New Delhi has strongly reacted to published reports that the current government of Bangladesh is reviewing bilateral agreements signed with India during the administration led by Sheikh Hasina. It has given a clear message that New Delhi will do whatever is necessary to protect India's national interests. The statement was made on Friday (September 18) by Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal during the ministry's regular press briefing.
Responding to a question from a journalist of the Indian news agency ANI at the press conference, Randhir Jaiswal said that media reports regarding the review of the agreements have come to New Delhi's attention. However, they have not yet received any official message or letter from Dhaka in this regard.
The spokesperson for India's Ministry of External Affairs said, "We have also seen some media reports on this matter, but nothing has been officially communicated to us. Naturally, India will take all necessary steps to safeguard its national interests." According to media reports, the current administration is examining or reviewing at least 101 bilateral agreements and Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) signed during Sheikh Hasina's 15-year rule.
Officials on behalf of the Bangladesh government have stated that the main objective of this review is to ensure that non-binding Memorandums of Understanding and infrastructure-related terms are consistent with Bangladesh's national interests. However, no agreements are being canceled outright; rather, each agreement and project is being evaluated and reviewed individually.
Under these agreements concluded during the ousted Awami League government, India had received special facilities to use Bangladesh's Chattogram and Mongla ports for transporting goods to India's landlocked northeastern states.
The reports have indicated that the Bangladeshi authorities are currently reassessing transit fees and route-related facilities. Dhaka's argument is that the terms of the previous agreements were not balanced in Bangladesh's favor. While these facilities are unlikely to be completely canceled due to revenue generation potential, the rescheduling of transit fees and cost structures could increase the cost of transporting goods to India's northeastern states (Seven Sisters).
