India Offers $4.5 Bn Credit Line to Bangladesh, 22 Pacts Signed

India also announced $500 million for Bangladesh’s defence procurement.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina, at Hyderabad House, in New Delhi on Saturday. (Photo Courtesy: IANS)

Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina signed 22 pacts in strategic areas after holding delegation-level bilateral talks in New Delhi on Saturday.

However, the much delayed treaty on the Teesta water sharing remained elusive for the two sides.

Admitting that the pact was “important” for India-Bangladesh ties, Modi assured India's commitment to the issue, and said that an “early solution can and will be found” to the issue.

Modi, after the restricted meeting, said that the two nations held productive talks on wide-ranging issues, including civil nuclear cooperation, defence, cyber security etc.

He announced a credit line of $4.5 billion for implementation of various projects in Bangladesh.

India Announces $500 Mn Credit for B’desh Military

India and Bangladesh resolved to step up anti-terror cooperation with PM Modi, terming spread of radicalism as a “grave threat”, not only to the two countries, but to the entire region.

Modi appreciated Bangladesh’s zero tolerance policy towards terrorism, and also announced $500 million Line of Credit for Bangladesh’s defence procurement.

We have the greatest admiration for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s firm resolve in dealing with terrorism. Her government’s ‘zero tolerance’ policy towards terrorism is an inspiration for all of us.

Modi also said both sides agreed that peace, security and development for people of the two countries and for the region will remain a central engagement between the two neighbours.

A pact between Defence Services Staff College, Wellington (Nilgiris) in Tamil Nadu and Defence Services Command and Staff College, Mirpur, Dhaka was also inked for enhancing cooperation in strategic and operational studies.

Another agreement was signed between National Defence College in Dhaka and National Defence College in New Delhi.

Rail, Bus Services Restored

India has always stood for the prosperity of Bangladesh and its people. We are a long-standing and trusted development partner for Bangladesh. India and Bangladesh are also determined that the fruits of our cooperation must reach our people.

PM Modi

The two Prime Ministers jointly launched new rail and bus services between India and Bangladesh, and restored an old rail link between the two South Asian neighbours following bilateral talks here.

They launched the Maitree Express train that will run between Kolkata and Khulna in Bangladesh, and bus services between Kolkata and Dhaka via Khulna.

The two leaders also restored a once defunct rail link between Radhikapur in north Bengal and Biral in Bangladesh, and flagged off a cargo consignment of high speed diesel from Numaligarh Refinery in Assam.

Hasina Thanks India For Naming Road After Mujibur Rahman

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday thanked the Indian government for naming a road here after her father and the country's founder, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Park Street in Delhi, close to the President's Estate, will now be known after the Bangladesh founder.

“I appreciate naming a road after Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,” said Hasina at a joint press conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj chose the road, thank you very much,” she said.

The announcement was made by PM Modi on Saturday.

(With inputs from IANS and PTI)

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