Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: A very good afternoon to all of you. Thank you for joining us for this Special Media Briefing on the occasion of the State visit of Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh who has just concluded her conversation at Hyderabad house with Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi. To give us a sense of the conversation, as well as the visit we have the privilege of having with us Shri Vinay Kwatra, Foreign Secretary. Also joining is Shri Vikram Doraiswami, our High Commissioner to Bangladesh, as well as Ms. Smita Pant, Joint Secretary looking after BM division in the Ministry. I would request Foreign Secretary Sir, to perhaps give us a sense of conversations as well as what outcomes and then we'll take a few questions.
Shri Vinay Kwatra, Foreign Secretary: Thank you very much Arindam, High Commissioner Vikram, Joint Secretary Smita, friends from the media, thank you very much for coming this afternoon for this special briefing on the ongoing visit of the Honourable Prime Minister of Bangladesh to India. At the invitation of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is on a State visit to India, which started yesterday and it concludes on 8th of September. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit is part of our ongoing sustained high level political engagement between the two countries. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi had visited Dhaka in March last year to join the celebrations of the Golden Jubilee of the independence of Bangladesh, the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and 50 years of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Bangladesh. Last December, the then President of India paid a State visit to Bangladesh to attend the 50th Vijay Diwas celebrations as the guest of Honor. These back to back exchanges between our two countries at the highest level underscore the special nature of our relationship and importance that both our countries attach to our growing Strategic Partnership. This morning, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was accorded a ceremonial reception at the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan after which she proceeded to Rajghat to pay her respects to Mahatma Gandhi. Prime Minister Modi received Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the Hyderabad House earlier today, where both leaders had extensive discussions spread across tete-a-tete followed by restricted talks and the delegation level discussions thereafter. Both Prime Ministers held extensive and productive discussions on the entire range of bilateral issues, including political and security cooperation, energy partnership, water cooperation, trade and economic ties, development partnership, and strengthening of people to people ties. They also exchanged views and perspectives on regional and global issues. There was a strong agreement between the two leaders on the significance of further strengthening bilateral and sub-regional cooperation to sustain prosperity in these challenging times. Both leaders unveiled and inaugurated important development projects, including Unit I of our joint Maitree power plant and Rupsha bridge and witnessed the exchange of seven MOUs in the areas of water resources, capacity building, railways, science and technology and media. This was followed by special gesture by Prime Minister of hosting Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for one-on-one lunch at the Hyderabad House.
Main issues that came up in discussions between the two leaders - I would like to just highlight some of them. First, both leaders underscored the importance of continuing our close security cooperation in the fields of counter terrorism, border management, and addressing cross border crimes. Two, they agreed to further enhance our development partnership, including upgradation of railway infrastructure projects in Bangladesh. Bangladesh, as we all know is one of India's most important development partners, both in terms of value and concessionality of terms and the range of cooperation in the entire spectrum of development partnership. Three, both leaders agreed to build resilient supply chains between both countries and across the region. India is the largest market for Bangladeshi products in Asia and despite the pandemic, bilateral trade has reached all time high of US$ 18 billion in the last financial year. To sustain this momentum, both leaders have directed the concerned Ministries to commence negotiations on a Bilateral Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) this year in 2022 and complete it in time for Bangladesh's final graduation from the LDC status. As part of their vision of a better connected region the two leaders also shared perspectives on further strengthening cooperation in road, rail, inland waterways, and coastal connectivity. The recent trial runs for multimodal freight through Chattogram and Mongla ports to India’s North-eastern region have been encouraging. We look forward to their early completion and early operationalization of this route. The two leaders welcomed ongoing discussions on establishing cross border interconnections to help both India and Bangladesh meet their energy needs. They also reviewed progress on India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline, a project that we are undertaking through grant, which will enable movement of high speed diesel from India to Northern Bangladesh. In this context, we welcome the recent decision of Bangladesh to list Indian Oil Corporation limited as a registered government to government supplier of refined petroleum products, which will of course, further help boosting cooperation between our two countries in the energy sector. Sixth, two leaders welcomed the signing of an interim water sharing arrangement for the Kushiyara river that will bring benefits to the people of Southern Assam and Sylhet division in Bangladesh. I would like to point out here that this will be the first bilateral water sharing arrangement between our two countries since the Ganges treaty in 1996. It was decided that both sides will continue to work expeditiously to address common challenges such as flood management, river pollution, etc. Seventh, they agreed to further strengthen people to people links by focusing on youth exchanges between our two countries. In this context, India eagerly awaits receiving a hundred-member youth delegation from Bangladesh scheduled to visit later in October and also a start-up delegation in this year. And lastly, they, as I said, shared perspective on regional and global issues, including on multilateral cooperation.
