India, Bangladesh sign 22 MoUs: PM Modi extends 500 million USD credit line for Bangladesh defence

Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina started off her official visit to India on Friday with a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhawan, She was later joined by her Indian counterpart PM Narendra Modi. The duo are held bilateral talks on defence and energy issues and signed 22 MoUs.

Here are the live updates:

Sheikh Hasina on MoUs: 

#Bangladesh Navvrsho is 14 April so advance Shubho Navvrsho.

#People to people connect is our strength. Also open high commission in Gohahati recently. 

#We have signed a number of the agreement. This reflect our relationship.

#Teesta has also been discussed. 

# We also discussed on anti-dumping duties, discussed initiative towards power and energy sector.

# I am really grateful to PM Modi. He was receptive to growing trade deficit.

#Greater connectivity is vital for development.

#We are fighting against terrorism and border security. 

#India has attended commendable development in economics, science, space. Bangladesh economy is also growing approx 7 percent.  

PM Modi speech:

#Will produce a documentary jointly to mark 25 years of Bangaldesh's foundation

#River Teesta is important for both nations. Pleased that our guest is today CM West Bengal. Only my govt and your govt could finalise Teesta agreement.

# India extends 500 million USD credit line for Bangladesh defence

#Training of Bangladesh civil servants already concluded. 1500 judicial officers training in our academy. We have the greatest admiration for Sheikh Hasina for zero tolerance policy against terrorism

#PM Haseena and I want to diversified our commercial engagement. Major part of reform is business and industry of two country

#Today together with WB bus and train links between Kolkata and Khulna and Radhikapur stored today. We are also happy to see progress of 2 way.

#India is continued to willing partnership to achieve power and energy

#We are long standing trusted partner of Bangladesh. Fruits of cooperation benefit of people. 

#60 MW power was added today. Supply of 500 MW already committed. 

#We have also agreed to finance diesel pipeline.

#Our countries are entering lon- term agreement. We have also agreed timeble till the pipeline is constructed.

#Happy to announce 4.5 billion dollar loan to Bangladesh for investment in key sectors

#Cooperation in new area, some high technology area deeper connect our youth and society. Working in the field of electronic,cyber security,civil nuclear energy .

#We agreed that agenda and our cooperation remains focused on purposeful: PM Modi

#Our partnership clear recognition of our leadership. Liberation of Bangladesh deeply touched. Indian soldiers and Veer mukti fought together against reign of terror: PM Modi

#Your (Sheikh Hasina's) visit to India comes at auspicious time just before of Pahila Baishakha, Bangladesh Shubho Navvrsho, marking golden era of friendship: PM Modi

#1:24 PM: IMP MoUs signed:  1. Judicial assistance 2. Extending third line of credit. 3. Peaceful uses of outer space 4. Passenger and crew services on coastal protocol

#1:22 PM: PM Modi and Sheikh Hasina sign 22 MoUs on defence and nuclear cooperation 

#11:45 AM:Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina meets PM Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House

#9:45 AM: Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina pays tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat, Delhi

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and PM Modi at Rashtrapati Bhawan pic.twitter.com/rMNjtIVnGe

— ANI (@ANI_news) April 8, 2017

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gets ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi. pic.twitter.com/H6kP00JHhd

— ANI (@ANI_news) April 8, 2017

During her four-day long visit, which comes after a gap of seven years, Hasina will also call on President Pranab Mukherjee, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and meet opposition leader Sonia Gandhi. She will visit Ajmer on Sunday and will meet Indian business leaders on Monday.

"The upcoming visit is expected to further expand the cordial and cooperative relationship between India and Bangladesh and build on the strong ties of friendship and trust between the two leaders," a joint statement issued by the two countries said earlier.

Read | India-Bangladesh to sign 25 pacts on defence, security; Teesta finds no mention

Hasina will also join a function at Manekshaw Centre to honour Indian Armed Forces members who embraced martyrdom in Bangladeshs War of Liberation in 1971.

Diplomatic quarters of both sides expected that the reciprocal visit of the Bangladesh premier would take the Dhaka-New Delhi "historic relations" to a new height unveiling newer dimensions of cooperation in various sectors including trade and commerce, economy and connectivity.

It is Hasina's first bilateral visit to India in her current term as prime minister.

Ramping up cooperation in defence and security will be a major focus area of the talks between Modi and Hasina and apart from an MoU to provide USD 500 million credit, another pact is likely to be inked to formalise regular defence engagements.

Issues like combating terrorism, containing radicalism and enhancing security cooperation between the two countries are likely to figure prominently besides stalemate over the Teesta pact during talks between Modi and Hasina.

(With PTI Inputs)

Read | PM Modi breaks protocol, travels through normal traffic to receive Sheikh Hasina at airport