India for no crime, no death border
External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar on Thursday said killings reported on the “border” with Bangladesh were because of criminal activities and actually took place deep inside Indian territory, even as pitched for a “shared objective” of a “no crime, no death” border with Bangladesh.
The remarks in response to queries from the Bangladesh media were made during his day-long visit to Dhaka in the presence of his counterpart there A. K. Abdul Momen.
The two foreign ministers also discussed inclusion of Japan for trilateral connectivity projects in the Bay of Bengal, the EAM said.
The Teesta river-water sharing issue also came up for discussions, with the Water Resources Secretaries of the two nations scheduled to meet soon.
Jaishankar also said that India had so far dispatched a whopping nine million doses of India-manufactured Covid vaccine to Bangladesh out of which two million doses were a “gift”, even as Mr. Momen expressed “happiness” at the despatch of so many vaccine doses from India to his country.
The EAM’s visit was essentially a preparatory one ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Bangladesh at the end of this month.
Bangladesh is celebrating 50 years of its existence this year and both countries are also celebrating 50 years of establishment of diplomatic relations with each other this year. The
Indian armed forces’ victory over Pakistan in the war in December 1971, had led to the liberation of the erstwhile East Pakistan and the birth of Bangladesh as an Independent nation.
In his remarks, the EAM said, As all of you know, we are working to prepare for the planned visit of our Prime Minister. It will surely be a very memorable visit. If I recall right it would be his first visit outside India since the Coronavirus pandemic and his second as Prime
Minister to Bangladesh.”
Praising the leadership of Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina, the EAM said “I would also like to express our admiration and pride, as your closest neighbour and friend, at Bangladesh’s graduation from (Least Developed Country) LDC status. It is truly a tribute to your miraculous socioeconomic progress, and a reflection of the statesmanship and leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.”
Jaishankar added, “We see Bangladesh as a key neighbour and a valued partner not only in South Asia but also in the broader Indo-Pacific region. It is no secret that we cite it to others as an example for emulation. And that is why 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. Our comfort levels are now so high that we have shown that there is no issue that we cannot discuss and resolve through amicable dialogue.”
He further said, “Our recent activities go beyond consultations and gestures, however important they might be. We have made practical progress on the ground. Conducting a trial run of container cargo through Chattogram Port to Agartala, adding two new Protocol routes to inland waterways connecting Tripura to your national waterways, handing over 10 BG locomotives, commencing movement of container and parcel trains and forming a JV in the energy sector. These are but some recent examples.”
JAISHANKAR SAID that India had so far dispatched a whopping nine million doses of India-manufactured Covid vaccine to Bangladesh out of which two million doses were a “gift”, even as Mr. Momen expressed “happiness” at the despatch.