By IANS,
New Delhi: Turning a new chapter in their ties, India and Bangladesh have decided to fast-track the solution to their boundary dispute and fight terrorism under a new framework of security cooperation.
A day after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina held talks that transformed the bilateral ties, the two countries issued a joint communique in which they resolved to fight terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and enhance trade and connectivity between them.
Marking a new level of optimism in their ties, Sheikh Hasina expressed her country’s support in principle for India’s candidature for the permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council, a joint statement said.
“Bangladesh conveyed its support to the Indian candidature for a non-permanent seat in the UNSC for the term 2011-2012,” the statement said. “India also conveyed its support to Bangladesh’s candidature for a non-permanent seat in the UNSC for the term 2016-2017,” it added.
In yet another important step, Bangladesh invited India to construct a flyover across Tin Bigha Corridor for exclusive Indian use.
Security and counter-terror cooperation also acquired a new form between the two countries.
“Both prime ministers agreed to comprehensively address all outstanding land boundary issues, keeping in view the spirit of the 1974 Land Boundary Agreement. In this context, they agreed to convene the Joint Boundary Working Group to take this process forward,” the joint statement said.
India and Bangladesh share a 4,096-km long boundary, of which 6.1 km is undemarcated.
Signalling a new trust in their bilateral ties, the two leaders agreed on the need for amicably demarcating the maritime boundary.
In October last year, Bangladesh approached the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), seeking arbitration to delineate the boundary of the continental shelf in the Bay of Bengal.
In this context, the two leaders noted the initiation of proceedings at the UNCLOS and welcomed the visit of a delegation from Bangladesh to India, the joint statement said.
The two countries, which signed three security-related pacts Monday, declared that “security remained a priority for both countries, as terrorists, insurgents and criminals respect no boundaries”, and “underscored the need for both countries to actively cooperate on security issues”.
“Both leaders reiterated the assurance that the territory of either would not be allowed for activities inimical to the other and resolved not to allow their respective territory to be used for training, sanctuary and other operations by domestic or foreign terrorist/militant and insurgent organizations and their operatives,” the joint statement said.
India and Bangladesh Monday took a slew of defining steps to transform their bilateral ties that included New Delhi extending $1 billion for development projects in the neighbouring country and five agreements, including key security pacts to expand counter-terror cooperation.
The one-billion dollar line of credit is the largest ever one-time bilateral financial assistance India has provided to any country. It underlined India’s resolve to go the extra mile to spur the economic development of the neighbouring country.