely botched up meet include, Land Boundary Agreement with both the governments signing a protocol to implement the land boundary agreement signed in 1974 between Indira Gandhi and Sheikh Mujibur Rehman. Bangladesh has 111 Indian enclaves and India houses 51 Bangladeshi enclaves . Added to it were undemarcated boundary of 6.5 kms and some adversely possessed land.
The problem was as old as 1947 and several attempts to settle it once and for all could not succeed. About 51,000 people live in the enclaves- and among them 34,000 happened to be Bangladeshi and 17000 Indians.
As a result , of the Protocol to the Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) of 1974 both the countries have now demarcated the entire land boundary as well as resolved the issue of status of the enclaves and adversely possessed areas.
According to Singh, both the parties worked out 24-hour access to the enclaves of Dahagram-Angarpota through the Tin Bigha Corridor which means Bangladeshi people in Dahagram and Angorpota from now on would be able to move unrestricted through the Tin Bigha Corridor. The land boundar problem is as old as 1947 .
But the most shocking set back came for India was Dhaka’s denial even to exchange ‘letter’ on transit as it was decided earlier as they did not get the Teesta water.
However, the existing agreement and protocol will be the basis for providing the transit service through Bangladesh. Which means Bangladesh will allow ONGC to bring in their OVCs via Ashuganj as per the predermined deal. Not after that as Ashuganj port was given on Palatana specific terms.
The joint statement of Singh and Hasina said, "We have embarked on a series of measures to improve border infrastructure. These will facilitate Bangladesh's exports to India and provide it greater opening to India and other neighbouring countries."
"We are addressing issues relating to non-tariff barriers together with Bangladesh," he said.
The two prime ministers also signed a framework agreement on cooperation for development of a contemporary blueprint to encompass all forms and sectors of cooperation.
India will also help Bangladesh in its power sector.
"We will supply bulk power to Bangladesh by connecting our national grids. We will assist in setting up of a 1320 megawatt joint venture power plant in Khulna," Singh said.
India relaxed its conditions of procuring 85 per cent Indian manpower and machine under $1 billion line of credit in two construction sites at Khulna-Mongla port rail line including feasibility study, and second Bhairab and second Titas bridge including feasibility study with approach rail line.
Besides, Bangladesh and India also inked an addendum to the MoU between India and Bangladesh to facilitate overland transit traffic between Bangladesh and Nepal, an MoU for cooperation in renewable energy, another on conservation of the Sundarbans, a protocol on conservation of the Royal Bengal Tiger of the Sundarbans, an MoU on cooperation in fisheries, one on cooperation between Doordarshan and Bangladesh Television, an MoU on cooperation between Jawaharlal Nehru University and Dhaka University, and an agreement of cooperation between the National Institute of Fashion Designing, India and BGMEA Institute of Fashion Technology, Bangladesh.
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