The discussions between the two leaders reaffirmed our common understanding on the path forward in different areas of bilateral partnership. Today, later in the evening Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will call on Honourable Rashtrapati Ji and Honourable Uprashtrapati Ji. Tomorrow on September 07 she's due to interact with business leaders from both the countries. Minister for Development of North-eastern region Shri G Kishan Reddy will also participate in this business event. Honourable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s program tomorrow also includes an event to confer scholarships, to the descendants of Indian armed forces personnel martyred and critically injured during the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971. We deeply appreciate this gesture. On 8th September Prime Minister of Bangladesh will pay a visit to the dargah of Hazrat Moinuddin Chishti in Ajmer following which the Bangladesh delegation is scheduled to depart from Jaipur. I would end here and if there are any questions, would be happy to take that.
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Thank you. I think there'll be a lot of questions, Sir. Please introduce yourself and the organization you represent.
Kavita Joshi: Good afternoon Sir. Sir main Kavita Joshi hoon Hari Bhoomi newspaper se. Sir main yeh janna chahti hoon ki Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina or Prime Minister Modi ke beech mein jo bilateral talks hui hain uss mein Rohingya ka jo issue hai kya woh bhi aaya? Bharat ki taraf se kya Prime Minister ne issko rakha aur Bangladesh ke PM ne iss par kya apna response diya hai? (Questioned in Hindi; Approximate Translation) Good Afternoon Sir. Sir I am Kavita Joshi from Hari Bhoomi Newspaper, Sir I want to know whether the issue of Rohingya has also come up in the bilateral talks between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Prime Minister Modi? Has the Prime Minister raised it and what was the response of the Prime Minister of Bangladesh on it? Thank you Sir.
Smita Sharma: Foreign Secretary, last evening at the interaction with the press briefly, Prime Minister said that India is a big country, it can do a lot on the Rohingya issue. One, what really would Dhaka’s expectations be at this point of time from India, if you could share with us? And given the internal political situation within Myanmar, what is the assessment when it comes to a possible deadline for repatriation? In near future is there a possibility in sight at all? Thank you.
Yeshi: This is Yeshi Seli from The New Indian Express. Are we giving any kind of financial support, like line of credit to Bangladesh for some projects and also, what is this MOU on media, I'd like you to clarify on that.
Neeraj: Sir Neeraj hoon News 18 India se, Rohingya ke masle pe Bharat ki taraf se, bharatiye Pradhaan Mantree ki taraf se kya aashvaasan diya gaya Sheikh Hasina ko aur doosara sawaal hai kee hamaare Hindu alpasankhyak jo kee Bangladesh mein hain unnpar lagaataar haal ke mahinon mein hamle hote rahe, is massle ko bharat ki taraf se uthaaya gaya aur wahaan ke Pradhan Mantri ki taraf se yaani Bangladesh ke Pradhan Mantri ki taraf se kya aashvaasan Bharat ko diya gaya is masle par? (Questioned in Hindi; Approximate Translation) Sir Neeraj from News 18 India, what assurance was given by the Indian Prime Minister on the issue of Rohingya to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the second question is that there have been continuous attacks on the Hindu minorities in Bangladesh in recent months. Was this issue raised by India and what assurance was given by the Prime Minister of Bangladesh on this issue?
