Delhi reaches out to Dhaka for ties beyond ‘strategic partnership’ Â
Context:
- Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Bangladesh later this month, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar made a strong outreach to Dhaka on his bilateral visit, describing the country as a “key neighbour” and a “valued partner” not only “in South Asia but also in the broader Indo-Pacific region”.
- He said India’s ties with Bangladesh “transcend even our strategic partnership”.
Details:
- The visits have been timed with celebrations to mark 50 years of the 1971 liberation war that led to the birth of Bangladesh.
- India and Bangladesh had a Virtual Summit in December last year, a Joint Consultative Commission.
- With Modi scheduled to visit Dhaka around March 25-26, Jaishankar said they were working to make it a “very memorable visit” — it would be the Prime Minister’s first visit outside India since the pandemic and his second as Prime Minister to Bangladesh.
- Jaishankar outlined Delhi’s priorities: “We are working so hard to expand our relationship in all dimensions, ranging from security, trade, transport and connectivity, culture, people-to-people ties, energy, joint development of our shared resources and defence”.
- On the issue of vaccines, Jaishankar said Bangladesh is the largest recipient of Made-in-India vaccines.
- On the long-pending deal on the sharing of Teesta waters, Jaishankar said: “We did discuss it and you know we would have a meeting of our Water Resources secretaries very soon. I am sure they will discuss it further. You know the Government of India’s position, that has not changed.”
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