INDIA-BANGLADESH WATERWAYS TO BOOST TRIPURA'S ECONOMY

In a historic move the Tripura Government on July 23 received the first consignment of goods under the India-Bangladesh Coastal Agreement 2018. This initiative was launched under the Agreement on the use of Chattogram and Mongla Ports for the movement of India’s transit cargo through Bangladesh. Even though it will boost the economy of both the countries, the opening of the sea trade routes would immensely benefit Tripura and other North-Eastern states. Northeast Today writes.

India and Bangladesh shares bilateral relations, which are based on deep historical and fraternal ties, which reflect an all-encompassing bilateral partnership based on sovereignty, equality, trust and understanding that transcends a strategic partnership. As a part of its Neighbourhood First Policy and Act East Policy, in April, 2017, India offered a line of credit worth USD 4.5 billion to Bangladesh for its infrastructure development related to electricity, ports, rail and roads. According to reports, it was the highest credit offered by India to any country so far.

The India-Bangladesh ties grew stronger when the Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visited India in October 2019. Apart from attending the World Economic Forum in Delhi, as a chief guest, a 53-paragraph long joint statement was issued during the visit that highlighted some key issues which provides a future roadmap for India-Bangladesh relations.

The statement highlighted the priority areas for strengthening cooperation between India and Bangladesh. Some of the prominent areas are border security and management, win-win business partnership; boosting connectivity on land, on the water, in the skies; harnessing defence cooperation; consolidating development cooperation; cross-border energy cooperation; education and youth exchanges; cultural cooperation through celebration of Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary (2019), birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (2020) and 50 years of Bangladesh War of Liberation (2021); Sustaining momentum through High-level visits.