Ties of India and Bangladesh, its possibility

by Deepak Roy from Kolkata
February 23, 2011

http://www.weeklyblitz.net/1293/ties-of-india-and-bangladesh-its-possibility

The Indo – Bangladesh relation in 40 years has taken in a very uprising stage, the ball in New Delhi's court, it seems to be possible for a deep closer ties if India intends the heavy lifting. Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during her visit to India in January, 2010 in a very unfaltering voice said "India is a big, strong country, it should look after neighbouring countries on an equal basis". Her Excellency's materialistic views should have to be honoured in the context of Bangladesh's domestic political polarization. The Sk. Hasina government's steps for normalizing relation in a broad spectrum were bold. Any agreement signs with India despite of its having realistic merit but domestic politics always make it hotly issue. Sk. Hasina is well aware not only of the political risks also of her life by signing the accords, she showed her courage, vision and determination in signing agreements with India.

Those accords signed by Sk. Hasina comprised one MoU and a cultural exchange programme; elaborately the agreements were on 'mutual legal assistance', 'transfer of sentenced persons' and 'combating international terrorism, organised crime and illicit drug trafficking'. India's long expectation also been agreed to use of Chittagong and Mongla seaports for movement of goods to and from India through rail and road. Ashuganj in Bangladesh and Siliguri in India will be river ports for movements of both countries goods through inland water traffic. Two countries have also agreed to link Tripura's capital Agartala with Akhaura in Bangladesh by rail.

Whatever compulsion remains in Bangladesh's domestic politics, trade circle there are thoroughly aware that when transit facilities will be materialized Bangladesh will be benefited, earning of revenues may be over US $300 million annually, a huge numbers of unemployed would get access into various level of works, moreover infrastructures will be developed. Bangladesh has given transit facility to Nepal and Bhutan through Indian Territory. India has accorded a credit line of US $1 billion to Bangladesh for improving railway infrastructure, supply of 250-MW electricity everyday and dredger to de-silt rivers. It is the largest sum of soft credit India has ever offered to any country which carries interest rate at 1.5 percent with a repayment period of 20 years, this line of credit on Asian Development Bank terms. India could become more pragmatic by according interest free credit or at least charging a nominal interest of half percent to shut mouth of Indian critics there.

No doubt negative mindset among certain Bangladeshi circles prevails; these elements after 40 years of country's independence can not accept reality. But common people in Bangladesh want better lives and peaceful co-existence with India in equal manner. India should make effort and more towards a larger vision of cooperation. India's biggest concern was security and connectivity in the North-eastern states. The United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA), National Democratic Front of Boroland ( NDFB) and National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFB) had several camps inside Bangladesh territory and these terrorist outfits were lunching operation in North-eastern states of India caused lives of several thousands of innocent people including security forces. The Sk. Hasina's government has already extended cooperation to India to combat terrorism by crushing camps of ULFA, NDFB and NLFB as well handed over of ULFA's top brains including its chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa. The military outfit Ulfa has finally bow down their heads and agreed holding a peace dialogue with Indian government and already postponed their terror activities of three decades. Peace in Assam being achieved through gesture of present regime of Bangladesh. In order for curbing of agents of trans – border terrorism on its soil both India and Bangladesh should work closely as dozens of terrorist cells are actively operate in Bangladesh under guidance and financial support of Pakistan's most notorious ISI.

Sk.Hasina's regime has already shown good and serious intent in collaborating India's long standing security concerns in North eastern region. When notorious Ulfa found no soil under their feet, while very bold steps took by present regime of Dhaka to scrap all camps and round up.

Key figures and onto hand over them to Indian government, they unilaterally declared ceasefire after three decades of bloody terrorist activities culminated loss of innocent lives of 16,000 people, finally ulfa started long awaited peace talk with Indian government. India's prime object is to ensure peace and security in its North eastern region and afterward gaining connectivity here through Bangladesh's seaports. Bangladesh was responsive and in return they deserve priorities on due sharing of Teesta and Feni rivers water, anxieties downstream of Tipaimukh, reducing the trade imbalance, the maritime boundary and the implementation of Indira – Mujib treaty on disputed enclaves. Total enclaves between two countries are 162 of which India belongs 111 and Bangladesh 51 measuring areas of 17,160 and 7,110 acres respectively. About 6 lakh peoples are living in these enclaves who have no identity, lack minimum basic health care and free movement.

The total bilateral relation between two countries still remain uncovered since the accords not yet reached on two major issues, the huge trade imbalance and the sharing of water of the 54 rivers flows from India into Bangladesh . India has offered to reduce the trade gap but the tariff and non-tariff barriers on the export of Bangladeshi goods to India makes harder. Although Bangladesh's exports to India have substantially increased, India – baiters in Dhaka complain trade gap, surprisingly not heard about China's trade surplus with Bangladesh, which is reportedly bigger than India's. Some 4,700 items are on the duty – free list, only 480 items continue to remain on the negative list, Bangladesh business community should aggressively exploit the existing opportunities.

Frequently Border Security Force (BSF) fires resulting casualties of Bangladesh nationals, is become a too sensitive issue. The Home secretaries meeting of both countries held in last month in Dhaka decided to bring border firing casualties into zero figure. India – Bangladesh enjoys porous border of 4,091 kms, also 146 kms of river border, about 70 percent border now under wire fenced, a few cattle smuggling continues through unfenced border. The BSF must cautiously handle by apprehending smugglers instead of terminate firing otherwise cooperation on security issues will only jeopardize by such killing.

Indian Premier Dr. Manmohan Singh likely to pay return state visit to Bangladesh end of this year and it is widely expected that during his visit those unresolved issues will be discussed for honourable settlement among two friendly neighbours.

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