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Bangladesh India Foreign Ministers meet for Joint Consultative Commission

Rai Kishori
September 29, 2020 8:25 pm
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The 6th meeting of the Joint Consultative Commission (JCC) between Bangladesh and India was held on today in a warm and cordial atmosphere. The JCC was co-chaired by Foreign Minister of Bangladesh Dr. A K Abdul Momen and External Affairs Minister of India Dr. S Jaishankar. Secretaries and high level representatives from a large number of Ministries and Divisions of both countries joined the meeting. Although it was Dhaka’s turn to host the meeting, due to the COVID-19 situation, the meeting was held on web platform.

During the meeting, the two Ministers reviewed and discussed the entire gamut of bilateral relations including cooperation on connectivity, security, political issues, development, trade and investment, power and energy sector and people to people contacts. Both sides expressed satisfaction that even during the current situation induced by the pandemic COVID-19, Bangladesh and India have maintained robust engagements. The two Foreign Ministers recognized the positive trajectory of bilateral relations enjoyed by the two countries and exchanged gratitude with each other for maintaining the gesture of good neighborliness.

In the backdrop of the ongoing pandemic, both sides discussed collaboration in the health sector specially in terms of supply, delivery, distribution and co-production of COVID-19 vaccine. Foreign Minister of Bangladesh appreciated India’s assurance on prioritizing Bangladesh for supply of the potential vaccine in the future.

Both sides agreed to jointly celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the Independence of Bangladesh and the fiftieth anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. It was agreed that a virtual meeting at Prime Ministers’ level would be held in December 2020 between the two countries. A number of programs were proposed to be organized jointly to mark the two epoch events, such as revival of the historic Mujibnagar-Kolkata road, honoring the Indian war veterans, ceremonial military parades on 16 December, organizing friendship fairs, year-long seminars in different cities of Bangladesh and India and simultaneous launching of a website on 50 years of victory and friendship. The two sides agreed to establish Bangabandhu-Bapu digital museums both in Bangladesh and India. The Indian Government would also release a commemorative stamp on the birth centenary of Bangabandhu on 16 December 2020 to pay their homage to the life and ideology of Bangabandhu.

The two Ministers stressed on the need forstrengthening effective implementation of the Coordinated Border Management Plan. Bangladesh side highlighted that the entire nation is deeply concerned at the rise in killings of Bangladeshi nationals by Indian border forces. Indian side agreed that the loss of civilian lives at the border is a matter of concern. Both sides urged the concerned border forces to enhance coordinated measures to bring down border incidents to zero.

Both sides underscored the necessity of early resolution of the Teesta water sharing and early resolution of agreements on sharing of all common rivers. The two sides also agreed to hold the long pending Joint Rivers Commission meeting soon at the Ministerial level to address outstanding issues on water resources cooperation.

The two Ministers positively reviewed the possibilities of resumption of air connectivity, during the ongoing pandemic, through special air bubble arrangement with equal share of frequencies and routes by the carriers of the two countries. Bangladesh side requested the Indian side to reciprocally ease visa and land border restrictions for Bangladeshi nationals, particularly for medical patients and students enrolled in various educational institutions of India.

Bangladesh side thanked India for the concessions being provided under SAFTA. However, various non-tariff barriers and lack of adequate trade facilitation is impeding flow of Bangladeshi products into India, particularly, the North East. Bangladesh requested Indian side to address issues of accreditation, certification, standardization, port restrictions and developing port infrastructure to enable exports of Bangladesh into India. Bangladesh Foreign Minister requested his Indian counterpart to look into the export of essential commodities, such as onions by India, since this impacts the domestic market of Bangladesh. Bangladesh also stressed on the equitable application of investment policies by India.

Both sides discussed implementation of the development projects under Indian Lines of Credit in a timely manner. A high-level monitoring committee was agreed to be formed with Secretary ERD and Indian High Commissioner in Bangladesh leading the committee on each side. Enhancing cooperation on energy and power sector through facilitation of tripartite power-energy cooperation among Bangladesh-India-Nepal and Bangladesh-India-Bhutan was also discussed.

During the meeting, Bangladesh Foreign Minster expressed hope that as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, India would play a more meaningful role for a lasting solution to the Rohingya crisis, including their early repatriation to Myanmar in a safe and sustainable manner.

The Talks were held in a very cordial environment. After the Talks, both Ministers jointly unveiled two commemorative stamps as part of the celebration of the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

It may be noted that the 5th JCC meeting was held in February 2019 in New Delhi.

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