India and Bangladesh on Wednesday stressed on the need to conclude an extradition treaty. In a joint statement, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina “undescroed the need to conclude an extradition treaty expeditiously to complete the legal framework for bilateral security cooperation.”
The Prime Ministers also indicated that their soil will not be allowed for any activity inimical to the other. Both the countries made it clear that they “will not compromise against terrorism of any form.”
They also expressed satisfaction that the Agreement on Mutual Legal Assistance on Criminal Matters, Agreement on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons and Agreement on Combating International Terrorism, Organised Crime and Illicit Drug Trafficking, signed in January 2010, were now in force following their ratification.
The Bangladesh Prime Minister described Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s maiden visit and signing of “historic” documents as a “watershed” in the bilateral ties.
Not withstanding the problems, the two Prime Ministers “welcomed the progress on the principles and modalities of interim agreements on sharing of waters of Teesta and Feni rivers on fair and equal basis.”
The Prime Ministers also noted that the “ joint river commission secretary and technical level meetings were discussing various aspects.”
The joint statement included Indian Prime Minister’s announcement of grant to Bangladesh for several cooperation and developmental projects and other initiatives. This comprised of an India-Bangladesh Culture Centre in Dhaka, proposed feasibility study for upgradation of Dhaka-Chittagong railway line, new Indian scholarships to 100 students at graduate and post-graduate levels and setting up of an IT lab in a model school in each of the 64 districts in Bangladesh.