Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN) - Bangladesh and India signed a `Framework Cooperation Agreement for Development’ on Tuesday aiming to enhance bilateral ties between the two countries.
Bangladesh Premier Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh inked the comprehensive framework agreement on bilateral cooperation at around 7:33pm (local times) at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) in the capital Dhaka.
“The Agreement lays down the framework for enhancing mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation in a wide range of areas,” an official announcement said.
These include - promotion of trade, investment and economic cooperation; connectivity; water resources; management of natural disasters; generation, transmission and distribution of electricity, including from renewable or other sources; promotion of scientific, educational and cultural cooperation; people to people exchanges; environmental protection and responding to challenges of climate change through adaptation; sub regional cooperation in the power sector, water resources management, physical connectivity, environment and sustainable development; and enhancing cooperation in security.
The Agreement may be amended by mutual consent in order to enhance, deepen and widen the scope of cooperation, including regional/ sub-regional expansion, it added.
Foreign Minister Dipu Moni and Indian External Affairs Minister SM Krishna signed the protocol on Land Boundary Agreement.
The two foreign ministers also signed the memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation in the field of renewable energy.
Bangladesh Commerce Minister Faruk Khan and Indian Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai signed the addendum to the MoU to facilitate overland transit facilities between Bangladesh and India for Nepal.
Bangladesh Forest and Environment Secretary Mesbahul Alam and Indian Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai signed the MoU on conservation of the Sundarbans.
The MoU on conservation of Royal Bengal Tigers in Sundarbans was signed by Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Mijarul Quayes and Indian Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai.
A MoU was also singed for extending cooperation between Dhaka University and Jawaharlal Nehru University while another to exchange programs by the state-run BTV and Doordarshan.
Another MoU was inked to extend cooperation between Bangladesh Institute of Fashion Technology and Indian Institute of Fashion Technology. The governing body president of the Bangladeshi institution and the director general of the Indian institution signed the deal on behalf of their respective sides.
Before the signing, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina headed a 17-member delegation at the around 30-minute discussion that ended at 6:00pm while the 19-strong Indian side was led by its Premier Manmohan Singh. The talks held at Chameli of the International Conference Centre at the PMO in Dhaka.
Earlier, the two top leaders had a tete-a-tete for around 45 minutes, according to reports.
BBN/SSR/AD-06Sept11-10:24 pm (BST)
