The recent official India visit of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has further deepened the existing cordial relations between Dhaka and New Delhi. Meanwhile, all the Indian media outlets are applauding this august visit stating this will take bilateral ties to newer height.
Subimal Bhattacharjee in an oped said: Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina just completed a successful state visit to India where seven agreements were signed besides a few project inaugurations and announcements. Coming at a time when both the countries have achieved many lasting milestones in the eight years of coterminous leadership of the current prime ministers in their respective nations, this visit has set the ball rolling for the next few years of cooperation on many fronts, primarily economics and connectivity. As bilateral trade has soared to $18 billion now, doubling in the last five years, and as Bangladesh moves from the least developed countries category to developing country status in the next couple of years, both the countries confabulated on the way forward to keep the special relationship growing.
The Indian Express in another opinion editorial said: “Bangladesh, so far, has calmly and conservatively navigated the macroeconomic uncertainties that stemmed from imploding import costs due to Covid-induced supply-chain disruptions and the rising energy costs after the Russia-Ukraine war started. This has meant that the Bangladesh government has already introduced difficult economic adjustments in the form of import restrictions and a sharp increase in fuel prices to pre-emptively deal with any adverse economic waves heading towards its shores. Of course, such pre-emptive prudent measures are very painful for ordinary citizens as they trigger high inflation and increase the cost of living”.
The Modern Diplomacy in an opinion editorial said: Bangladesh and India collaborated to create a wealthy and secure South Asia, placing particular emphasis on regional cooperation. They discussed collaboration and regional institutions on a bilateral basis. For instance, Bangladesh proposed the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), and India helped make it happen. Additionally, Bangladesh and India collaborate closely on regional platforms such as the Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal (BBIN) Initiative, the Indian Ocean Rim Association, and the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC). To strengthen and broaden regional economic cooperation, Asia must now encourage infrastructure connection inside the area. Investment in infrastructure connectivity could increase productivity and competitiveness, hasten economic recovery, and support medium- to long-term balanced, sustainable, and inclusive growth. Additionally, the connection could encourage environmental sustainability by fostering the growth of international green transportation and energy networks.
ORF in an article said: The trajectory of Indo-Bangladesh bilateral relations shows how the two countries have accrued mutual benefits due to close ties between the Modi government and the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League. Consequently, Indo-Bangladesh ties have become a matter of significant importance in Bangladeshi domestic politics, as a result of which, it has been constantly scrutinized by Sheikh Hasina’s opponents. For instance, the Awami League, frequently, has been lambasted by the Khaleda-led Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on grounds of being ‘very weak’ while dealing with India.
During her visit, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina called Bangladesh the most liberal nation for investment, urging Indian investors to invest largely in her country’s infrastructure, manufacturing, energy and transport sectors.
“I would urge Indian investors to consider possible investments in infrastructure projects, manufacturing, in energy and transport sectors. Indian investors and business houses can set up industries in Bangladesh through Buy-Back arrangements by reducing time, cost and resources,” she said.
She also said that Bangladesh has the most liberal investment regime in the region with a wide array of facilities, attractive incentive policies, and consistent reforms.
