New Delhi: At bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, September 6, visiting Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina made a strong pitch for an early conclusion of the Teesta water sharing agreement.Modi said India and Bangladesh should jointly face terrorist and fundamentalist forces that threaten to attack mutual trust between the two countries.“Today the visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is happening during the Amrit Mahotsav of our freedom. And I am sure that India-Bangladesh friendship will touch new heights in the next 25 years of Amrit Kaal,” Modi began by saying.“Today we also stressed on cooperation against terrorism and fundamentalism. To keep the spirit of 1971 alive, it is also very necessary that we face such forces together, who want to attack our mutual trust,” Modi also said.India and Bangladesh signed seven agreements after the talks between Modi and Hasina, including one on sharing of waters of Kushiyara river which is expected to benefit the regions of southern Assam and Bangladesh’s Sylhet region.Also read: As Hasina Visits India Ahead of Bangladesh Polls Next Year, Issues Old and New on the AgendaModi noted that 54 rivers pass through the borders of India and Bangladesh and are linked to the livelihoods of the people of both the countries for centuries.“I recall that the two countries have resolved many issues in the spirit of friendship and cooperation. We hope that all outstanding issues, including Teesta water sharing agreement, will be concluded as an early date,” Hasina said at a joint media interaction at the Hyderabad House here.Two MoUs were signed between the Railway ministries of the two countries on training of Bangladesh Railway personnel in India and on collaboration in IT systems for Bangladesh Railway respectively.An MoU was signed between the National Judicial Academy and the Supreme Court of Bangladesh on training of Bangladesh judicial officers in India.An MoU was signed on scientific and technological co-operation between the Council for Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), India, and the Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR), Bangladesh.A separate MoU on cooperation in areas of space technology was also signed.Another MoU was singed between Prasar Bharti and Bangladesh Television on co-operation in broadcasting.Modi also touched upon the unveiling of the first unit of Maitree Thermal Power Plant today, and said it “will increase the availability of affordable electricity in Bangladesh.”“There are also fruitful talks going on between the two countries on the linking of power transmission lines. The inauguration of the railway bridge over the Rupsha river is a remarkable step towards increasing connectivity. This bridge is an important part of the new railway line being built between Khulna and Mongla Port under India’s Line of Credit. India will continue all kinds of cooperation for the development and expansion of Bangladesh’s railway system,” Modi said in his speech.Earlier in the day, Modi welcomed Hasina at the Rashtrapati Bhawan forecourt here where she was accorded a tri-services guard of honour.Hasina, who arrived in Delhi on Monday afternoon, also offered floral tributes at Rajghat, the memorial to Mahatma GandhiExternal Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani separately called on Hasina on Monday evening.Hasina also visited Nizamuddin Aulia Dargah in the national capital on Monday and is scheduled to travel to Ajmersharif on Thursday.Bangladesh is now India’s biggest trade partner in South Asia and the bilateral trade has grown from US $ 9 billion to US $ 18 billion in the last five years. It has also become the fourth largest export destination for India with the exports registering a growth of over 66 per cent from US $ 9.69 billion in 2020-21 to US $ 16.15 billion in 2021-22.(With PTI inputs)