Nothing conveyed to India officially, says Jaiswal over 101 agreements

Indian Ministry of External Affairs Official Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on Friday said India will take all necessary actions to protect its interests over Bangladesh’s review of 101 agreements signed with India under the Awami League administration.

“We have also seen some media reports on this matter, but nothing has been conveyed to us officially. Obviously, India will take all necessary actions to protect its interests,” he said while responding to a question about Bangladesh’s review of the agreements.

On September 11 last, Chief Whip of Bangladesh Parliament Nurul Islam Moni said the government was reviewing 101 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) and agreements signed with India during the ousted Awami League government of Sheikh Hasina.

“We are reviewing the agreements that mean 101 MoUs and you will get its (review) result soon,” he said, replying to a question from reporters at a press briefing at the Media Centre of the Jatiya Sangsad, a day after the prorogation of the third session of the 13th Parliament.

Moni said the government wants to maintain friendly relations with neighbouring India while giving the highest priority to Bangladesh’s national interests first.

Referring to arrangements involving Chattogram Port, Moni said the Awami League government had made agreements under which vessels belonging to a friendly country could allegedly receive preferential treatment over Bangladeshi vessels in case of unloading the vessels when both arrived at the port.

“They (AL government) signed 101 MoUs. You can write it down and take a note of it that the figure is 101 MoUs,” he said. 

Referring to a road constructed with a loan taken from them (India), the Chief Whip said Bangladesh was required to repay the loan with interest, though the vehicles of Bangladesh could not use the road.

“Such agreement was made and it remains implemented. We are trying to come out of such situations,” he said. -UNB