India, Bangladesh sign 22 agreements

In a bid to give boost to their ties, India and Bangladesh on Saturday inked nearly two dozen pacts in strategic areas of defence and civil nuclear cooperation after “productive” talks between their Prime Ministers.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held extensive discussions with his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina on ways to strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries. He also announced a new line of concessional credit of $4.5 billion for the implementation of projects in Bangladesh.

Announcing an additional line of credit of $500 million to Bangladesh for military supplies, Mr. Modi said it will be driven by the requirement of that country.

However, much-delayed pact on the Teesta water sharing remained elusive for the two sides. Admitting that the pact was “important” for India-Bangladesh ties, Mr. Modi assured India’s commitment to the issue.

He said an “early solution can and will be found” to the Teesta water sharing issue.

The Teesta deal was set to be signed during the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Bangladesh in September, 2011 but was postponed at the last minute due to objections by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Teesta water is crucial for Bangladesh especially in the leanest period from December to March when the water flow often temporarily comes down to less than 1,000 cusecs from 5,000 cusecs.