PM might sign land accord with Bangladesh

NEW DELHI: Efforts are underway to finalise a land boundary agreement and a river water-sharing agreement between Bangladesh and India by the time Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visits Dhaka later this year.

This was indicated by foreign secretary Nirupama Rao after a series of high level meetings in Dhaka over the past couple of days. Talking to journalists in Dhaka on Tuesday, she said, "Both sides have made considerable progress in implementation of the joint communiqué since the visit. Implementation of projects under the $1 Billion line of credit (LOC) from India has been high priority for both sides. We have just conveyed our concurrence for a number of projects under the LOC in railway infrastructure and the purchase of buses for the city of Dhaka. These can be implemented immediately."

Rao said there was substantial progress in talks on power grid connectivity with Bangladesh. India has committed to supplying 500 MW of power -- 250 MW of which will be at a preferential rate -- to Bangladesh, starting 2012. India and Bangladesh plan to set up a high technology joint venture thermal power plant of 1,320 MW capacity in Bangladesh.

India, she said, had also raised the annual duty-free quota for Bangladeshi garments to India from 8 million to 10 million pieces. Bangladesh has felt that this was paltry and India could easily have accommodated double the amount.

Rao said, "Cooperation to upgrade Bangladesh state transport institution is progressing well. Both sides are working on several projects to improve trade infrastructure and connectivity. A new LCS at Fulbari-Banglabandha was opened in January and India has now undertaken to set up five Integrated Check Posts." Meghalaya will start border haats soon, she added. Bangladesh's exports to India rose by 52% in the first nine months of the 2010-2011 financial year.

On the river water-sharing pact, she, however, would not disclose the percentage of the water to be shared, saying the issue will be resolved at the highest level, meaning by the two prime ministers. "I won't discuss the framework or percentage of the water share Bangladesh will receive from the Teesta river. But don't think I'm trying to hide something. This is a very sensitive issue," Rao said.

On the killing of Bangladeshi nationals by Indian border guards at the border, she said they are concerned about it and a way will be worked out to stop it.

"We are strongly against all sorts of violence and killing in the border. We condemn whether an Indian or a Bangladeshi is killed. Most of the killings take place at night and citizens of both the countries lose their lives, which is very unfortunate."

The Indian side has already decided to use non-lethal weapons to stop loss of life in some areas on an experimental basis.