Akhilesh Suman: Sir, I’m Akhilesh Suman from Sansad TV. Actually my question is related to Defence and Security situation between India and Bangladesh. We have learned that China is making a port in Bangladesh. So were there any talks on this issue the way Sri Lanka was trapped in such type of situation, whether Bangladesh will be again trapped in such type of situations. So were there any talks on this issue?
Shri Vinay Kwatra, Foreign Secretary: Thank you very much. Let me, I think first address the question relating to the MOU on cooperation in broadcasting. I think that was a question. This is essentially an MOU between Prasar Bharati and Bangladesh television, which was signed in 2019, with the validity of three years. And under this MOU it was agreed that Doordarshan will be able to carry Bangladesh TV in the territory of India and DD Dish in the duration of agreement and vice versa. This MOU has been working satisfactorily between the two countries and has been extended for another three years. So it's an extension of a pre-existing MOU.
Kavita ji jo aapka prashn tha Rohingya ka, Neeraj ji aapke prashn mein bhi ek Rohingya ka jikr tha and Smita you also touched upon different elements of Rohingya issue. Dekhiye, Rohingya ke mudde pe main ye kehna chahunga ki hum sabko bhali bhanti gyat hai aur iski vaishwick roop se sarahana bhi hui hai ki jo bhoomika Bangladesh ne Rohingya ke sharanarthiyon ko dene mein jo madad ki hai. Jaise ki maine kaha vashwick samuday Bangladesh ke prayason ka poori tarah se sarahniya paripeksh rakhta hai, usaki sarahana karta hai. Hamane bhi is sandarbh mein jahan tak Bangladesh mein Rohingya ki samasya ka prashn hai, kafi sahayata ki hai, isamen arthik sahayata bhi shamil hai aur ismein aage aane vaale dinon mein yathochit roop se jo prayas jo sahayta ki avashyakta hogi usko bhi bharat sarkar puri tarah se maddhenazar main rakhegi. Dekhiye, is sandarbh mein ye bhi gyat rehna avashyak hai ki bharat sarkar har un prayason ka samarthan karti hai jin prayason ke antargat ek surakshit, sthir aur shighrata poorn return jo displaced log hai Myanmar ke dusre deshon mein unki vapsi Myanmar mein ho sake. Iss sandarbh mein bharat hamesha ek sakaratmak bhumika, ek sakaratmak role or ek sakaratmak drishtikon se is samasya ke samadhan ke taraf agrasar rahenga. (Answered in Hindi; Approximate Translation) Kavita ji your question on Rohingya, Neeraj ji, in your question also Rohingya was mentioned and Smita you also touched upon different elements of Rohingya issue. See, on the issue of Rohingya, I would like to say that we are all well aware about the role that Bangladesh has played in extending support to the Rohingya refugees and it has also been appreciated globally. As I said, the global community fully appreciates the efforts of Bangladesh. As far as the problem of Rohingyas in Bangladesh is concerned, we have also extended a lot of help including through financial assistance and the government of India will keep into consideration the efforts, the support that will be required for this in the coming days. See, in this context, it is also important to be aware that the Government of India supports every effort under which a safe, stable and rapid return of displaced people of Myanmar, who are in other countries, could take place back to Myanmar. In this context, India will always move towards solving this problem with a positive role and a positive attitude.
Neeraj aapke prashn mein ek doosra bhi prashn tha jo ki alpasankhyakon ka jo mudda hai usake baare mein. Dekhiye, alpsankhyakon ke mudde ko leke Bharat aur Bangladesh sarkar ke beech mein lagatar varta hoti rahi hai aur Bangladesh sarkar ne publicly bhi aur private discussion mein bhi yeh spasht roop se kaha hai ki vah jahan tak alpasankhyako ki suraksha aur safety ka prashn hai usake prati purnatah pratibaddh hai aur katibaddh hai. Ye ashvasan unhonne publicly or private roop se donon roop se hamen varta mein diya hai. (Answered in Hindi; Approximate Translation) Neeraj, there was another question you had asked, which is about the issue of minorities. See, there has been a continuous dialogue between the Governments of India and Bangladesh on the issue of minorities and the Government of Bangladesh has clearly stated publicly as well as in private discussions also that it is fully committed as far as the safety and security of minorities is concerned. It has given us these assurances both publicly and privately in our talks.
