PM Hasina greets India's newly-elected President Pranab Mukherjee; Annual India-Bangladesh Foreign Office consultations held in New Delhi; India will set up 383 additional border outposts (BOPs) on its border with Bangladesh by 2014; A constitutional amen
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  • Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has greeted India's newly-elected President Pranab Mukherjee on July 22, 2012, describing his election as recognition of the Congress leader's vast experience and knowledge gained over the last 50 years in politics. Hasina also recalled the steadfast support that Pranab had provided to the people of Bangladesh during the days of struggle for independence in 1971, and hoped that Shri Mukherjee would continue to do the same after being installed in his new exalted position. 1

    In another development, annual India-Bangladesh Foreign Office Consultations was held in New Delhi on July 24, 2012. The full range of bilateral issues including agreement on Teesta river, Tipaimukh dam, trade imbalance, demarcation of boundary, exchange of enclaves and adverse possession territories, and killing in the border were discussed at the foreign secretary-level meeting. Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Mijarul Quayes and his Indian counterpart Ranjan Mathai led the delegations of their respective countries at the consultation. 2

    Reports noted that India will set up 383 additional border outposts (BOPs) on its border with Bangladesh by 2014 to effectively monitor the borders and check infiltration. Indian Home Minister P. Chidambaram said this while addressing members of parliamentary consultative committee attached to his ministry on July 24, 2012. 3
    According to reports, stalled since September last year, a constitutional amendment to ratify the India-Bangladesh boundary agreement got the nod from the Indian Cabinet committee on Security (CCS) on July 26, 2012. It is likely to be placed before parliament in the monsoon session. 4

    According to a Chinese embassy release, China and Bangladesh will forge closer military ties in the upcoming years. “The upcoming years will witness a growing number of high level exchange visits, training programmes, defence procurement and security cooperation such as counter-terrorism, anti-piracy and disaster relief,” it read. 5

    In other developments, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid an official visit to UK on July 25, 2012 to attend the opening ceremony of London 2012 Olympic Games. During her five-day stay, the prime minister held important bilateral meetings with leaders of the UK government and opposition, British MPs, the Commonwealth Secretary General and other heads of government participating at the Olympic Games. 6

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