New Delhi, May 4 (IANS) India and Bangladesh are set to hold the maiden meeting of their newly-minted joint commission Monday that will seek to accelerate bilateral ties across the spectrum. They are also likely to sign an extradition treaty and discuss an early signing of the Teesta water-sharing pact.
Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dipu Moni begins her three-day visit to India Sunday from Kolkata where she is expected to meet West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
In her talks in Kolkata and New Delhi, Moni will be taking up the issue of the Teesta water-sharing treaty which was expected to be signed during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Dhaka in September last year, but was blocked due to reservations expressed by Banerjee.
If Banerjee, whose party is part of the ruling UPA coalition, gives the go-ahead, it could lead to a quicker signing of the treaty. The delay in signing the Teesta pact has bred much resentment in Bangladesh. Moni will also meet Manmohan Singh, likely Tuesday, before returning to Dhaka.
Moni recently said she was hopeful that the Teesta pact will be inked soon and will discuss the issue with Krishna.
External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna and Moni Monday will co-chair the first meeting of the joint consultative commission, which was announced by the two sides during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Dhaka in September last year.
India is hoping to sign a long-overdue extradition treaty, which will enable it to prosecute insurgent leaders from its northeastern states like Anup Chetia, general secretary of the banned United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA).
Announcing the visit Friday, the external affairs ministry said that the committee will “jointly coordinate and oversee implementation of initiatives as well as to explore newer avenues for cooperation including progress of activities under the Framework Agreement which was signed during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Dhaka in September last year.”
The two sides will also look at ways to ramp up trade and investment between them.
Moni will be the Guest of Honour at the closing ceremony of the year-long joint celebrations of the 150th birth Anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore to be held at Vigyan Bhavan Monday. Vice President Hamid Ansari would be the chief guest on the occasion.