Akhilesh, your question was on the Chinese activities in Bangladesh. As I mentioned in my opening remarks that the discussions between the two leaders were very comprehensive and one of the elements of these discussions included how the two countries have been cooperating and will continue to cooperate on issues of politics and the security. In this context, I think there was a very clear common understanding, this understanding has been there and it was very clear in the discussions also that the strategic priorities of the relationship of the two countries, interests and concerns of India and naturally the interest and priorities of Bangladesh, they're all factored in our cooperative metrics of engagement. And I think our relationship stands on its own merits, focuses on its own priorities, looks at our shared concerns, whether they relate to safety issues or security issues.
I think your question was on the LOC projects. You know the range of development cooperation partnership projects that we do with Bangladesh and indeed with most of our neighbouring countries is quite extensive and the total development cooperation envelope if you want to look at, in case of Bangladesh, the spread is across multiple domains of infrastructure. This includes rail connectivity projects, road projects, building of bridges, etc. and it is serviced through instruments of both lines of credit, but also grant projects. And it runs into tens and thousands of crores. If you have a specific project in mind, we can definitely try and indicate whether it's a line of credit or a grant project. But we do know, and it'll probably be there in the joint statement also that two of the projects whose agreements were exchanged today relate to the two LOC projects, both are in the field of connectivity. So this entire bracket of connectivity has projects which are serviced both through LOC and through the grant projects. If you have a specific project in mind, we can let you know the specific LOC amount to that.
Brahm Prakash: Mein Brahm Prakash Zee News se. Mera sawal railway ko lekar jo agreement hua hai usmein kya kuchh detail bataenge aap, pahle baat chal rahi thi Tripura se lekar Bangladesh hote hue Howrah tak bharat rail la sakega toh, usko lekar kya batchit hui hai, aage badhi hai? (Questioned in Hindi; Approximate Translation) I am Brahm Prakash from Zee News. My question is, in the agreement regarding the railway, could you please share more details? Earlier there was talk that India will be able to bring rail from Tripura to Howrah via Bangladesh. So, what has been the conversation about it and has it progressed further?
Avinash: Sir there are some reports that Bangladesh is facing some kind of financial crisis due to several factors and it is also seeking international assistance. So Sir, has it approached India also in this regard, formally or informally? And if yes, what has been our response?
Rishikesh: Sir, Rishikesh from Sputnik News. Did the discussion entail any reference to bilateral trade in national currencies?
Anil Singh: Good afternoon Sir. I am Anil Singh from INS. Sir Bangladesh mein ek bavandar chal raha hai, opposition bahut jor-shore se is baat ko keh rahi hai ki Pradhan mantri airport par Sheikh Hasina ko lene nahi gaye uske baad unlogo ne is baat ko kafi jyada jor-shore se uthaya aur kafi jyada media mein bhi is baat ko uthaya hai. Aapka kya reaction hai ispr? Sir mera dusra prashn ye hai ki Durga Pooja mein 2021 mein last time 6 log mare the aur 100 log se jyaada log ghaayal hue the aur isabaar mein bhee najadeek mein durga pooja aane vaalee hai to is baare mein Sheikh Hasina jee se kya baatacheet hogee bhaarat sarakaar kee? (Questioned in Hindi; Approximate Translation) Sir, there is controversy going on in Bangladesh, the Opposition is creating noise that the Prime Minister did not go to receive Sheikh Hasina at the airport. They have raised this matter very strongly and this matter has also been raised in the media. What is your reaction to this? My second question is that during Durga Pooja, in 2021, 6 people were killed and more than 100 people were injured and this time also Durga Pooja is approaching, so what conversation will Government of India have on this matter with Sheikh Hasina ji?
Gautam Lahiri: Sir, this is Gautam Lahiri. My question is whether any discussion on uninterrupted supply of the essential, particularly perishable commodities, because there are some times when India stop this kind of supply, there is the impact in Bangladesh, it creates mistrust among the people. So whether these issues were raised or any assurance were given?
