India to get access to its northeastern states: FM
Teesta water sharing deal likely next year, she says
Foreign Minister Dipu Moni on Sunday disclosed India will get access to its landlocked seven northeastern states through Bangladesh with construction of road and railway connectivity.(UNB, Dhaka)
So long the issue of transit to the seven sisters had been a bone of contention between Bangladesh and India. "When we are thinking about transforming Bangladesh as a regional hub and when the entire region will be brought under the connectivity, India will have access to its northeastern states," she said, adding "unfettered movement of people and goods will be taking place … Bangladesh had been isolated for long."
Dipu Moni viewed that extending transit facilities to India would bring economic benefits to Bangladesh.
Asked if 14 projects approved for implementation with borrowing from India was intended to serve the purpose of connecting the seven sisters with western part, the Foreign Minister said one billion dollar Indian credit was taken for Bangladesh's interests. India will too get the benefit. "If connectivity is in place, all will get the benefit. It will be a win-win situation," she added.
Dipu Moni suggested that one must get out of the negative thinking that India will be benefited if roads and ports are developed. She said if rail communications are improved Bangladesh will get the benefit and in some area India will also get the benefit. Terming the 1.75 percent interest bearing Indian loan a kind of 'concessional loan', she said donor agencies would not like to give loan to every project of Bangladesh's interest.
Replying to a question she said the Indian government will give the loan through Exim Bank and the Bangladesh government will fix its priority projects for implementation with the loan.
To a question the Foreign Minister said not only trucks from Nepal will enter into to Banglabandh in Bangladesh, Bangladeshi trucks will also have access to Nepal through India. The arrangement will be done through exchange of letters and no protocol is required to be signed for this. She said Bangladesh-India Joint Border Working Group will meet in September to address the issues of demarcation of 6.5 km border and exchange of enclaves and lands in adverse possession. The Foreign Minister expressed the hope that an interim agreement on sharing of waters of the Teesta River will be concluded next year.
So long the issue of transit to the seven sisters had been a bone of contention between Bangladesh and India. "When we are thinking about transforming Bangladesh as a regional hub and when the entire region will be brought under the connectivity, India will have access to its northeastern states," she said, adding "unfettered movement of people and goods will be taking place … Bangladesh had been isolated for long."
Dipu Moni viewed that extending transit facilities to India would bring economic benefits to Bangladesh.
Asked if 14 projects approved for implementation with borrowing from India was intended to serve the purpose of connecting the seven sisters with western part, the Foreign Minister said one billion dollar Indian credit was taken for Bangladesh's interests. India will too get the benefit. "If connectivity is in place, all will get the benefit. It will be a win-win situation," she added.
Dipu Moni suggested that one must get out of the negative thinking that India will be benefited if roads and ports are developed. She said if rail communications are improved Bangladesh will get the benefit and in some area India will also get the benefit. Terming the 1.75 percent interest bearing Indian loan a kind of 'concessional loan', she said donor agencies would not like to give loan to every project of Bangladesh's interest.
Replying to a question she said the Indian government will give the loan through Exim Bank and the Bangladesh government will fix its priority projects for implementation with the loan.
To a question the Foreign Minister said not only trucks from Nepal will enter into to Banglabandh in Bangladesh, Bangladeshi trucks will also have access to Nepal through India. The arrangement will be done through exchange of letters and no protocol is required to be signed for this. She said Bangladesh-India Joint Border Working Group will meet in September to address the issues of demarcation of 6.5 km border and exchange of enclaves and lands in adverse possession. The Foreign Minister expressed the hope that an interim agreement on sharing of waters of the Teesta River will be concluded next year.
http://www.thebangladeshtoday.com/leading%20news.htm
__._,_.___
