President Abdul Hamid meets Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi yesterday. The president is on a six-day visit in India. Photo: PIB, India Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday expressed optimism about the implementation of Land Boundary Agreement and sharing of Teesta water. Without giving any timeframe, Modi told Bangladesh President Md Abdul Hamid tha
t his government is working on resolving the pending issues of LBA and Teesta and is hopeful about an early resolution. During their half-an-hour meeting at the Hyderabad House in the Indian capital, he also said India was willing to supply more electricity to Bangladesh apart from the 500MW being already given through a trans-border power grid. Hamid, who is on the second day of his six-day official visit to India, expressed the hope that with Modi leading India, the Teesta water sharing and LBA would be put into effect soon. He thanked India for supplying electricity and sought New Delhi's cooperation to draw power from Bhutan and Nepal, Press Secretary to President Ihsanul Karim told reporters. As the president referred to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's invitation to Modi to visit Bangladesh at the earliest possible time, the Indian PM said he wants to make the trip as early as possible. In this context, Modi apprised the president of his two separate "very productive" meetings with Hasina on the margins of the UN General Assembly in New York in September and the Saarc Summit in Kathmandu in November this year. Advertisement Both the leaders laid emphasis on enhancing connectivity and communication between India and Bangladesh. Every Saarc country should make full use of its distinctive advantage in any sector, Modi said, adding all countries in the region should come together to tap them for overall economic development of South Asia. The Indian PM stressed cooperation in tackling drug trafficking, highlighting three Ds of the menace -- darkness, destruction and devastation. MAKE IT QUICK Meanwhile, a Congress member in Lok Sabha yesterday asked the Indian government to expedite introduction of a constitution amendment bill to give effect to the LBA with Bangladesh and asked it to explain the delay. "The Parliamentary Standing Committee unanimously cleared the 119th Constitution (Amendment) Bill with a lot of painstaking efforts. Several parties, which were previously opposed to it, came around to support it," said Shashi Tharoor, who headed the committee. The report was tabled in parliament on December 1. "Yet there is no action on the matter. I have to demand that the government should explain to the House why it has delayed bringing the bill,” Tharoor said. "The Bangladesh president is in India. Why are you not proceeding in this matter?" he said. Tharoor, who was supported by CPI(M) member Mohammad Selim, said the agreement was aimed at putting an end to a serious anomaly plaguing the two countries since the Partition in 1947. Selim also wanted to know why the government was not bringing the legislation for passage in Parliament. Responding to the two members, Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said the matter has been taken note of and would be conveyed to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj who "will respond to it when she finds it convenient." It appears unlikely that the bill will be passed in the current winter session of parliament with just four days left for its end. CONGRESS BACKING LBA India's main opposition Congress party yesterday said it will extend "whole-hearted" support to BJP-led NDA government for passage of a constitution amendment bill seeking ratification of the Land Boundary Agreement with Bangladesh. This was conveyed by Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad when he called on President Abdul Hamid. Azad also said India and Bangladesh "should explore cooperation in new areas such as space, nuclear technology and maritime issues". He told Hamid that India has always believed that a strong, stable and prosperous Bangladesh is in "our country's" interest and that "we remain fully committed to be a partner in the progress and prosperity of Bangladesh”. Responding to the urge of Bangladesh government for early ratification of LBA, Azad said the previous Congress-led UPA government had introduced the bill in the Rajya Sabha and remains committed to its early passage in parliament. "Congress party will extend whole-hearted cooperation to the NDA government for its early passage," he told the president. A constitution amendment is required in India to implement LBA because it involves exchange of land between the two countries. Azad appreciated the security cooperation extended by Bangladesh and expressed hope that both the countries will continue to jointly combat insurgency, militancy and terrorism as these have emerged as a huge threat to peace and stability in the region. He said he would like India-Bangladesh border to be an interface of friendship and peace. TWO WAR HEROES At the start of the meeting with Modi which began at noon, Hamid recalled with gratitude the contribution made by the government and people of India to the Liberation War, 1971. For his part, Modi said the month of December was "very significant" because it was the "month of victory", a reference to December 16 when occupation Pakistani troops surrendered to the joint command of Bangladesh and India. Modi recalled that in the space of four days, he was lucky to meet two war heroes -- Gen (Retd) JFR Jacob who played a key role in Bangladesh Liberation War on December 16 and the Bangladesh president who also took part in the independence struggle. Earlier in the morning, India's External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj called on Hamid at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, where Hamid is staying as a guest, and told him that India has wish and will to support Bangladesh in its development, Karim said. Swaraj also said Bangladesh is not only a neighbour but a dependable friend. She agreed when Hamid said Bangladesh-India Parliamentarians Friendship Group should expand its activities. The minister wanted more contacts between lawmakers of the two countries. The Indian foreign minister expressed satisfaction at the exchange of high-level visits between the two countries in the last six months. Sushma and her deputy Gen (retd) VK Singh had visited Dhaka in last six months.
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