Bangladesh reviews over 100 agreements with India amid BRICS celebrations
The Bangladeshi government is reviewing 101 agreements and MoUs signed with India.
The government of Bangladesh is reviewing 101 agreements and memorandums of understanding (MoUs) signed with India. The ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)'s parliamentary chief whip Nurul Islam Moni provided this information on Friday. He indicated that after the review is completed, some agreements may be canceled or amended. However, he did not clarify which agreements the government is considering to continue and which ones it might withdraw from.
According to the Bangladeshi newspaper ‘Prothom Alo’,
Nurul Islam Moni made this statement during a conversation with journalists at the parliament's media center after the conclusion of the third session of the 13th Parliament. He was asked about the agreements between India and Bangladesh and policies related to the use of Bangladesh's ports.
A journalist asked what the future holds for the agreements allowing friendly nations' ships to use the Chattogram and Mongla ports. Is the Bangladesh government planning to cancel these agreements? In response, Moni said, “We are reviewing all agreements. A total of 101 memorandums are under examination. You will receive the results very soon.”
Moni did not specify how long the review process would take. He also did not name the agreements that the government considers inappropriate or those that may be subject to change. However, his statement indicated that the current government of Bangladesh is re-evaluating the agreements made with India in previous years.
The chief whip of BNP claimed that,
the current government is withdrawing from agreements that it considers unethical or against Bangladesh's national interests. He stated that the government's top priority is to protect the country's sovereignty, domestic interests, and economic rights. On this basis, various agreements and policy decisions made during the previous government's tenure are being evaluated.
Moni cited examples of old policies related to the Chattogram port, alleging that some arrangements favored foreign ships over Bangladeshi vessels. According to him, such policies were not in the country's interest, and the current government does not wish to continue such unequal arrangements. He stated that Bangladesh's ports are vital strategic and economic assets. Therefore, any decision related to their use should be made with national interests in mind. He emphasized that Bangladesh's future diplomatic relations with other countries will also be based on the principles of sovereignty and protection of domestic interests.
In recent years, several agreements have been made between India and Bangladesh in various sectors, including connectivity, trade, energy, transport, security, ports, and water management. Arrangements related to the use of Chattogram and Mongla ports have been a significant part of plans to enhance connectivity between the two countries. These facilities provide alternative and relatively shorter routes for transporting goods to India's northeastern states.
In this context, the announcement regarding the review of 101 agreements is considered significant for India-Bangladesh relations. If Dhaka decides to cancel some major agreements or change their terms, it could impact trade, transport, and regional connectivity projects between the two countries. Currently, there has been no detailed official information from the Bangladesh government regarding the results of the review or potential changes.
Meanwhile, Moni also expressed displeasure over the non-invitation of Bangladesh's Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to the BRICS summit held in Delhi. According to the Bangladeshi newspaper ‘The Daily Observer’, Moni described this as disappointing for Bangladesh as an independent nation.
Earlier, Bangladesh's Foreign Minister Humayun Kabir also stated that,
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman was not personally invited to the BRICS summit. According to him, the invitation was sent to the chair of BIMSTEC. Reports have emerged that Rahman was invited to participate in the outreach session of BRICS in his capacity as the current chair of BIMSTEC.
The statements regarding the review of agreements with India and the BRICS invitation indicate that Dhaka's new government wants to redefine the terms of its relationship with New Delhi. Attention is now focused on the results of the review process, which will clarify how many of the 101 agreements will continue and how many will be canceled or amended.