Featured Indian foreign secretary’s meeting with PM Sheikh Hasina underway

[DalalErMaNodi]

Shringla in Dhaka to ‘discuss and take forward cooperation on matters of mutual interest’, says Indian High Commission

Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla began a meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her official residence Gono Bhaban.

"The meeting is going on," a diplomatic source told The Daily Star at 3:30pm.

Shringla arrived in Dhaka on a sudden visit, which diplomatic sources say, is meant to warm up relations with Bangladesh amid New Delhi's concerns that China is expanding its footprints in Bangladesh.

He landed at Dhaka airport in a special flight of the Indian Air Force at 11:30am.

In a short statement, Indian High Commission in Dhaka today said Shringla came to Dhaka on a two-day visit to "discuss and take forward cooperation on matters of mutual interest."


This is the first visit by a high-level Indian official since the Covid-19 pandemic began in mid-March. The former Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Shringla visited Dhaka early March, after taking over as foreign secretary.

Shringla is also expected to meet Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam and Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen during the visit that officials have not formally announced before his arrival today.

Indian media reported that Shringla will carry a personal message from Prime Minister Narendra Modi for Hasina.

Our correspondent in New Delhi reports that Shringla's visit to Dhaka comes after a high-level meeting Modi had with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Harsh Vardhan Shrigla last week, discussing the state of India's relations with Bangladesh and Nepal.

Modi was reportedly concerned over the rough edges developed recently in Delhi-Dhaka ties and was keen to have them addressed.

Indian newspaper, The Hindu, reported that Shringla's visit comes when China is likely to provide nearly $1 billion assistance to Bangladesh for an irrigation project on the Teesta, which has been at the centre of a water-sharing negotiation with India.

In a letter to the Economic Relations Division (ERD) last month, Water Resources Ministry sought a $983.27 million loan from China to implement a "Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project".

"A massive project funded by China has been adopted for the management of the Teesta River and China has agreed to fund it. Hopefully, we can start the project by December," Jyoti Prosad Ghosh, an additional chief engineer at the Water Development Board, told Benarnews.

Bangladesh and India failed to sign the Teesta water-sharing agreement due to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's last-minute opposition during the then Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Dhaka in 2011. Even today, the issue remains unresolved and India continues to assure of striking the deal.

There has been no confirmation if Harsh Vardhan Shringla will discuss the Teesta issue.

Source

 

[DalalErMaNodi]

Yes, the project is waiting for ECNEC (Executive Committee of the National Economic Council) approval, I believe.

ECNEC meetings are chaired by Hasina, once they secure funds from China, the meeting involving ECNEC and all other parties will be held.

Once that meeting takes place, there is nothing to stop the project from going through.



This is precisely why Harsh Shringla; the Indian Foreign Secretary, is in Dhaka right now, arrived earlier today and he will wrap up the visit in the next few hours and leave the same day.

Hard to say, back in 2017, I'd say he'd be able to convince Hasina to shelve the project but now after all that has happened in the previous years and in 2020, I'm not sure anymore.

My personal opinion, Hasina will not back off from the project, I'm 60% sure.

This is her last term in office, this term defines her legacy and how she will be remembered, She knows a project like this will cement her name in the annals of history.

Looks like I was right to believe, he came here because news of the 1 billion dollar loan from China for this project has Delhi in a bind.

 

[Homo Sapiens]

 

[Chhatrapati]

There has been no confirmation if Harsh Vardhan Shringla will discuss the Teesta issue.

Not when this thing is ruling.

 

[El Sidd]

Bangladesh is a pivot state

 

[DalalErMaNodi]

Bangladesh is a pivot state

 

[Bilal9]

Content not bad but he should get a better narrator who can speak correct Bengali without regional accents. It sounded like a nail scratching a blackboard, a bit annoying.

 

[Bilal9]

What the Indian media said about Shringla's Dhaka visit
Anando Mostofa

• Published at 09:02 pm August 19th, 2020

Indian newspaper distributors sort newspapers displaying front page news on the Easter Sunday bombings in Sri Lanka, at a roadside stall in Amritsar on April 22, 2019 AFP

There has been a hype surrounding Shringla’s visit in the Indian media where the Teesta issue and Bangladesh-China relations are being discussed

Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla’s second official visit to Bangladesh has generated a lot of interest in both countries with the media reporting details related to the two-day trip.

