'Bangladesh a key part of India's SAGAR doctrine': MEA after PM Modi, Sheikh Hasina hold bilateral talks

NEW DELHI: Bangladesh is a key part of India's SAGAR (security and growth for all in the region) doctrine and the Indo-Pacific vision, foreign secretary Vinay Kwatra said while addressing a special press briefing on the State visit of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to India on Saturday.
"Bangladesh is a key part of India's SAGAR doctrine and the Indo-Pacific vision.The renewal of the MoU on maritime cooperation and blue economy that was signed in exchange earlier today aims to develop our ocean-based blue economy and maritime cooperation," Kwatra said.
"The MoU on oceanography will establish a framework for research in that area. The renewal of the MoU on disaster management would help strengthen response and capacity building in this entire domain. We would also be focusing on disaster risk reduction and management, which is one of the key pillars of the Indo-Pacific Oceans initiative." he added.
Bangladesh PM, who is on a two-day State visit to India, is also scheduled to meet Vice President and the external affairs minister after her meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

'Rohingya issue was discussed between PM Modi and his Bangladeshi counterpart'
The two leaders had also held discussions on Rohingya issue, according to the foreign secretary.
"The Rohingya issue was discussed. This is an issue that India and Bangladesh have discussed periodically at different levels of interaction. And the spectrum in which these discussion statements take places one of course you know in past India has offered assistance to Bangladesh. Humanitarian assistance to Rohingyas is something which we have offered in the past. We continue to work with Bangladesh closely on that," Kwatra said.
He further added, " There are several aspects of the Rohingyas' challenge that Bangladesh faces. Some of it also impinges on us. So those challenges also get discussed. How exactly should these concerns be reflected in Myanmar also comes up for discussions between India and Bangladesh. So all this forms the spectrum of these discussions and some of the key elements of this spectrum were also discussed between the two leaders today..."
The two leaders agreed to intensify engagement on counterterrorism, counter-radicalization and peaceful management of long land border. According to the foreign secretary, a joint technical committee has been formed to initiate discussions renewal of the Ganges water sharing treaty of 1996.
"We will also be undertaking conservation and management of the Teesta River inside Bangladesh with suitable Indian assistance," he added.
Investigation of Bangladesh MP's death is going on: Kwatra
Talking about the death of Bangladesh MP Anwarul Azim Anar, who came to Kolkata in May for medical treatment and then went missing, the foreign secretary said that the case is currently under investigation and law enforcement agencies from both countries are currently coordinating and necessary information is being shared in respect of the investigation.
"And the government from our side is extending all possible support to the Bangladesh side as part of the investigation..." he added.
In May, the MP was murdered in an upscale gated community with duplex flats in city's New Town area. According to CID and Bangladeshi investigators, Anar was allegedly smothered to death within hours of entering the apartment on May 13, and his body was dismembered, packed into bags, and removed from the premises. The washroom was then cleaned with acid to erase evidence of the crime.
India to start e-medical visa facility for Bangladeshis; open new consulate in Rangpur; new trains, bus services and more
The ministry of external affairs released the announcements list during PM Sheikh Hasina's visit to India. The announcements include e- visa for Medical Patients from Bangladesh, new assistant high commission of India in Rangpur in Bangladesh, new train service between Rajshahi and Kolkata, new bus service between Chittagong and Kolkata, commencement of goods train services between Gede-Darsana and Haldibari-Chilahati upto Dalgaon, construction of inland container depot (ICD) at Sirajganj under grant assistance, 350 training slots for Bangladeshi police officers, Muktijoddha Scheme for medical patients with an upper ceiling of Rs 8 lakh per patient and more.
India, Bangladesh signed several MoUs
India and Bangladesh signed several MoUs including a shared vision for India-Bangladesh digital and green partnership; MoU on maritime cooperation and blue economy; MoU between in-space and Bangladesh’s ministry of ict and telecom; MoU between ministry of railways, government of India and ministry of railways, government of Bangladesh for railway connectivity; MoU for cooperation in oceanography between Bangladesh oceanographic research institute (BORI) and India’s national institute of oceanographic institute (NIO) under CSIR and more.

India moves closer to Bangladesh to counterweight China
India and Bangladesh boosted their defense relationship and signed agreements as the New Delhi tries to present itself as a regional power and a counterweight to China. Bangladesh which enjoys good relationship with both the countries- India and China- will find trouble to find a balance in the relationship.
Bangladesh’s garment industry, which brings in more than 80% of foreign currency from exports, is heavily dependent on China for raw materials. While India is the largest market for Bangladeshi products in Asia.
India is Bangladesh’s largest export destination in Asia. Trade between the two countries touched $15.9 billion in the financial year 2022-23.
Meanwhile, PM Modi welcomed Bangladesh’s decision to join his Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative to expand and facilitate regional cooperation of India’s maritime neighbors. He said the deals with Dhaka were part of his country’s pursuit of a neighborhood-first approach.
Hasina told reporters in New Delhi that the two countries decided to boost the sharing of river waters and cooperation in the power and energy sectors.
(With inputs from agencies)