Water sharing, border killing to get focus in FOC with India tomorrow

Bangladesh and India will hold the foreign office consultations (FOC) tomorrow in New Delhi to discuss the entire gamut of bilateral issues highlighting water sharing, border killing, connectivity and trade.

Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen left for New Delhi today to lead the Bangladesh delegation at the FOC where his Indian counterpart Harsh V Shringla will lead the Indian side.

During the meeting, the two foreign secretaries will discuss on fixing agendas on upcoming prime minister-level meeting of the two countries as Indian premier Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Dhaka on March 26.

Earlier, Modi had accepted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's invitation to visit Bangladesh in March next to join the celebrations on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh's independence and 50 years of Bangladesh-India diplomatic relations.

"We will discuss all the bilateral issues we have on our plate right now…we will also follow up the joint declaration which was made after the PM-level virtual summit last month," Masud told reporters at his office last evening.

The foreign secretary said Rohingya issues as well as Bangladesh-India joint celebration marking Mujib Bosrsha and Bangladesh's golden jubilee of independence will also be discussed.

Bangladesh is celebrating the Mujib Borsha marking the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman which will continue till December 16 this year.

About the water sharing issue, Masud said Bangladesh wants to hear positive news on Teesta agreement.

"The ball (on Teesta) is in India's court. We will surely want to see that it gets resolved. We know the Indian central government and state government are yet to fully agree on Teesta," he said.

The joint statement issued after the PM level virtual talks held on December 17, said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina stressed early signing of an interim agreement on Teesta waters, as agreed by both the governments in 2011 while premier Modi reiterated New Delhi's sincere commitment and continued efforts towards that end.

During the meeting, the two prime ministers also underscored the need for the early conclusion of the water sharing framework of the interim agreement focusing on sharing of water of six joint rivers, namely, Manu, Muhuri, Khowai, Gumti, Dharla and Dudhkumar.

The foreign secretary said a number of MoUs are also likely to be signed after the FOC.

He said that the two sides would also have discussions on upcoming secretary level meeting of Joint River Commission (FOC) as well as visit of Indian home minister in Dhaka.

The foreign secretary will deliver a lecture at Indian Foreign Service Training Academy on January 30 and hold a meeting with Delhi based ambassadors who are concurrently accredited to Bangladesh.

He is scheduled to return home on Sunday.