Dhaka hopeful its expectations from India will be met: Momen

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has expressed his optimism that Bangladesh's expectations from India will be met as the two countries maintain a strong and a very friendly relationship.

"India is the closest friend of Bangladesh. India thinks the same way. I think our expectations will be met," he told reporters at his office today.

Responding to a question on water sharing issues, the foreign minister said they are hopeful of a solution covering all common rivers.

Bangladesh and India are in discussions to hold an in-person summit in March 2021 if the Covid-19 situation allows.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for accepting her invitation to visit Bangladesh in person in March 2021 to join the celebrations on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh's independence and 50 years of Bangladesh-India diplomatic relations.

Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen will visit India this month--most probably in the last week--to discuss the agenda of the PM-level talks, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Joint Consultative Commission (JCC) meeting at the level of foreign ministers of the two countries will also be discussed.

Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Vikram K Doraiswami has recently said they want to move "very quickly" on water sharing of six common rivers during the celebratory year of 2021 showing that the spirit of partnership and sharing between the two countries remains very strong.

Doraiswami said the technical committee level meeting is likely to be held in the first week of January and then the two countries can put together a broad framework of sharing water.

After the technical committee meeting, water resources secretaries will hold a meeting with the intention that the both sides will try and finalise this within 2020, he said.