Pranay: Foreign Secretary ji Pradhan Mantri ne apne sambodhan mein counter-terrorism or anti-radicalization ko lekar bhi jikr kiya ki Bharat aur Bangladesh sahyog karenge, to kya kuchh iss pe sahmati bani hai aur agar aap bata saken ki CEPA pe jo discussion hai woh kab shuru ho payenge? (Questioned in Hindi; Approximate Translation) Foreign Secretary Ji, in his address, the Prime Minister also mentioned about counter-terrorism and anti-radicalization on which India and Bangladesh will cooperate, so has there been any agreement on this and if you can tell when the discussion on CEPA will start?
Shrinjoy: Sir, Shrinjoy from Times Now. You've already replied to the question on (inaudible) near Cox’s Bazaar, but there is a 500-million-dollar line of credit and that's been there for a long time. There appears to be very little progress on it. Can you tell us if there's been any progress this time? This is the military line of credit.
Shri Vinay Kwatra, Foreign Secretary: I think the first question was on the railway projects. On the railway projects there are essentially two MOUs which have been signed earlier during the day. One is the MOU on training of Bangladesh railway personnel in India. And the second has been MOU on collaboration in IT systems, such as FOIS and other IT applications for essentially Bangladesh railways. I think the element on which you mentioned, which is relating to railway line from Kolkata to Tripura, right now the technical feasibility element of it, I think is under consideration, but there are many aspects related to it which first need to be examined including, there is a requirement for first broad gauge connectivity to be there in a certain stretch of that, of the railway segment, after which of course this could be considered further. With regard to the question on Bangladesh’s financial crisis, I think the overall aspect of how the regional economic situation in our region is, definitely the views were exchanged between the two leaders, but as such specific aspects of whether there is a crisis in Bangladesh, etc.? No, that was not part of the discussion in that sense. But having said that, Prime Minister Modi made it very clear to Honourable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, that India's development cooperation assistance, our economic partnership, our trade and investment engagement is there to serve the very objectives of India-Bangladesh Strategic Partnership. So we have to keep that frame in mind, not the frame of Bangladesh financial crisis in our mind.
Bilateral trade in national currencies – No, specifically this issue did not come up for discussion, but the larger question that there is a need that, as I mentioned in my opening remarks, the trade is already at all-time high of 18 billion but the discussions between the two leaders did focus on the fact that this trade basket can be expanded. There is a further head room for the bilateral trade to grow both in terms of Indian exports to Bangladesh and of course, Bangladesh’s exports also to India. But whether that trade is denominated in the Indian currency or which currency? No, that specifically was not part of the discussions.
Anil Singh ji jo aapka prashn tha ki vahan par pratipaksh ne kya jo tippani ki. Dekhiye, Bangladesh ke pratipaksh ne kya tippani ki uspe meri tippani to uchit nahi rahegi shayad, lekin main aapko ye jarur batana chahunga ki jaisa ki aap sab ne poori tarah se dekha bhi hoga Bangladesh ki manniye pradhanmantri ko bharat ki yatra pe ek State visit ka darza diya gaya hai. Yah uchchatam shreni ki visit hai, uchchatam shreni ka darza jo bhi protocols sandarbh mein diya jaa sakta hai woh yeh hai. Usake antargat pradhanmantri Sheikh Hasina ka aaj subah rashtrapati bhavan mein bhavya svagat, aapne svayam mujhe poori apeksha hai dekha hoga. State visit ke antargat jo bhi sampoorn protocol ke prayojan hote hai, pravadhan hote hai woh poori tarah se kiye jate hai aur kiye gaye hai. Unaka pratipaksh kya tippani deta hai iske baare mein mera kahna uchit nahi rahega (Answered in Hindi; Approximate Translation) Anil Singhji, your question was on the comments of the Opposition there. See, it will not be appropriate for me to comment on the comments made by the Opposition of Bangladesh. But I must tell you and as you all must have seen that the visit of Prime Minister of Bangladesh has been given the status of a state visit. This is the highest category visit. In the context of the protocol, this is the highest category visit, under which you yourself must have seen the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's grand welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan this morning. Whatever are the protocols of the State visit, all of them have been extended. It will not be appropriate for me to say anything on the comments by their Opposition.
