Indian media hail Modi’s Bangladesh visit as historic
Almost all the major print, electronic and online media of India came up with the assertion that it was a history in the making in terms of Bangladesh and India relation.
“Historic step”, “Historic move” were the phrases most of the Indian media used yesterday while describing the outcomes of the maiden visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Dhaka.
Indian media reported that the visit brought an end to the decades-old dispute over land boundary between India and Bangladesh through ratification of the Land Boundary Agreement. The signings of several deals have made the ties between the two neighbouring countries stronger, they said.
Indian newspapers and television channels highlighted how their country would be benefited by the deals and observed that the country would get greater access to Bangladeshi sea and land ports.
Several major newspapers ran lead stories on the visit while some gave it special treatment with side stories. Online media and television channels gave live coverage of the tour.
The Hindustan Times in its print edition ran the lead story yesterday with the headline: “Border deal done, Teesta next time”. It reported on the long-awaited land boundary agreement, two government's pledges of zero tolerance against terrorism and the signed deals.
The newspaper yesterday held an online poll asking the question: “Is there any future for Teesta pact in India-Bangladesh ties?”
Until 8:20pm (Bangladesh time), 81.69 percent of the voters said the two neighbouring countries would be able to sign the deal while only 13.68 percent disagreed and 4.63 percent said “can't say”.
In its print edition, The Hindu termed the exchanging of the Instruments of Ratification of the LBA a “historic step towards improving ties”.
“Modi, Hasina see 'new dynamism', promise more on Teesta, terror” -- was the headline of the lead story run by The Indian Express in its print edition.
The Times of India gave an extensive coverage in its print and online editions with several stories.
Under the headline “Now, India gets to tug at China's 'string of pearls'”, it said the agreement on coastal shipping, a move that would allow Indian cargo vessels to use the Chittagong and Mongla ports, has huge strategic implications.
“Chittagong port has been developed by China and is part of its famed 'string of pearls'”, the online report said.
“Ostensibly a commercial port, there has been a belief that China could use it for strategic purposes, particularly since Beijing is also believed to be developing a deep sea port off the island of Sonadia at Cox's Bazar. For India to gain access to use the port is a big achievement both in economic terms, and also as an expression of greater trust with Bangladesh,” the report read.
In another online story, the leading newspaper pointed out a changing attitude of Bangladesh, including those of the hardliners, towards Modi's government.
“Even the hardline Jamaat-e-Islami of Bangladesh, a sworn opponent of Sheikh Hasina and her Awami League, felt compelled to welcome Modi's visit,” it said.
The newspaper also ran a story on not singing the Teesta deal. In its report, it said despite the game-changing nature of the LBA, a question mark hangs over the Teesta deal.
Apart from the serious stories, many newspapers and online portals ran light stories.
Some of them reported how many dishes were being prepared for Modi while some others said how Bangladesh media was covering the Indian PM's visit.
Leading news media like NDTV, Zee News and Anandabazar gave extensive coverage of the visit and its outcome.