India, Bangladesh discuss terrorism, water management

India and Bangladesh today discussed ways to broaden collaboration in combating terrorism and better management of water resources and took stock of agreements signed between the two nations during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the neighbouring country last year.
Bangladesh Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque, who is on a two-day visit to India, said the first meeting of the Maritime Task Force of the two countries will take place in the first week of March in Dhaka to discuss ways to translate the objectives into action.
Haque, who yesterday had an extensive meeting with his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar, today called on National Security Advisor Ajit Doval with whom he discussed issues pertaining to security.

"We primarily discussed four clusters of issues. One was peace, development and security and talks ranging from border management, anti-trafficking and terrorism and countering extremism," Haque told reporters here.
Asked about the issues related to terrorism that were discussed, the Bangladeshi diplomat refused to divulge the details of the talks held between him and Indian officials, but said "all were very satisfied with the level of cooperation including combating terrorism."
Both the countries have solved the long pending issue of Land Boundary Agreement (LBA), but sharing of Teesta river water still remains a contentious topic between the two.

Haque also met Amarjit Singh, Special Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources and discussed the issues of water and basin management.

Asked whether Teesta river water sharing issue was discussed, Haque said "We discussed all aspects of water management. I found it (the talks) encouraging, and India's willingness and openness in looking at all the aspects."
Elaborating on the Joint Task Force on Maritime, which is an outcome of the MoU between the two countries he said, it is a new area of collaboration between the two countries.
The meeting in Dhaka, may also include talks on the use of
Chittagong port.
In the joint-statement last year, Modi and his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina had expressed satisfaction at the amicable settlement of the maritime boundary between the two countries.

The two had agreed on development of ocean-based Blue Economy and Maritime Cooperation in the Bay of Bengal and chart out the ways for future cooperation and had signed an MoU in this regard.
Terming his visit to India as "successful", Haque said there was no issue on which both the sides "disagreed".
"The meetings were very warm and with an open agenda. We discussed the progress of 22 documents signed during Prime Minister Modi's visit to Dhaka. In terms of progress, I must say, it is very fast, satisfactory and productive. We also discussed regional and global issues," Haque said, adding business and trade and people to people contact were also discussed.

"We also discussed all aspects including the visa, but I must say that there has been a tremendous improvement in terms of (procuring) visa. We are very happy, but this is a work in progress."
Responding to reports on Bangladeshis shot dead on the borders in Assam and West Bengal, he said the topic came up for the discussion between the two sides and he was "happy with the outcome.