Gautam Ji your question was on the uninterrupted supply of essential commodities, especially perishables to Bangladesh. One of the main elements of discussions and one of the main lines of effort on both sides for further cooperation, indeed, is to build resilient supply chain of all elements of bilateral trade, whether that extends to goods, which are non-perishable in nature or goods, which are perishable in nature or commodities, both food commodities and non food commodities, all those elements were part of these discussions. And essentially our perspective, our thinking and our line of effort is that we strengthen these supply chains further, ensure that they remain uninterrupted to the extent possible and in this respect put in place whatever is required to be put in place by both sides in terms of mechanism, in terms of practices, in terms of infrastructure facilities between the two countries so that this becomes an important underpinning for a sustained quantum of high trade between the two countries.
I think antah ke do prashn ek counter-terrorism aur radicalization ko leke tha, Defence LOC ka prashn tha aur ek CEPA pe prashn tha ki CEPA ka kaaryakaal. To, usamein jaisa ki maine apne opening tippanee mein bhee kaha, CEPA ke upar jo vaarta hai do desho ke beech mein, vo san 2022 issi varsh mein hee inka praarambh hona prastaavit hai aur inka jo samapan hai ye prastaavit hai ki jab Bangladesh LDC status se graduate karega chand varsho ke baad, us graduation se pahale iss CEPA kee vaarta ka samaapan ho jae, ye prastaavit hai ye donon desho ke leaders ki vaarta ke baad nirnay hua hai aur iss ke baad adhikaareegan jo hain issko aage lekar ke chalengen. (Answered in Hindi; Approximate Translation) I think the last two questions were, one on counter-terrorism and radicalization, one on Defence LOC and one on CEPA, the duration of CEPA negotiations. As I said in my opening remarks, the talks between the two countries on CEPA are proposed to start this year in 2022 and conclude when Bangladesh graduates from LDC status after a few years. Before that graduation, it has been proposed that the talks on CEPA should be over. This has been decided after the talks between the leaders of both the countries and after this the officials will take it forward.
Jo aapne counter-terrorism aur radicalization ke mudde par prashn kiya, ye terrorism aur radicalization hamaare pure kshetra ke liye, bharat ke liye, Bangladesh ke liye, Bharat-Bangladesh sambandhon ke liye ek prakaar se kahe to avarodh hai, ek prakaar se suraksha ka ek khatara hai. To isako lekar ke donon desho ke netaon ke beech mein vyaapak baatcheet huee, baatcheet mein ye bhee prashn saamane aae ki donon desh kis prakaar se counter-terrorism ke kshetra mein apane sahayog ko, apane sahakaary ko kiss prakaar se vyaapak roop se aur aage badha sakate hai. (Answered in Hindi; Approximate Translation) On your question on the issue of counter-terrorism and radicalization - this terrorism and radicalization is a kind of barrier for our entire region, for India, for Bangladesh, for India-Bangladesh relations, it is a security threat. So there were wide discussions between the leaders of both the countries about it. During the conversations, it was also discussed how both the countries could promote their cooperation in the field of counter-terrorism.
On the Defence LOC question from our friend here, of a 500 million dollar defence LOC which you talked about. I think the first contract under the defence LOC was signed earlier this week. I'm sure you have been following this closely. It was a modest amount, but it was an important first step. Again it may be defence LOC, but it's also a part of development partnership framework. It also has a landing under the security and the strategic cooperation. Our effort is that this will open up path for further engagement between the two countries in the field of defence, in the field of security and take our cooperation further.
Sidhant: Sir one of the pact was signed on space cooperation. If any details can be given on that.