There has been a hype surrounding Shringla’s visit in the Indian media where the Teesta issue and Bangladesh-China relations are being discussed. The Indian media is also claiming that relations with Dhaka and New Delhi have deteriorated in recent times.

However, the foreign secretary has called his Dhaka tour “very satisfactory” after he wrapped up the two-day visit on Wednesday.

“Cooperation in building an airport in Bangladesh was announced earlier. This time, China is also helping with $1 billion for the Teesta irrigation project. After that, Delhi could no longer remain silent.”

This was the opening part of a report in the Indian Bangla daily Aajkaal on the visit of Shringla to Dhaka on August 16.

Also Read - Very satisfactory visit, says Shringla

The report, titled “China's help in Teesta project, India's foreign secretary in Dhaka soon,” further said, “At the end of March, there was a lockdown in the country to resist coronavirus. Then Shringla is going on this first foreign tour. He will hold talks with the Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina today. Sheikh Hasina will also hold a meeting with a foreign guest for the first time since the lockdown.”

Another popular Bangla daily Anandabazar wrote under the headline “Foreign secretary in a surprise meeting with Hasina” that Shringla paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during a two-day surprise visit to Bangladesh.

“The foreign secretary had brought ‘special message’ from Delhi on mutual cooperation between the two countries,” Anandabazar quoted Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Riva Gangopadhyay Das as saying.

Zee News headlined “Foreign secretary to visit Dhaka, discuss Teesta with Sheikh Hasina."

The multi-lingual popular Indian media writes that “the tension between New Delhi and Dhaka over Teesta water sharing is nothing new. In the meantime, Beijing has recently announced a huge amount of aid to Dhaka in the Teesta project. In such an atmosphere, the informed sources think that this hasty visit is only to strengthen the bilateral agreements between India and Bangladesh and to get a glimpse of the overall situation.”

“China’s Teesta plans: Foreign Secretary likely to visit Bangladesh today” was the headline of the English-language daily The Hindu.

According to the newspaper, “Bangladesh is likely to receive $1billion assistance from China for an irrigation project on the Teesta which has been at the centre of a water-sharing negotiations with India.”

The headline indicates that Shringla came to Bangladesh targeting Chinese investment in the Teesta project.

“Foreign secretary meets Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina in bid to counter China's influence” - the Asian Age wrote, adding that “both countries are moving towards convening a Joint Consultative Commission at the foreign ministerial level to oversee the bilateral relationship, especially projects being carried out for the welfare of Bangladesh with Indian assistance.”

“Old Dhaka hand Shringla rushes to the rescue as India tries to placate friend Bangladesh,” under this headline News18 wrote, “this is seen as a significant move, considering New Delhi has been concerned over Dhaka’s sudden leaning to China for investment much like other neighbours of India. The latest trigger being a possible loan from the Chinese for a project related to the Teesta River.”

Also Read - 'Delhi will share Covid-19 vaccine with Dhaka when ready'

“India and Bangladesh have been unable to sign a Teesta river water sharing treaty for eight years now – both PM Manmohan Singh and PM Modi have been stopped due to objections from West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee over the treaty.”

“Though no specific information was shared with regards to any possible movement over the Teesta treaty, however, the consultative commission’s mandate appears to oversee all such hiccups.”

Asked about this news, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen said Dhaka and Delhi had discussed a number of false and negative news items in various news portals.

"I have drawn their attention to that," he said.

“We have agreed that we have the mainstream media, that the current state of our relationship is better, we will try to convey this message through discussions with you,” Masud told the reporters.

 

[Bilal9]

News Analysis: Why so secret?
Humayun Kabir Bhuiyan

• Published at 11:38 pm August 19th, 2020

Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla after a meeting with his Bangladesh counterpart Masud Bin Momen at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka on Wednesday, August 19, 2020 Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune

Indo-Bangladesh ties are best served by full openness

The sudden two-day visit of Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla came to an end on Wednesday.

It is still too early to opine as to the outcome of the visit, but one can conclude that it was an important one, seeing as it took place amid the coronavirus pandemic.

However, what was more noteworthy about the visit of the top Indian diplomat, his second this year, was how confidential it was kept – something that can certainly be seen as somewhat out of the ordinary.

It is well known that the relationship between the Bangladesh and Indian governments is one that is under constant scrutiny here in Bangladesh.

