Sheikh Hasina, the Prime Minister of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, arrived in New Delhi on April 7 to start her 4-day visit. This is her first bilateral visit to India in seven years.
They signed 22 agreements with the aim of increasing cooperation in a variety of sectors. They restored land connectivity via buses and trains between the two countries, and agreed to efficiently utilise inland waterways and put measures in place for a coastal shipping agreement. Most importantly, Modi announced a $4.5 billion credit to Bangladesh for development projects and another $500 million to enable Dhaka to buy defence equipment from India. More agreements are expected to be signed with the Indian private sector which would add up to a total of a $9 billion investment in Bangladesh. Modi further commended Hasina for her impressive efforts to control radicalisation and her zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism. Lastly, although they were unable to sign an agreement on the Teesta water issue, Modi assured Hasina that the Indian government would make a full effort to find a solution to the issue.