The shipment was sent to Mongla port on Saturday.
Dhaka: India has sent 16,400 tons of rice to Bangladesh via water route. On Saturday, February 1, two ships carrying rice arrived at the Bangladeshi port in the morning.
Bangladesh has signed a deal to purchase rice from India. Under this agreement, 300,000 tons of rice will be provided to Bangladesh from India. Of this, 40 percent will be sent to Mongla port and the remaining will be sent to Chittagong port.
The rice shipment was sent to Mongla port on Saturday, where Bangladeshi officials received it. Bangladesh received this shipment of rice at a time when relations between the two countries are tense over several issues.
According to the Dhaka Tribune newspaper, the office of the Mongla food controller reported that the Panama-flagged ship BMC Alpha brought 7,700 tons of rice from the Dhamra port, while the Thailand-flagged MV Sea Forest brought 8,700 tons of rice from the Kolkata port to Bangladesh. The first shipment of rice from India arrived in Bangladesh on January 20.
No impact on trade agreements
Tensions in the relationship between India and Bangladesh have persisted since Sheikh Hasina was ousted from power last August. Despite this, trade relations between the two countries continue. However, a few days ago, Bangladesh’s interim government led by Mohammad Yunus stated that it would attempt to cancel some agreements with India during the meeting of the directors’ general of border guards of both countries in February. So far, this has not affected trade agreements.
Nobel laureate Mohammad Yunus took on the role of chief advisor to Bangladesh last August, while Sheikh Hasina had to flee the country. Seventy-seven-year-old Hasina has been in India since August 5 of last year. Hasina had to leave Bangladesh following a major protest, marking the end of the Awami League’s 16-year rule under her leadership.
Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has issued arrest warrants against Sheikh Hasina. She has been charged in several serious cases, including murder. Dhaka has sent a diplomatic note to New Delhi requesting Hasina’s extradition. In this context, the issue of Sheikh Hasina is becoming a source of tension between the two countries. Tensions have also arisen over India’s fencing along the Bangladesh border.
