Even before completion of poll India invited Hasina to visit New Delhi early for ‘crucial’ discussion

In a surprise move, India has invited Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina in coming month for bilateral meeting.

To finalise the visit Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra, along with other high officials, is expected to visit Dhaka soon.

Earlier, it was planned that Foreign Secretary would be travelling to Dhaka on April 20. But at the last moment the visit was called off. Bangladesh Foreign ministry issued a statement saying visit of Indian Foreign Secretary was postponed.

No reason was given for the postponement of the visit.

Later, the government sources claimed that Foreign Secretary would be visiting Dhaka any time now.

The 18th Lok Sabha polls for a two-month schedule started Friday. The result of the poll will be declared only on 4th June.

What prompted External affairs ministry to invite Sk Hasina is matter of huge speculation.

Prime Minister Hasina is scheduled to visit China in the month of China. Pre-empting her visit, the South Block has decided to invite her before the China visit even before the completion of Loksabha poll.

Politically, it is being speculated that India wants to placate Hasina before the poll result and perhaps want to give a message to neighbouring country that result of the election is a foregone conclusion.

Initially, Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma met PM Hasina in the last month and formally requested her to visit India at the end of June.

Bangladesh PM is not very keen to visit India in the month of June. Foreign Ministry of Bangladesh informed Indian counterpart that PM Hasina is busy in the month of June.

Because she was supposed to visit Thailand in April and Geneva in June.

Now, India wants that Hasina should visit Delhi before her her China visit.

Joint Secretary of Bangladesh-Myanmar division Smita Panth is also accompanying Foreign Secretary.

They are supposed to meet PM Hasina apart from meeting Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahumud and Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Moemen in Dhaka.

Bangladesh is asking for final resolution of pending Teesta water sharing agreement. As West Bengal Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee is continuously putting veto on the agreement, China has jumped in with a robust development plan on Teesta delta. China has proposed to build a huge reservoir and dredging of the Teesta river for smooth supply of water during the summer season.

PM Hasina has not taken any decision to agree to China’s proposal. But it will be a major issue of discussion during the visit of Bangladesh PM.

Dhaka has already communicated to New Delhi that India should take up this project pending signing of the Teesta water water sharing agreement.

As the project is situated within the geographical boundary of Bangladesh, West Bengal should not have any stake on this project.

PM Hasina is reportedly not very keen to visit India without resolution of pending issues. After the poll opposition BNP has started a massive “india boycott’ agitation and it may gain ground in near future. Dhaka feels if India agreed to take up the project of developing Teesta delta, then anti India sentiment could be neutralised.

Another major issue of discussion on the current security situation of Myanmar. The security situation has worsened in last two months that both India and Bangladesh had to close down Sittwe consulate for the time being .

This has hampered the international trade to South East asia in a big way. The situation is so bad that India cannot afford to sit idle even the country is going for national poll.

They are taking proactive stand to have a close coooperation with Dhaka on these matters. – INDIA NEWS STREAM