India-Bangladesh Shared Vision for Future: Enhancing Connectivity, Commerce and Collaboration for Shared Prosperity

 

India-Bangladesh Shared Vision for Future: Enhancing Connectivity, Commerce and Collaboration for Shared Prosperity

At the invitation of India's Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Her Excellency Sheikh Hasina, undertook a State Visit to India on June 21-22, 2024. During their extensive discussions, the two leaders acknowledged that the India-Bangladesh partnership, which is built on deep historical, linguistic, cultural, and economic ties, has grown stronger over the past decade. This partnership goes beyond a mere strategic alliance, reflecting a comprehensive relationship grounded in shared values and interests, equality, trust, and mutual understanding, while being sensitive to each other’s aspirations and concerns.

To harness the immense potential of this extraordinary relationship and transform it into a partnership that brings mutual benefits and prosperity to their people and the entire region, the two leaders have jointly outlined the following Shared Vision. This vision for peace, prosperity, and development of both nations and the broader region is driven by enhanced connectivity, commerce, and collaboration:

1:We firmly believe that our progress and prosperity are interconnected, and we reaffirm our commitment to fostering a future-oriented partnership between India and Bangladesh. We view each other as essential partners in achieving our national development goals—India's "Viksit Bharat 2047" and Bangladesh's "Smart Bangladesh Vision 2041." As a close and valued neighbor with rapidly expanding capabilities, Bangladesh plays a crucial role in India's "Neighbourhood First" policy, "Act East" policy, SAGAR doctrine, and Indo-Pacific vision, as well as in the development of India's northeastern region. Conversely, Bangladesh treasures its relationship with India, considering it a key partner in its Neighborhood Foreign Policy, aimed at ensuring shared peace and prosperity.

2:Together, we are committed to building a transformative partnership that advances our shared goals of enhancing multi-faceted connectivity, not just between our two countries but across the entire region. By leveraging our geographical proximity, we aim to create new economic opportunities. This comprehensive connectivity will encompass physical infrastructure, including multi-modal transport, cross-border trade, and transit systems, facilitating the seamless movement of people, goods, and services. Additionally, we will focus on energy and digital connectivity. As part of our sub-regional connectivity initiatives, India will provide transit facilities for the movement of Bangladeshi goods to Nepal and Bhutan via its railway network. We are also dedicated to the early implementation of the BBIN Motor Vehicle Agreement to strengthen sub-regional connectivity. In this context, we welcome the new Memorandum of Understanding on Railway Connectivity and the decision to commence goods train services from Gede-Darshana through Chilahati-Haldibari, extending up to Hasimara via the Dalgaon railhead (once operationalized) at the India-Bhutan border.

3:We will continue to deepen our collaboration in the power and energy sectors, working together to develop intra-regional electricity trade. This will include the exchange of competitively priced power generated from clean energy projects in India, Nepal, and Bhutan through the Indian electricity grid. To support this, we will accelerate the construction of the 765 kV high-capacity interconnection between Katihar, Parbatipur, and Bornagar, with appropriate financial assistance from India, which will serve as a key foundation for our grid connectivity.

4:Recognizing the pivotal role of emerging technologies in creating inclusive, sustainable, and digitally empowered societies, we are establishing a new framework for a forward-looking partnership through a "Shared Vision for exchange, and regional prosperity. Additionally, we will explore joint efforts in frontier technologies, including civil nuclear energy, oceanography, and space technology. As part of this collaboration, we will work together on the development of a small satellite for Bangladesh, which will be launched using an Indian launch vehicle.

5.Committed to enhancing the prosperity of our people, we will strengthen trade and investment ties between our countries. This will include the early initiation of negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and the swift operationalization of two Special Economic Zones (SEZs) offered by Bangladesh to India in Mongla and Mirsharai. We will also work on opening new border haats, facilitating trade to boost bilateral commerce, and improving road, rail, air, and maritime connectivity and trade infrastructure. These efforts aim to turn our geographical proximity into new economic opportunities for our people. Additionally, we will encourage and support our private sectors in exploring new investment opportunities in each other's key areas of economic development.

6.Recognizing the significance of water resource management in our bilateral relationship, we will continue to prioritize data exchange and the development of a framework for interim water sharing based on the recommendations of the Joint Rivers Commission. Additionally, as part of our development cooperation, we will work on the conservation and management of the Teesta River within Bangladesh, with Indian assistance, according to a mutually agreed timeframe

7.Acknowledging the crucial role both countries play in maintaining peace, stability, and harmony in the region, we will enhance our defense cooperation with a long-term vision. In support of Bangladesh’s plans to modernize its Armed Forces, we will explore opportunities for defense industrial cooperation to bolster their capabilities. We will also maintain close collaboration with Bangladesh on various military engagements, including exercises, training, and capability development.

8.We will strengthen India-Bangladesh development cooperation by establishing a new Framework Agreement for Development Partnership. This agreement will broaden the scope of our projects and programs to align with the priorities of the Bangladeshi people and government and our long-term vision of enhanced connectivity. Additionally, we will collaborate to expand our capacity-building programs for Bangladeshi civil services, judicial officers, police, and other specialized services.

9. Recognizing our shared cultural and historical heritage and vibrant people-to-people connections, we will strengthen these ties by promoting exchanges among Muktijoddhas, scholars, academics, artists, tourists, students, and youth. We will also enhance our support for the courageous Muktijoddhas and their families through new programs offering medical and educational assistance.

10. To ease cross-border travel and as a gesture of goodwill towards the people of Bangladesh, India will introduce an e-Medical Visa facility for those traveling from Bangladesh to India for medical treatment. Additionally, we have agreed to open a new Assistant High Commission of India in Rangpur to provide more efficient consular and visa services for the people of north-western Bangladesh.

11. India will assist Bangladesh with the supply of essential commodities, as resources permit and to the best of its ability.

12. We acknowledge the need to advance our partnership in areas that foster youth development, including education, skills training, entrepreneurship, technology, sports, and creative and cultural industries. The India-Bangladesh partnership will address the hopes and aspirations of our youth for a better future.

13. Recognizing the role our partnership plays in ensuring peace, security, and stability in the region, we reaffirm our commitment to a free, open, inclusive, secure, and rules-based Indo-Pacific region. In alignment with our shared vision for the Indo-Pacific and aware of the region's vulnerability to climate change, we will co-lead the ‘Disaster Risk Reduction and Management’ pillar of the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI). We will work together to mitigate disaster risks, build resilient infrastructure, and support the sustainability of our shared maritime region.

14. With our extensive bilateral cooperation, we envision the India-Bangladesh relationship becoming a key anchor for regional and sub-regional integration within the BIMSTEC, SAARC, and IORA frameworks. We will collaborate on global platforms to advance our common interests, particularly those of the Global South.

We recognize the need to elevate our relationship to a deeper and higher quality level based on mutual trust and benefit. We are confident that this Shared Vision for the Future will further strengthen our historic ties and build a future-ready partnership, continuing the development of the current ‘Sonaali Adhyaay’ in our bilateral relations.