PM Modi & Sheikh Hasina jointly inaugurates Chilahati-Haldibari rail link; 7 Agreement signed during Virtual Indo-Bangladesh Summit
- The Government of India and Bangladesh held a virtual summit on 17 December 2020, to hold comprehensive discussions on the entire spectrum of the bilateral relationship, including further strengthening cooperation in the post COVID-19 era.
- The meeting was led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina.
- During the summit, the two leaders jointly inaugurated the Chilahati-Haldibari rail link, which would connect the borders of the two neighbouring countries.
- The rail route lies between Haldibari in West Bengal and Chilahati in Bangladesh.
- It is re-opened after a gap of 55 years. The railway line has been defunct after rail links between India and then East Pakistan snapped in 1965.
- Both the leaders also digitally inaugurated the digital exhibition in the honour of Mahatma Gandhi and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rehman.
- Indian side also released a postal stamp to commemorate Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
- Apart from this, the two sides signed 7 MoUs and agreements in various fields.
- Framework of Understanding on Cooperation in the Hydrocarbon Sector
- MoU regarding Indian Grant Assistance for Implementation of High Impact Community Development Projects through Local Bodies and other Public Sector Institutions
- Protocol on Transboundary Elephant Conservation
- MoU for Supply of Equipment & Improvement of Garbage/Solid Waste Disposal Ground at Lamchori Area for Barishal City Corporation
- MoU on Cooperation in the field of Agriculture
- MoU between Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Museum, Dhaka, Bangladesh and the National Museum, New Delhi, India
- Terms of Reference of India-Bangladesh CEO’s Forum