Reacting to reports that Bangladesh is reviewing 101 bilateral agreements and memorandums of understanding signed between Dhaka and New Delhi, India has said it will take all necessary steps to protect its own national interests. Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal made the comment on Friday (September 18) in response to a question at a regular weekly briefing in New Delhi.
Responding to a question from a journalist with the news agency ANI, Jaiswal said reports of the 101-agreement review had appeared in Indian media, but that Dhaka had not yet formally communicated anything on the matter. “We too have seen some media reports on this,” he said. “But nothing has been officially communicated to us. India will, of course, take all necessary steps to protect its own interests.”
On September 11, Bangladesh’s national parliament chief whip, Nurul Islam Moni, said the 101 agreements and memorandums of understanding signed with India during Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League government were being reviewed, adding that the results of the review would be known soon.
Jaiswal also spoke about the upcoming expiry of the 30-year Ganges Water Sharing Treaty. The treaty was signed between Bangladesh and India on December 12, 1996, and is due to expire in December 2026. Asked about the status of talks between the two countries on renewing it, Jaiswal said the two countries have a Joint Rivers Commission (JRC) to discuss water-related matters, and that technical-level meetings on water issues are continuing.