Bangladesh and India signs agreements on extradition and relaxation of visa regime; Bilateral talks between the Indian Commerce and Industry Minister and Bangladesh's Commerce Minister; Fifth meeting of the India-Bangladesh Joint Steering Committee on Pow
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    • January 28 - February 3

    According to reports, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina reiterated her government's firm stance against terrorism, saying Bangladesh would not allow its territory to be used for launching attacks on other countries. Hasina made the remarks when visiting Indian Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde paid a courtesy call on her at her office on January 29, 2013. 1 During the visit, Bangladesh and India have signed two agreements on extradition and relaxation of visa regime.

    In another development, according to reports, while seeking expand of trade and economic engagement, India asked Bangladesh to allow smaller ships to operate between Chittagong and Visakhapatnam. This is to help faster movement of goods and reduce the trans-shipment cost as most of the present trade through sea route happens via Singapore inflating costs. The issue came up for discussion during the bilateral talks between the Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma and Bangladesh's Commerce Minister GM Quader held at Agra on January 28, 2013. 2

    Reports noted that Indian Power Secretary P Uma Shankar went to Dhaka on January 29, 2013 for four day visit to co-chair, with his Bangladeshi counterpart Monwarul Islam, the fifth meeting of the India-Bangladesh Joint Steering Committee on Power Cooperation. There was also, a meeting of the India-Bangladesh Friendship Power Company, a joint venture between NTPC Ltd of India and Bangladesh Power Development Corporation. The joint venture was formed to build a 1,320mw thermal power project at Rampal in Khulna. 3

    In other developments, according to reports, a delegation of the United Arab Emirates led by Minister for Foreign Trade Sheikha Lubna Bint Khaled Al Qasimi arrived in Dhaka on January 29, 2013 to discuss with Bangladesh officials a proposal from a Dubai-based firm DP World to build a deep-sea port here. The UAE on behalf of DP World expressed interest to start building a deep sea port in Bangladesh in mid-2012 itself. The firm also proposed to undertake modernisation of Mongla Port, build a container terminal at New Mooring in Chittagong and an internal container depot at Gazipur. 4

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