Bangladesh and India are expected to ink around half a dozen important memoranda of understanding to forge a strong strategic partnership between the two countries.
Besides, they will strike six vital agreements to further strengthen the bilateral cooperation on road, rail, waterways, trade, security, infrastructure and people-to-people contact.
Diplomatic sources in Dhaka and New Delhi said the June 6-7 Bangladesh visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will open a new chapter in Indo-Bangla ties.
The two countries have decided to sign a MoU on establishing an IT centre in Bangladesh to assist the police in curbing cyber crimes and cyber terrorism, highly placed sources told The Daily Star yesterday.
There will be another MoU for helping the government agencies concerned gather evidence on smuggling of fake Indian currency notes into India through Nepal and Bangladesh and collect information about the source country.
Under the MoU on IT centre, India will help Bangladesh set up information technology centres to provide training for the police on using modern technologies. The centres will help the law enforcers detect cyber crimes and cyber terrorism activities.
The plan for establishing the IT centres took shape during the Bangladesh visit of a delegation of senior Indian government officials last year.
India in May 2012 had announced that it would help Bangladesh set up IT labs in 64 model schools and IT centres at the Military Institute for Science and Technology, Bangladesh Public Administration Training Centre and Bangladesh Police Academy.
Under an agreement, Indian agencies will assist their Bangladeshi counterparts in constructing buildings for the use of IT centres. They are also expected to provide all necessary equipment for the centres.
The two neighbours have been working closely on counter-terrorism and cross-border crimes, according to diplomatic sources.
They will sign MoUs on easing visa procedures, including introduction of e-Tourist Visa for Bangladeshis, blue economy, climate change, disaster management and environment. The Jamia Millia Islamia, a central university in New Delhi, will enter a MoU with Dhaka University.
Source: The Daily Star