Also Read - Very satisfactory visit, says Shringla

Given this background, the governments in Dhaka and New Delhi playing this visit so close to their chests was bound to attract comment.

No one can deny that the visit was quite surprising and unusual in some aspects, including the suddenness of the arrival of the dignitary.

Quoting unnamed sources, the media reported on Monday that the Indian foreign secretary would arrive in Dhaka the next day.

But there was no official announcement from either the Bangladesh Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, which is not usual.

The Indian High Commission in Dhaka issued a one-sentence statement on the day of Shringla’s arrival.

“Sh. Harsh Vardhan Shringla, Foreign Secretary of India is on a visit to Dhaka from August 18-19, 2020 to discuss and take forward cooperation on matters of mutual interest,” it said.

There was nothing from the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry, although Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen said after his counterpart’s arrival that it was not a sudden visit.

Such confidentiality was maintained that an official of the Indian high commission in Dhaka, who deals with the press, would not disclose the schedule of the foreign secretary during his time in Bangladesh. He even declined to say who received him at the airport, and if the top diplomat would leave on Tuesday or stay overnight.

Also Read - What the Indian media said about Shringla's Dhaka visit

The approach of the Foreign Ministry and the Bangladesh High Commission in Delhi appears to be similar.

The greatest confusion the visit produced was with respect to the foreign secretary’s meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Quoting Indian diplomatic sources and Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Riva Ganguly Das, the media reported that a meeting had been held on Tuesday evening.

But as late as 11pm on Tuesday, the prime minister’s press secretary told Dhaka Tribune that he was not aware of any meeting.

Even journalists who cover the prime minister could not confirm the meeting until long after it had been held.

Nor was any photo of the meeting released, which is usually done.

On Wednesday, Foreign Secretary Masud hosted a working lunch for his Indian counterpart at a city hotel, where Shringla was checked in. Both of them told the media after the lunch that they had talked about different aspects of the relationship.

The Indian foreign secretary did not meet Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen, as the latter was in Sylhet.

Also Read - 'Delhi will share Covid-19 vaccine with Dhaka when ready'

Bilateral relations between any two countries flourish if transparency and openness are ensured by the respective governments.

This is even more important with respect to the relations between Dhaka and New Delhi.

One trusts that future high-level meetings between Dhaka and New Delhi will not be shrouded in such secrecy.

The best thing for the strong bilateral relationship that both countries prize is for there to be full openness when it comes to such official visits.

 

[Bilal9]

Very satisfactory visit, says Shringla
Ali Asif Shawon

• Published at 03:12 pm August 19th, 2020

Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla speaks to reporters after a meeting with his Bangladesh counterpart Masud Bin Momen at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka on Wednesday, August 19, 2020 Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune

India will make its potential Covid-19 vaccine available for Bangladesh on priority basis once it is produced, says Harsh Vardhan Shringla

Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla has called his Dhaka tour “very satisfactory.”

He wrapped up the two-day visit on Wednesday after holding a bilateral meeting with his Bangladesh counterpart Masud Bin Momen, during which the Covid-19 vaccine issue appeared to have largely featured.

“I have a very satisfactory visit, a very short visit,” he told reporters after the meeting at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka.

Shringla arrived in the capital on Tuesday to warm up Indo-Bangla relations and met with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the evening.

He said New Delhi would make their potential Covid-19 vaccine available for Bangladesh on priority basis once it was produced in partnership with its developer Oxford University, who appeared to be a major forerunner in the global race for developing the inoculation.

“When vaccine is developed, friends, partners and neighbours will get it without any saying... For us Bangladesh is always a priority,” Shringla commented.

He said India, which produces 60% of global vaccine, has now reached the stage of trying the vaccine with an objective to produce it on a massive scale.

Shringla said on Tuesday he briefed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina about various measures India took to contain the Covid-19 pandemic there.

But he said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent him to Dhaka to carry forward the excellent India-Bangladesh relations even during the pandemic.

“Reason I came here is that our prime minister felt during Covid time there is not much contact, but the relationship [India-Bangladesh] must continue,” Shringla said.

He said: “We must continue to move forward towards our strong bilateral relations and I came primarily to look at that point."

Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Masud said they also discussed measures and cooperation between Dhaka and New Delhi regarding economic recovery during and post-pandemic period.

The two secretaries discussed a possible virtual meeting of the Joint Consultative Commission (JCC), the foreign minister-level meeting between Dhaka and New Delhi.

