Why in News?

• India and Bangladesh have entered into agreements during the official visit of Prime Minister of Bangladesh to India.

List of MoUs:

• Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on the use of Chattogram and Mongla Ports for Movement of goods to and from India
• MoU on withdrawal of 1.82 cusecs of water from Feni river by India for drinking water supply, scheme for Sabroom town, Tripura
• The two leaders directed the Technical Level Committee of the Joint Rivers Commission to expeditiously exchange updated data and information and prepare the draft framework of Interim Sharing Agreements for the six rivers — Manu, Muhuri, Khowai, Gumti, Dharla and Dudhkumar and to firm up the draft framework of interim sharing agreement of Feni river.
• Agreement concerning the implementation of GoI Line of Credits (LOC) extended to Bangladesh
• MoU between the University of Hyderabad and University of Dhaka
• Cultural Exchange Programme- Renewal
• MoU on Co-operation in Youth Affairs
• MoU on providing Coastal Surveillance System

Impact:

• They have decided to expand connectivity network corridors boosting Delhi’s Indo-Pacific strategy, with Dhaka emerging as a key pillar in that vision.
• Tripura will be a major beneficiary of the seven Indo-Bangladesh agreements signed during Bangladesh Prime Minister’s visit.
• It will become the first Northeast state to have direct access to international sea trade routes, once the agreements are implemented.
• The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) is in the process of setting up a jetty for inland waterways connectivity with Bangladesh.
• This new route would put Tripura in direct access to Ashuganj port, which is 60 km from the international border.
• Both leaders underlined the immense potential of movement of cargo using the inland water and coastal shipping trade.
• Towards this, they welcomed the decision to operationalize the Dhulian-Gadagari-Rajshahi-Daulatdia-Aricha Route (to and fro) and include Daudkandi-Sonamura Route (to and fro) under Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade.
• The Indian ports will attract enhanced cargo and also the overall transportation cost to Bangladesh will get reduced.