TDS Desk:

India has agreed to consider Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus’ proposal to set up a new mechanism for managing common rivers and sharing flood data with Bangladesh.

Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, in a weekly briefing on Friday said, “There is an established mechanism for sharing flood-related data with Bangladesh. It has been set up long ago and it’s working well.”

Earlier, High Commissioner of India Pranay Verma met Prof Yunus who suggested setting up a new mechanism to share flood data, like other bilateral security mechanisms.

During the recent flood both in Tripura and Bangladesh, Jaiswal said, the Indian side provided all relevant data and the government issued two press releases regarding the matter. “Now If Bangladesh feels the present mechanism is to be upgraded then both sides can discuss it.”

Mentioning that a false narrative on flood has been propagated to mislead the people, the spokesperson said it was duly clarified and the Indian high commissioner also informed the chief adviser that because of heavy rain on the Indian side, water was flowing downstream and necessary information has been passed on regarding the issue.

While answering a question about the talks between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden, Jaiswal said, “Some misleading facts are being written. Both the prime minister and the president explained their respective views on many matters, including Bangladesh.

“Whatever has been said from the US administration, it’s their view. We should all remember that it’s not a joint statement what generally happens after the bilateral talks. What PM Modi said, it’s an actual Indian position.”

When asked about Indian projects, he said, “Because of the law and order situation, work on all the ongoing projects has been stalled. Once the situation improves, normal work will resume. India is committed to working for the benefit of the common people of Bangladesh.”

He said due to the law and order situation in Bangladesh, Indian workers, especially non-essential staff of all the projects, have returned to the country. “Once the situation improves again, India will embark on the proposed projects as well as new engagements.”

Replying to a query about the repatriation of deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina, the spokesperson reiterated the earlier position that “she had to come on short notice and for security, India provided her shelter.”

He, however, refused to add anything further on the issue.

Regarding visa issuance, Jaiswal said a limited number of medical visas are being given.

Without giving any deadline, he said other types of visas would be issued depending on the normal conditions in Bangladesh.

When asked about lifting the ban on the Jamaat-e-Islami, the spokesperson dubbed it an ‘internal matter’ of Bangladesh.