“Maybe I will visit New Delhi before the JCC meeting to fix the agendas,” Masud said, adding both sides wanted to hold the JCC meeting in shortest possible time to advance further the Bangladesh-India relations.

Shringla's visit showed the commitment of both sides to take the relationship more forward, Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Riva Das Ganguly had told a select media group on Tuesday night.

Shringla, who had served as the Indian envoy to Bangladesh before, last visited Dhaka in March after assuming the office of the Indian foreign secretary in January this year.

According to officials, this is Shringla’s first overseas tour since the global Covid-19 pandemic started.

 

[fallstuff]

Very satisfactory visit, says Shringla
Ali Asif Shawon

• Published at 03:12 pm August 19th, 2020

Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla speaks to reporters after a meeting with his Bangladesh counterpart Masud Bin Momen at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka on Wednesday, August 19, 2020 Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune

India will make its potential Covid-19 vaccine available for Bangladesh on priority basis once it is produced, says Harsh Vardhan Shringla

Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla has called his Dhaka tour “very satisfactory.”

He wrapped up the two-day visit on Wednesday after holding a bilateral meeting with his Bangladesh counterpart Masud Bin Momen, during which the Covid-19 vaccine issue appeared to have largely featured.

“I have a very satisfactory visit, a very short visit,” he told reporters after the meeting at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka.

Shringla arrived in the capital on Tuesday to warm up Indo-Bangla relations and met with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the evening.

He said New Delhi would make their potential Covid-19 vaccine available for Bangladesh on priority basis once it was produced in partnership with its developer Oxford University, who appeared to be a major forerunner in the global race for developing the inoculation.

“When vaccine is developed, friends, partners and neighbours will get it without any saying... For us Bangladesh is always a priority,” Shringla commented.

He said India, which produces 60% of global vaccine, has now reached the stage of trying the vaccine with an objective to produce it on a massive scale.

Shringla said on Tuesday he briefed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina about various measures India took to contain the Covid-19 pandemic there.

But he said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent him to Dhaka to carry forward the excellent India-Bangladesh relations even during the pandemic.

“Reason I came here is that our prime minister felt during Covid time there is not much contact, but the relationship [India-Bangladesh] must continue,” Shringla said.

He said: “We must continue to move forward towards our strong bilateral relations and I came primarily to look at that point."

Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Masud said they also discussed measures and cooperation between Dhaka and New Delhi regarding economic recovery during and post-pandemic period.

The two secretaries discussed a possible virtual meeting of the Joint Consultative Commission (JCC), the foreign minister-level meeting between Dhaka and New Delhi.

“Maybe I will visit New Delhi before the JCC meeting to fix the agendas,” Masud said, adding both sides wanted to hold the JCC meeting in shortest possible time to advance further the Bangladesh-India relations.

Shringla's visit showed the commitment of both sides to take the relationship more forward, Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Riva Das Ganguly had told a select media group on Tuesday night.

Shringla, who had served as the Indian envoy to Bangladesh before, last visited Dhaka in March after assuming the office of the Indian foreign secretary in January this year.

According to officials, this is Shringla’s first overseas tour since the global Covid-19 pandemic started.

No Indian Vaccine in BD, then again there is no Indian vaccine to begin with.

 

[Bilal9]

No Indian Vaccine in BD, then again there is no Indian vaccine to begin with.

Beximco and Square were also working on vaccines or were they post infection remedies?
What happened to the generic Remdesivir trials? I believe we sent a shipment to Pakistan as well?

 

[SQ8]

The mistress gets the diktat of the boss - return to your senses woman and tell the Pakistanis to get lost. We should not hear of this “engagement” anymore or you and your pathetic nation will be very sorry.

 

[Tom-tom]

Shringla in Dhaka to ‘discuss and take forward cooperation on matters of mutual interest’, says Indian High Commission

View attachment 661835

Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla began a meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her official residence Gono Bhaban.

"The meeting is going on," a diplomatic source told The Daily Star at 3:30pm.

Shringla arrived in Dhaka on a sudden visit, which diplomatic sources say, is meant to warm up relations with Bangladesh amid New Delhi's concerns that China is expanding its footprints in Bangladesh.

He landed at Dhaka airport in a special flight of the Indian Air Force at 11:30am.

