India-Bangladesh JCC meet: Leaders discuss COVID-19, connectivity and water sharing

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Bangladeshi counterpart AK Abdul Momen co-chaired Bangladesh-India Joint Consultative Commission (JCC) meeting on September 29. Jaishankar said that y discussed early return to rmalcy in trade and travel affected by COVID-19 pandemic and addressed specific concerns of both sides on ecomic and commercial issues.

two ministers reviewed and discussed cooperation on connectivity, security, political issues, development, trade and investment, power and energy sector and people to people contacts. y also talked about scope of collaboration in health sector in wake of coronavirus pandemic, especially in terms of supply, delivery, distribution and co-production of COVID-19 vaccine.

JCC meeting comes after China’s aggressive backing of Bangladesh as Beijing anunced $1 billion for Teesta river project. India and Bangladesh, rmally friendly neighbours, have been at loggerheads on Teesta river water sharing arrangement and local media reports suggest that Dhaka is willing to accept Chinese deal.

river originates from Sikkim and passes through West Bengal before merging with Brahmaputra in Assam and Jamuna in Bangladesh. water-sharing agreement was almost finalised in 2011 but was put on hold after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee did t cooperate to seal deal. 

India and Bangladesh underscored necessity of early resolution of Teesta water sharing and early resolution of agreements on sharing of all common rivers. Both sides also agreed to hold long-pending Joint Rivers Commission meeting soon at Ministerial level to address outstanding issues on water resources cooperation. 

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Meeting between PMs in December

After meeting, Jaishankar and Momen jointly unveiled two commemorative stamps as part of celebration of 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. He also informed India’s decision to issue a commemorative stamp on birth centenary of Bangabandhu on 16 December 2020.  minister furr anunced that India will prepare for Virtual Summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina in December 2020.

On September 28, Momen said that though India is Bangladesh's “best friend”, two countries have "many things to discuss". He also reportedly anunced a likely meeting in December between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina.

"It is too early to say wher meeting will take place in person or virtually...If Covid-19 situation remains unchanged, meeting will be virtual," Momen was quoted as saying by Bangladeshi daily.

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(With ANI inputs)