Amid issues related to the collapse of the Sheikh Hasina government, the new interim government in Bangladesh has assured that the India-funded projects signed during the Hasina government's tenure would continue.
Finance and commerce adviser Salehuddin Ahmed told reporters on Tuesday that the Indian Line of Credit projects would continue considering its importance for the country. His comments came after a meeting with Indian high commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma.
"The projects they (India) have with us are big projects and we'll continue those. These are not small projects and we'll take up another big project for the benefits of ours," he said. The advisor added that the interim government wants a good relationship with the Indian government and he has assured Verma that the country remains a good place for investment and economic cooperation. "They (Indian side) have taken note and they will continue the cooperation", Ahmed said.
His announcement comes amid reports of uncertainty over the future of Indian loans to Bangladesh. The planning ministry was reportedly reviewing the feasibility of ongoing and proposed projects funded by India, local Bangladeshi media reports said.
There were also speculations that the new interim government could cancel any pacts signed with India if they were "found to be non-beneficial to the country." The unrest in the country had affected the progress of these developments works.
Bangladesh's interim foreign affairs minister Touhid Hossain too had made it evident that the MoUs could be modified as they are not binding agreements. After she assumed power in 2024, Sheikh Hasina's administration had signed a total 10 MoUs with India, which included seven new agreements.
However, the interim government allayed all apprehensions, adding that India was next door and a big neighbour and both India and Bangladesh had many areas of economic cooperation and trade. Those projects were undertaken considering the needs of the country. "There were some issues relating to disbursement and we're sorting those out," he said, adding that there would be some future projects with Indian funding.