In a short statement, Indian High Commission in Dhaka today said Shringla came to Dhaka on a two-day visit to "discuss and take forward cooperation on matters of mutual interest."


This is the first visit by a high-level Indian official since the Covid-19 pandemic began in mid-March. The former Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Shringla visited Dhaka early March, after taking over as foreign secretary.

Shringla is also expected to meet Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam and Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen during the visit that officials have not formally announced before his arrival today.

Indian media reported that Shringla will carry a personal message from Prime Minister Narendra Modi for Hasina.

Our correspondent in New Delhi reports that Shringla's visit to Dhaka comes after a high-level meeting Modi had with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Harsh Vardhan Shrigla last week, discussing the state of India's relations with Bangladesh and Nepal.

Modi was reportedly concerned over the rough edges developed recently in Delhi-Dhaka ties and was keen to have them addressed.

Indian newspaper, The Hindu, reported that Shringla's visit comes when China is likely to provide nearly $1 billion assistance to Bangladesh for an irrigation project on the Teesta, which has been at the centre of a water-sharing negotiation with India.

In a letter to the Economic Relations Division (ERD) last month, Water Resources Ministry sought a $983.27 million loan from China to implement a "Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project".

"A massive project funded by China has been adopted for the management of the Teesta River and China has agreed to fund it. Hopefully, we can start the project by December," Jyoti Prosad Ghosh, an additional chief engineer at the Water Development Board, told Benarnews.

Bangladesh and India failed to sign the Teesta water-sharing agreement due to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's last-minute opposition during the then Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Dhaka in 2011. Even today, the issue remains unresolved and India continues to assure of striking the deal.

There has been no confirmation if Harsh Vardhan Shringla will discuss the Teesta issue.

Source

Should this Indian be meeting our pm physically in person during covid? Whilst the Chinese is doing everything via video?conference?

 

[Tom-tom]

Very satisfactory visit, says Shringla
Ali Asif Shawon

• Published at 03:12 pm August 19th, 2020

Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla speaks to reporters after a meeting with his Bangladesh counterpart Masud Bin Momen at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka on Wednesday, August 19, 2020 Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune

India will make its potential Covid-19 vaccine available for Bangladesh on priority basis once it is produced, says Harsh Vardhan Shringla

Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla has called his Dhaka tour “very satisfactory.”

He wrapped up the two-day visit on Wednesday after holding a bilateral meeting with his Bangladesh counterpart Masud Bin Momen, during which the Covid-19 vaccine issue appeared to have largely featured.

“I have a very satisfactory visit, a very short visit,” he told reporters after the meeting at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka.

Shringla arrived in the capital on Tuesday to warm up Indo-Bangla relations and met with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the evening.

He said New Delhi would make their potential Covid-19 vaccine available for Bangladesh on priority basis once it was produced in partnership with its developer Oxford University, who appeared to be a major forerunner in the global race for developing the inoculation.

“When vaccine is developed, friends, partners and neighbours will get it without any saying... For us Bangladesh is always a priority,” Shringla commented.

He said India, which produces 60% of global vaccine, has now reached the stage of trying the vaccine with an objective to produce it on a massive scale.

Shringla said on Tuesday he briefed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina about various measures India took to contain the Covid-19 pandemic there.

But he said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent him to Dhaka to carry forward the excellent India-Bangladesh relations even during the pandemic.

“Reason I came here is that our prime minister felt during Covid time there is not much contact, but the relationship [India-Bangladesh] must continue,” Shringla said.

He said: “We must continue to move forward towards our strong bilateral relations and I came primarily to look at that point."

Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Masud said they also discussed measures and cooperation between Dhaka and New Delhi regarding economic recovery during and post-pandemic period.

The two secretaries discussed a possible virtual meeting of the Joint Consultative Commission (JCC), the foreign minister-level meeting between Dhaka and New Delhi.

“Maybe I will visit New Delhi before the JCC meeting to fix the agendas,” Masud said, adding both sides wanted to hold the JCC meeting in shortest possible time to advance further the Bangladesh-India relations.

Shringla's visit showed the commitment of both sides to take the relationship more forward, Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Riva Das Ganguly had told a select media group on Tuesday night.

Shringla, who had served as the Indian envoy to Bangladesh before, last visited Dhaka in March after assuming the office of the Indian foreign secretary in January this year.

According to officials, this is Shringla’s first overseas tour since the global Covid-19 pandemic started.

Oxford the developer not India