New Modi govt to focus on BIMSTEC countries now
New Delhi: Utilising the opportunity of the presence of leaders from South and South East Asian nations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi once again will push for making BIMSTEC group of countries dependent on the Bay of Bengal more meaningful than the previous time.
As India-Pakistan bilateral relation has become a major roadblock for making SAARC a success, India is now trying to give more impetus to this grouping where Pakistan is not a member.
Despite the hectic schedule of hosting heads of BIMSTEC nations, Modi finds a special time for visiting dignitaries for bilateral talks and special attention is being given to Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid and the Prime Minister himself will meet him for a bilateral talk in Hyderabad House on 31st May. Incidentally, BIMSTEC Secretariat is situated in Dhaka and Bangladesh was asking for more human resources for the Secretariat.
Modi had invited his Bangladesh counterpart for the swearing-in ceremony, however, Sheik Hasina won't be able to attend the ceremony as she would be travelling to three nations tour which was prescheduled much before the date of swearing in ceremony was announced.
Earlier, Hasina had sent a proposal to South Block to meet PM Modi on her way back from Finland on 8th June, however, after knowing that Prime Minister Modi would be travelling to the Maldives on the same day, Hasina decided to send President of that country for this ceremony. This implies how both the countries give importance to their bilateral relationship. Both the countries already enjoy a relationship which is termed as "beyond the strategic partnership.'
Bangladesh President is reaching here on Wednesday evening with a large delegation of Ministers and MPs for this occasion. Other leaders will be coming from Thursday early morning till late afternoon.
Last to come is Prime Minister of Nepal, KP Sharma Oli in the afternoon. Before that Prime Minister of Mauritius Pravind Kumar Jugnauth will arrive in the morning followed by Prime Minister of Bhutan, Dr Lotay Shering. Thailand would be sending its special envoy Grisada Boonarch as Thailand new Prime Minister is taking oath at the same time. Then U Win Myint, President of Myanmar, Maithripala Sirisena, President of Sri Lanka, Sooronbay Jeenbekov, President of Kyrgyz will be reaching one after another.
On his second term, PM Modi wants to give a boost to the Act East Policy by implementing the much-awaited connectivity project which will, in turn, give results for robust economic activity.
During the Lok Sabha polls Indian Government already approved the 150-metre long 4-lane bridge that would connect Tripura with Chittagong port in Bangladesh, which is only 70 km away from the Indo-Bangla border, and play an important role in the proposed economic corridor through India-Bangladesh-China and Myanmar.
Indian officials clarified that it's not included in China's Belt and Road Initiative projects. The government has approved Tripura government's proposal to set up a second integrated Check post in the state to build better trade, commerce and bilateral relations with neighbouring Bangladesh.
Recently, India's High Commissioner Riva Das Ganguly visited Agartala and discussed with Tripura Chief Minister Biplob Dev about this project.
The decision came during an Inter-ministerial meeting chaired by Secretary of Border Management of the Ministry of Home Affairs in New Delhi. The project would be implemented by Land Port Authority of India in the lines of Akhaura Integrated Check post which was set up in 2013.
For the past few years, efforts to provide access of Chittagong Port to Northeast Indian states picked momentum.
Meanwhile, a bridge is being built on River Feni, which divides India and Bangladesh on the southernmost tip of Tripura with an estimated expenditure of Rs 73 crore.
