The virtual summit of the Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina and the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi is going to be held today.
The meeting is scheduled to begin at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday (December 17), an official said. Nine MoUs may be signed at the summit.
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen said nine MoUs in different sectors could be signed at the meeting. And after a long 55 years, the rail link between Chilahati in Nilphamari and Haldibari in India will be established today.
He said the summit would address various bilateral issues including water sharing, Covid-19 cooperation, border killings, trade deficit, communications, electricity and the Rohingya crisis.
Momen indicated that the forthcoming meeting would focus on the distribution of water from the common rivers flowing between the two countries. Dhaka will propose to bring the issue of water sharing between the two main rivers Manu, Muhuri, Gomti, Dharla, Dudhkumar, Feni and Teesta into one framework.
He said Bangladesh would soon, even if possible, propose to convene a meeting of the Joint River Commission (JRC) at the ministerial level next month to build a framework to resolve the issue of water sharing of these seven common rivers.
Momen said the Surma-Kushiyara project would also be one of the agenda of the JRC meeting. The last JRC meeting was held in New Delhi in 2010, 10 years ago.
Ahead of the conference, Bangladesh said the two countries would continue to work together as close neighbors to establish a secure South Asia for the benefit of all people.
Abdul Momen said that the relationship between Bangladesh and India is historical and blood related. India is our all time friend. They also have reason to be proud of our victory.