BanglaBhoot
RETIRED TTA
New Delhi, May 7 (UNB) - India plans to make substantial announcements on certain longstanding issues with Bangladesh including sharing of the Teesta waters and border matters during Prime Minister Manmohan Singhs visit to Dhaka some time this year.
Weve special relations with Bangladesh and were fully aware of Bangladeshs concerns Weve to take steps expeditiously to resolve those concerns, Indian Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said here Saturday.
Talking to a group of Bangladesh journalists at his ministry in the South Block, Pranab admitted that there has been delay in implementing the commitments India made to Bangladesh.
It will remain merely words if it is not reflected in our actions on the ground. There have been some slippages. People want to see much more things visible, he said.
Pranab, a powerful minister of Manmohans cabinet, said he would talk to his cabinet colleagues of concerned ministries to see why things are being delayed and make sure there is expeditious implementation of the commitments envisaged in the Joint Communique.
The Joint Communique was issued during Sheikh Hasinas visit to India in January last year.
Whatever we have committed, we need to implement, Pranab said, adding I do feel that some of the issues should be implemented quickly.
Asked about the interim sharing of the water of the Teesta, he said: We want to make announcement about it during the Prime Ministers visit (to Bangladesh) some time this year.
However, the Indian Finance Minister said the current state elections in India and other issues that need to be accomplished are delaying Prime Minister Manmohans visit to Dhaka.
Were making check list and make sure how quickly we can accomplish the unfinished tasks.
About the unabated killing of Bangladesh nationals at the border despite repeated assurances, he said that given the deep and intense relations with Bangladesh, such incidents are extremely unwarranted.
Pranab emphatically said under no circumstances, such incident should take place and this should be stopped completely.
He suggested that an institutional mechanism should be worked out to stop recurrence of such incidents and ensure peaceful border between the two countries.
According to the Joint Communique, the Indian Finance Minister said the two sides are discussing the text of the draft agreement on sharing of the waters of Teesta and Feni rivers while dredging of the Icchamati River and works on embankment are continuing.
About reduction of growing trade imbalance, he said he would look into shortening the Indian negative lists to allow duty-free access of more Bangladeshi export products to the Indian market.
Pranab mentioned the Indian government decision on increasing duty-free access of 10 million pieces of garment from the present eight million pieces.
On the use of Chittagong and Mongla seaports as agreed by Bangladesh, he said the ports need to increase their capacities and we are discussing how we could contribute to it.
Pranab said that when the transit would be in place, it would not only facilitate the communications but also contribute to reducing Bangladeshs trade deficit with India through increased volume of export and import as well as Indias investment in Bangladesh.
Asked if India is happy over Bangladeshs anti-terrorism actions, he readily appreciated Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas courageous stand against terrorism.
About the demarcation of 6.5 kilometers of border and exchange of enclaves and lands in adverse possession, Pranab said a meeting at the Home Secretary level or their representative level will be held shortly to make a spot visit at the border.
He said there are some local resistances over these issues and both sides would try to convince the local people to overcome the difficulties.
Asked about the delay in implementing his commitment to build houses and other infrastructures in a cyclone Sidr-affected village in Bangladesh, the Indian Finance Minister regretted that his commitment has not yet been implemented even after four years.
He frankly admitted the delay on the Indian side which, he said, could create mistrust among the people about such commitments.
I was shown the model of the planned houses. Ill have to check it now why it has not been yet implemented, he told a correspondent.
About non-realization of Indias commitment to sell 500,000 metric tons of food grains to Bangladesh, Pranab said the food grains could not be exported as a court in India issued injunction on exporting agency STC.
He assured that if the government could not vacate the injunction it will look for other agency to export the food grains.
UNBconnect... - Manmohan to make substantial announcements on longstanding issues during Dhaka visit: Pranab
Weve special relations with Bangladesh and were fully aware of Bangladeshs concerns Weve to take steps expeditiously to resolve those concerns, Indian Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said here Saturday.
Talking to a group of Bangladesh journalists at his ministry in the South Block, Pranab admitted that there has been delay in implementing the commitments India made to Bangladesh.
It will remain merely words if it is not reflected in our actions on the ground. There have been some slippages. People want to see much more things visible, he said.
Pranab, a powerful minister of Manmohans cabinet, said he would talk to his cabinet colleagues of concerned ministries to see why things are being delayed and make sure there is expeditious implementation of the commitments envisaged in the Joint Communique.
The Joint Communique was issued during Sheikh Hasinas visit to India in January last year.
Whatever we have committed, we need to implement, Pranab said, adding I do feel that some of the issues should be implemented quickly.
Asked about the interim sharing of the water of the Teesta, he said: We want to make announcement about it during the Prime Ministers visit (to Bangladesh) some time this year.
However, the Indian Finance Minister said the current state elections in India and other issues that need to be accomplished are delaying Prime Minister Manmohans visit to Dhaka.
Were making check list and make sure how quickly we can accomplish the unfinished tasks.
About the unabated killing of Bangladesh nationals at the border despite repeated assurances, he said that given the deep and intense relations with Bangladesh, such incidents are extremely unwarranted.
Pranab emphatically said under no circumstances, such incident should take place and this should be stopped completely.
He suggested that an institutional mechanism should be worked out to stop recurrence of such incidents and ensure peaceful border between the two countries.
According to the Joint Communique, the Indian Finance Minister said the two sides are discussing the text of the draft agreement on sharing of the waters of Teesta and Feni rivers while dredging of the Icchamati River and works on embankment are continuing.
About reduction of growing trade imbalance, he said he would look into shortening the Indian negative lists to allow duty-free access of more Bangladeshi export products to the Indian market.
Pranab mentioned the Indian government decision on increasing duty-free access of 10 million pieces of garment from the present eight million pieces.
On the use of Chittagong and Mongla seaports as agreed by Bangladesh, he said the ports need to increase their capacities and we are discussing how we could contribute to it.
Pranab said that when the transit would be in place, it would not only facilitate the communications but also contribute to reducing Bangladeshs trade deficit with India through increased volume of export and import as well as Indias investment in Bangladesh.
Asked if India is happy over Bangladeshs anti-terrorism actions, he readily appreciated Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas courageous stand against terrorism.
About the demarcation of 6.5 kilometers of border and exchange of enclaves and lands in adverse possession, Pranab said a meeting at the Home Secretary level or their representative level will be held shortly to make a spot visit at the border.
He said there are some local resistances over these issues and both sides would try to convince the local people to overcome the difficulties.
Asked about the delay in implementing his commitment to build houses and other infrastructures in a cyclone Sidr-affected village in Bangladesh, the Indian Finance Minister regretted that his commitment has not yet been implemented even after four years.
He frankly admitted the delay on the Indian side which, he said, could create mistrust among the people about such commitments.
I was shown the model of the planned houses. Ill have to check it now why it has not been yet implemented, he told a correspondent.
About non-realization of Indias commitment to sell 500,000 metric tons of food grains to Bangladesh, Pranab said the food grains could not be exported as a court in India issued injunction on exporting agency STC.
He assured that if the government could not vacate the injunction it will look for other agency to export the food grains.
UNBconnect... - Manmohan to make substantial announcements on longstanding issues during Dhaka visit: Pranab
BD needs hasina to develop before khaleda destroys it again. 
