Bangladesh is our largest dev partner: Modi

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said Bangladesh is now India's largest development and trade partner in the region.

"In the last few years, our mutual cooperation has increased rapidly in every field," Modi said after talks with his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina, who is on a four-day state visit to India.

Modi said, "Trade between India-Bangladesh is growing rapidly. Today, India is the largest market in Asia for Bangladesh's exports."

The Indian premier said Delhi will soon start talks on a comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA) with Dhaka to further accelerate the bilateral trade growth.

"We also decided to increase cooperation in sectors like IT, space and nuclear energy, which are of interest to our younger generations," said Narendra Modi, adding the two neighbouring countries will also continue to cooperate on climate change and on preserving a common heritage like the Sundarbans.

The two leaders on Tuesday unveiled the first unit of Maitree Thermal Power Plant in Bagerhat, which will add 1,320MW to Bangladesh's national grid from early October.

Modi said the plant will increase the availability of affordable electricity in Bangladesh.

He said fruitful talks are also underway between the two countries on connecting power transmission lines.

Terming the opening of the railway bridge over the River Rupsha in Khulna "a remarkable step towards enhancing connectivity", the Indian prime minister said his country will continue to extend all support for the development and expansion of Bangladesh's railway system.

Referring to 54 common rivers that pass through the Indo-Bangladesh border, he said the two neighbouring countries have signed an agreement on sharing water of the River Kushiyara.

"This will benefit Southern Assam in India and Sylhet region in Bangladesh," he added.

Modi said Bangladesh and India also had a fruitful conversation on enhancing cooperation in relation to flood mitigation.

"India has been sharing flood-related data with Bangladesh on a real-time basis and we have also extended the period of data sharing."

During the discussion, the two leaders also stressed on cooperation against terrorism and radicalism.

Modi recalled the collective celebrations of 50th anniversary of Bangladesh's independence, the golden jubilee of the Dhaka-Delhi diplomatic relations, the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the first "Maitri Diwas" (Friendship Day) all over the world on 6 December last year.

Noting that Sheikh Hasina's India visit coincides with "Amrit Mahatsav" of India's independence, Modi said, "The Amrit Kaal of the next 25 years, India-Bangladesh friendship will touch new heights.

"In realising the vision of a stable, prosperous and progressive Bangladesh that Bangabandhu had seen, India will continue to walk step by step with Bangladesh. Our conversation today was also an excellent opportunity to reiterate this core commitment."