(22 Jun 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
New Delhi, India – 22 June 2024
1. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi stands and waits for Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, car arrives
2. Indian flag
3. Various of Modi and Hasina walking towards media and shaking hands before walking away
4. Various of Bangladeshi officials arriving for meeting
5. Modi and Hasina walk into news conference
6. Wide of news conference
7. Various of officials from both countries exchanging agreements and media
8. SOUNDBITE (Hindi) Narendra Modi, Indian Prime Minister:
“Friends, today we have prepared a futuristic vision for collaboration in new areas. We have agreed on collaborations in green partnership, digital partnership, blue economy, space and likewise in many areas and this will benefit the youth of both countries.”
9. Hasina listening
10. SOUNDBITE (Hindi) Narendra Modi, Indian Prime Minister
“Friends, we held detailed discussions to strengthen our defence partnership from production in defense to modernization of the armed forces. We have resolved to strengthen our partnership in counter-terrorism, radicalization, and a peaceful management at the borders.”
11. SOUNDBITE (Bangla) Sheikh Hasina, Bangladeshi Prime Minister:
“Today our two sides had very productive meetings, we discussed politics and security, trade and connectivity, sharing of water from common rivers, power and energy, regional and multi-lateral cooperation among other issues of mutual interest.”
12. Modi listening
13. Hasina and Modi walk away
STORYLINE:
India and Bangladesh on Saturday moved to bolster their defense relationship and signed agreements for expanding cooperation in maritime security, ocean economy, space, and telecommunication sectors, as New Delhi tries to present itself as a regional power and a counterweight to China.
The agreements were signed during Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to India, the first foreign leader to visit New Delhi since Narendra Modi became the country’s prime minister for a third term two weeks ago.
Modi welcomed Bangladesh’s decision to join his Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative to expand and facilitate regional cooperation of India’s maritime neighbors. He said the deals with Dhaka were part of his country’s pursuit of a neighborhood-first approach.
Bangladesh also enjoys good ties with China, its major trade partner mostly for raw materials. But maintaining a close relationship with Beijing is challenging for Bangladesh, which also balances diplomatic and trade relationships with India and the United States, China’s main rivals.
Bangladesh’s garment industry, which brings in more than 80% of foreign currency from exports, is heavily dependent on China for raw materials.
Hasina told reporters in New Delhi that the two countries decided to boost the sharing of river waters and cooperation in the power and energy sectors.
She also met Indian industry leaders and invited them to invest in Bangladesh which plans to develop bigger ports, waterways, rail, and road connectivity. India loaned Bangladesh $8 billion in the last eight years, to help expand that infrastructure.
Since Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League party came to power in 2009, she has acted to address New Delhi’s concern about Indian militant groups taking shelter in Bangladesh.
However, an agreement on sharing the waters of the River Teesta remains elusive. The question of illegal immigration from Bangladesh to India also has dogged bilateral ties for years.
AP video shot by Rishi Lekhi
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