Ten Dhaka-Delhi deals signed during Hasina era scrapped: Asif Mahmud

Bangla Press Desk: The interim government has cancelled ten bilateral agreements signed with India during the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League regime.

Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain shared the information in a Facebook post on Sunday night.

In the post, he wrote that discussions on the agreements began soon after the interim government assumed office, and the decision was made following a thorough review.

However, the government has yet to issue any notification regarding the cancellation of bilateral agreements.

The cancelled agreements and projects are – Tripura-Chattogram Rail Link Project (signed in 2017), Abhaypur-Akhaura Rail Line Expansion (2018), Ashuganj-Agartala Corridor (2016), Feni River Water Management Project (2019), Road and Waterway Development Agreement for Port Use (2018), Bangladesh’s Financial Assistance Proposal for the Farakka-related Project (2023), Sylhet–Silchar Connectivity Project (2020), Petroleum Pipeline Extension Agreement (2019), Indian Economic Zones (Mirsarai and Mongla IEZ) (2019), and the tugboat agreement with Indian defence company GRSE (2024).

The Kushiara River water-sharing project initiated in 2022 has been suspended, while the Adani Power electricity import agreement (2017) is under reconsideration.

In addition, the government has placed the Ganga water-sharing agreement (1996) under “renewal/reconsideration”.

The Teesta River water-sharing agreement (which was in draft form) is under discussion for implementation, Asif wrote.

When asked about the development, Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain declined to make any comments.

"I don't want to talk about it," he said. This article was originaly published on the Daily Sun.

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