The high-level mechanism will regularly review the progress of the ongoing projects including an oil pipeline and three cross-border rail links

In order to keep an eye on the progress of the bilateral development projects, India and Bangladesh are planning to set up a new mechanism under the joint chairmanship of the Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka and the Bangladesh foreign secretary. A report published in Hindustan Times has said that the decision has been made during Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla’s meeting with the Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The report said that the high-level mechanism will regularly review the progress of the ongoing projects including an oil pipeline and three cross-border rail links. According to experts, the mechanism will be somewhat similar to the mechanism India has created with Nepal.

Hindustan Times reported Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Anurag Shrivastava saying that the high-level mechanism is a result of Foreign Secretary Shringla’s meeting with PM Sheikh Hasina. Shrivastava said that the projects are expected to be finished by 2021.

“Several of these projects, including the Rampal Maitree power plant, India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline, and rail links between Akhaura-Agartala and Chilahati-Haldibari and Khulna-Mongla rail line are expected to be completed next year,” he said, according to the report.

During Shringla’s visit to Dhaka, the two sides discussed India’s developmental assistance for Bangladesh and several connectivity and power projects.

They also agreed to hold a Joint Consultative Commission meeting at Foreign Ministers level soon on a mutually convenient date, the Hindustan Times report said.

The sides also decided to make an air bubble arrangement in order to resume air travel between the two countries. The air bubble is being made to enable medical, technical and business professionals to travel by air to and from Bangladesh.

Both countries also decided to support each other in their fight against COVID-19, India promised Bangladesh to fulfil its medical requirements since India is manufacturing 60 percent of the world’s vaccines.