New Delhi: The sixth meeting of the India-Bangladesh Joint Consultative Commission (JCC) was held on September 29, 2020, co-chaired by Dr AK Abdul Momen, Foreign Minister of Bangladesh and S Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister of India.
A joint statement issued after the conclusion of the JCC said, “Both ministers expressed satisfaction over the current state of bilateral relations under the leadership of the Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina and the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi. The two ministers reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral relations and expressed satisfaction over significant progress in the implementation of various decisions taken during the fifth JCC meeting held in New Delhi in February 2019 and the visit of PM Shiekh Hasina to New Delhi in October 2019”.
The two sides also welcome the holding of a virtual Prime Minister-level Summit in December 2020. Recalling that the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Bangladesh in March 2020 had to be postponed due to the sudden onset of Covid-19, the two sides hoped that the visit could be rescheduled, coinciding with the commencement of the 50th-anniversary celebrations of Bangladesh’s independence as well as the establishment of diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and India.
The major thrust of the bilateral talks was on” Mujib Borsho”.
Both sides discussed plans to hold events in honour of the founding father of Bangladesh Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
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“External Affairs Minister announced India’s decision to launch a commemorative postal stamp on the occasion of the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on 16 December 2020. Both countries decided to jointly celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the Liberation War and the fiftieth anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in India, Bangladesh and in select third countries through their respective missions”, said the joint statement.
Further, noting that the onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic had posed significant challenges to nations across the world, the Ministers expressed satisfaction at the manner in which sustained engagement between the two countries has been maintained during the time. The first trial movement of cargo from Kolkata to North East India through roads and waterways of Bangladesh, signing of the second addendum to the Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade, the export of goods from India using rail route, including container and parcel trains, are initiatives which could be taken successfully despite the COVID induced constraints, reflecting the excellent understanding shared between the two countries. In this regard, Foreign Minister reiterated Bangladesh’s commitment to supporting India in strengthening connectivity in the region for creating a win-win situation for both economies, the statement read.
Reiterating the commitment of India to prioritize the supply of COVID-19 vaccines, the External Affairs Minister emphasized the importance of Bangladesh in India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy”, MEA stated.
The two ministers also reiterated their commitment to the finalization of the Interim Agreement for sharing of the waters of the Teesta. They also underscored the need for early conclusion of Framework of Interim Agreement on sharing of waters of six other joint rivers, namely, Manu, Muhuri, Khowai, Gumti, Dharla and Dudhkumar.
It is pertinent to note that both sides also discussed progress on making of the biopic on Bangladesh’s Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, under the direction of Indian film director Shyam Benegal.
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Simultaneously, they also stressed the need to start work on the Liberation War documentary, for which Bangladesh side informed that the process for selecting a director from Bangladesh will be completed soon.
On the issue of Rohingya refugees who are sheltered by Bangladesh, Jaishankar and Momen “reiterated the importance of the safe, speedy and sustainable return to Myanmar of the forcibly displaced persons from the Rakhine State of Myanmar."
In this regard, Bangladesh Foreign Minister emphasized that unless the problem is resolved quickly, there are possibilities of pockets of radicalism disrupting economic growth, peace and stability in the region and requested India’s leverage, to address the crisis," the statement added.
Both Ministers noted the discussions on border management and d security in the recently concluded 50th Director-General level between BSF and BGB Dhaka.
