In their vision statement, India and Bangladesh reaffirm their mutual desire to guide their ties to a new era of future-oriented partnership
India and Bangladesh recognise each other as indispensable partners in realizing their “respective national development visions of “Viksit Bharat 2047” and “Smart Bangladesh Vision 2041,” India-Bangladesh shared Vision for Future: Enhancing Connectivity, Commerce and Collaboration for Shared Prosperity—released on Saturday said.
 
The vision statement released following the state visit of Bangladesh Prime Minister on June 21-22, said: “As a close and valued neighbour with rapidly growing capabilities, Bangladesh is at the converging point of India’s “Neighbourhood First” policy, “Act East” policy, SAGAR doctrine and the Indo-Pacific vision, and an indispensable partner in the development of India’s northeastern region.”
 
“On the other hand, Bangladesh values its relationship with India as the closest and friendly neighbor. Bangladesh considers India as an important partner in the pursuit of its Neighborhood Foreign Policy for ensuring shared peace and prosperity,” said the India-Bangladesh vision statement.
 
Talking about a transformative partnership that advances the shared interests in promoting multi-faceted connectivity for both countries and the entire region, the vision statement maintained that this connectivity will in the broadest form include “physical connectivity covering multi-modal transport and cross-border trade and transit infrastructure for seamless cross-border movement of people, goods, and services, as well as energy connectivity and digital connectivity.”
 
As part of India-Bangladesh sub-regional connectivity initiatives, New Delhi will extend transit facilities for movement of Bangladesh goods to Nepal and Bhutan through railway network.

“We are committed to early operationalization of the BBIN Motor Vehicle Agreement to promote sub-regional connectivity. In this context, we welcome a new MOU on Railway Connectivity as well as the decision to commence goods-train service from Gede-Darshana through Chilahati-Haldibari up to Hasimara via Dalgaon railhead (as and when operationalized) at the India-Bhutan border,” the vision statement added.
 
On India-Bangladesh energy partnership, the vision statement said, “We will continue to expand our power and energy collaboration and together develop intra-regional electricity trade, including competitively-priced power generated from clean energy projects in India, Nepal and Bhutan, through the Indian electricity grid.”  
 
To achieve this goal on energy connectivity, the vision statement added, “We will expedite the construction of 765 kV high-capacity interconnection between Katihar-Parbatipur-Bornagar with suitable Indian financial assistance, to act as the anchor for our grid connectivity.”
 
On future-oriented partnership, the vision statement said, “To build inclusive, sustainable and digitally empowered societies and to bring larger benefits to people of both countries, we are forging a new paradigm for future-oriented partnership through a "Shared Vision for India-Bangladesh Digital Partnership” and "Shared Vision for India-Bangladesh Green Partnership for a Sustainable Future” in line with our respective broader Vision of "Viksit Bharat 2047” and "Smart Bangladesh Vision 2041”.
 
“We will also pursue collaboration in frontier technologies, including civil nuclear, oceanography and space technology. To this end, we will partner in joint development of a small satellite for Bangladesh and its launch using an Indian launch vehicle,” the India-Bangladesh vision statement said.

On enhancing trade and investment between the two countries, the vision statement maintained, “We will strengthen trade and investment linkages with each other, including through early commencement of negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), early operationalization of two Special Economic Zones (SEZs) offered by Bangladesh to India in Mongla and Mirsharai.”
 
It also talked about opening of new border-haats, trade facilitation to enhance bilateral trade, improving road, rail, air, and maritime connectivity and trade infrastructure. For new economic opportunities, both sides, as per the vision statement, “will also encourage and support our private sector to seek new investment opportunities in each other’s priority areas of economic development.”
 
On India-Bangladesh defence partnership, the vision statement maintained: “In line with the plans for modernization of the Bangladesh Armed Forces, we will explore defence industrial cooperation for modernization of the Armed Forces of Bangladesh, to strengthen their capability for defence. We will continue to work closely with Bangladesh for our multifaceted military engagements of exercises, training, and capability development.”
 
It also talked about extending e-medical visa facility to people from Bangladesh travelling to India for medical treatment and opening a new Assistant High Commission of India in Rangpur to facilitate expeditious consular and visa services for the people of north-west region of Bangladesh.
 
The vision statement emphasized bolstering India-Bangladesh development cooperation by concluding a new Framework Agreement for Development Partnership. “We will work together to expand our capacity building programme for civil services, judicial officers, police, and other specialized services of Bangladesh,” the vision statement maintained.