Madhurendra: Sir Madhurendra main News Nation se, mera sawal lagatar Bangladesh mein cheen ka badhta hua nivesh hai usi ko lekar hai, jo infrastructure projects hai usmein toh cheen nivesh kar hi raha hai, sath-sath ye dekha ja raha hai ki Bangladesh ki navy mein bhi cheen ka nivesh jo hai wo bharat ki chintaon ka karan banta ja raha hai, khastaur par Bengal ki khadi ki taraf se jo asuraksha ki sthiti paida ho rahi hai cheen ke is nivesh ko lekar, kya ispar koi batchit hui? (Questioned in Hindi; Approximate Translation) Sir, I am Madhurendra from News Nation, my question is about China's increasing investment in Bangladesh. China is not only investing in the infrastructure projects, at the same time it is being seen that China's investment in Bangladesh's navy is also becoming the cause of India's concerns, especially the situation of insecurity that is emerging in the Bay of Bengal because of this investment of China. Was there any conversation on it?
Seema Guha: Seema Guha from Outlook magazine. Just wanted to find out was there any talk about buying oil from India? Because I saw some reports in the Bangladeshi press.
Jai Prakash: Sir main Jai Prakash hoon dainik jagaran se, kya Bangladesh ne gehun bharat se kharidne ke liye prastav rakha hai? (Questioned in Hindi; Approximate Translation) Sir I am Jai Prakash from Dainik Jagran, has Bangladesh proposed to buy wheat from India?
Sandhya: Quickly want to check if Bangladesh has accepted India's request on UPI and were there any talks around 5G offering to Bangladesh,
Speaker 1: Sir, this is in context with border management. Did Bangladesh raise the issue of border killings and also in that context India has always said that the border killing which have happened recently, in recent years are largely due to criminal elements. So is India happy with the kind of cooperation that Bangladesh is giving on cross border combating for cross border crime.
Speaker 2: Sir, I just want to know whether this Akhaura and Agartala rail line which is still incomplete was discussed and how soon it can be commissioned.
Nirmala: Hi, this is Nirmala from the Straits Times. Sir I just want to ask about the nuclear energy cooperation. What kind of cooperation are the two countries discussing?
Nayanima: Nayanima from The Print. On this border management question, also any update on the smart fencing and other measures that were agreed upon earlier. Thanks.
Subhajyoti: Subhajyoti from BBC World News. I mean India and Bangladesh are jointly making a film that's a biopic of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. So it's already much delayed, any idea, any timeframe when it's expected to get released. Okay
Shri Vinay Kwatra, Foreign Secretary: The questions were coming faster than I could note them down. So I'm sorry if I miss out on some, do raise your hand and just remind me of them. I think the question on space cooperation, this is essentially a MOU in the area of space technology. It’s an MOU between the New Space India Limited, it is a public sector undertaking under the department of space and the Bangladesh Satellite Company Limited essentially aimed at and intended to strengthen the cooperation between our two countries in the use of space technologies for peaceful purposes. Essentially space technology, its applications, capacity building, consultancy services in the areas of satellite systems, space technology applications both for the development purposes and for the governance purposes, those elements would form the scope of cooperation through this MOU.
Dekhiye, China ki Bangladesh mein upasthiti, China dwara kiye ja rahe vibhinn projects, iske baaren mein main pehle bhi keh chuka hoon ki donon netaon ke beech mein vyapak varta ka jo sandarbh tha usamen samarik suraksha, suraksha, donon desho ke samarik hit, sambandho ke samarik hit, hamare hit, interest or concerns, sabko lekar ke purey roop sey vyapak varta hui hai. Aur donon netaon ki varta ka pramukh sandarbh donon deshon ke dvipakshiy sambandhon par tha aur ye dvipakshiye sambandh apne-aap mein swayam ko paribhashit karte hain. Inaki paribhasha kisi tisre desh ke maddhenajar se ya tisre desh ke Bangladesh mein kya karya swaroop hai usko lekar ke usase prabhavit nahi hai. Lekin hum apne hiton aur samarik hiton ko aage badhaane ke liye sambandho mein jo bhi vyavastha, jo bhi swaroop, jo bhi sahyog, sahakarya uchit hoga woh donon netayen unako mil kar, nirdharit karke jarur kaam aage badhayenge. (Answered in Hindi; Approximate Translation) Regarding the questions on presence of China in Bangladesh, projects being executed by China there - I have said before that in the context of the comprehensive dialogue between the two leaders, there was comprehensive discussion about security, strategic interests of both countries and of relations, interest and concerns. And the main focus of talks between the two leaders was on bilateral relations which define themselves. Their definition is not influenced by the consideration of a third country or its nature of work in Bangladesh. The leaders of the two countries will together decide on whatever systems, whatever forms, whatever cooperation in the relationship is appropriate for advancing our interests and strategic interests.
Buying oil from India I think that was your question, Ms Seema. The supply of commodities and I would put oil in that, it is a regular topic of conversation between the two countries and the two systems and whatever is the essential oil supplies as I mentioned to you in my opening remarks also, that Bangladesh has agreed to designate Indian Oil Corporation Limited, as a G2G supplier for the oil products. So that is very much there on the cards. The discussions have been taking place between the relevant officials. The term sheet of those discussions and the decision, that is something which the officials will work out between them.
Gehoon ke uppar prashn tha ki kya gehoon ke baaree mein Bangladesh ne koi prastaav kiya tha khareedane ka. Dekhiye, abhee tak jo hai Bharat lagbhag 4 lakh metric tonne gehoon ki supply Bangladesh ko kar chuka hai aur aage bhee jo bhee unnke taraf se prastaav aaega aage bhee gehoon khareedne ka uss ki jo bhi supply hogi vo naturally Bharat mein jo supply situation gehoon ki woh aur Bangladesh kee jo jarooratein hai woh, un donon ke maddenazar hi upyukt roop se yathochitt nirnay jo hai uspe liya jaega. (Answered in Hindi; Approximate Translation) On wheat, the question was whether Bangladesh has made any proposal to buy wheat. See, so far, India has supplied about 4 lakh metric tonnes of wheat to Bangladesh. Whatever further proposal will come from them to buy wheat from India, the appropriate decision will naturally be taken considering the supply situation within India and the needs of Bangladesh.
The question on UPI and 5G, UPI has been under discussions between the two sides and is progressing well. We hope that we can conclude this early going forward. On 5G there have been no specific discussions between the two sides, but the overall rubric of cooperation in the field of ICT, has been of course under discussions between the two sides, but no specific discussions on 5G as such.
On the border management, I think there were two questions which were related. The question of border management, counter-terrorism, safety, security, that entire thing did come up for discussions between the two leaders and it was emphasized by both leaders that it is absolutely important for the safety and security of societies on both sides that the criminality, the criminal activities across the border is limited. That the elements and the people who are associated with such criminal activities are apprehended and dealt as per the provisions of the law and border management is an important element of safety and security cooperation and discussions between the two sides. I think there's a question on nuclear energy which came up. This is essentially an ongoing discussion in cooperation under the tripartite arrangement. It's between India, Bangladesh and Russia including on elements relating to safety, nuclear science, and applied nuclear technologies. It's an important area and does involve exchange of technical expertise between the two countries in the areas that is designated for cooperation between our two countries. I think Russia had built the VVR reactor in Rooppur and we have an MOU with Bangladesh on nuclear science cooperation since 2017. So nuclear cooperation in the field of scientific development etc. is something which has been under discussions between the two sides for some time.
Akhaura Agartala, as I mentioned, the connectivity element of our bilateral partnership is one of the strongest elements, and in the connectivity space, the railway connectivity, especially cross border railway connectivity is one of the very crucial factors and it is our effort to ensure that all such cross border connectivity projects, including, especially in the field of railways are taken forward based on mutual consultations and on terms that work for both sides, but this is something which we will definitely prioritize.
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: This film on the Bangabandhu Mujib, The Making of a Nation, I think Shyam Benegal and his team has almost completed the film shooting, editing, and the computer graphics. The final cut is to be shown to the Bangladesh Prime Minister at their office before it is formally released. We are hopefully looking at a date towards the end of the year or this year, but we'll let you know once we have a fix on that. Thank you very much. We really have to rush. And thank you very much for joining us.