Manmohan Singh's visit to Dhaka has the potential to infuse fresh dynamism into the multi-faceted relationship between India and Bangladesh.
The Indian Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, will be in Dhaka on September 6, as part of a two-day official visit to Bangladesh, to cement the historic ties that were initiated by his Bangladeshi counterpart, Sheikh Hasina, during her visit to New Delhi in January 2010.
It would perhaps be no exaggeration to say that the two countries, with a few hundred kilometres of common border, have embarked on a new journey to rejuvenate their ties — as was seen when India, under Indira Gandhi, extended unequivocal support to Bangladesh's independence.
The official mood in Dhaka over Dr. Singh's visit is positive. Senior Cabinet colleagues of Sheikh Hasina, including her top advisers, hope the visit will yield tangible results, resolving most of the outstanding issues that have remained unresolved for decades.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party, main Opposition, traditionally opposed to India-related issues and, now, the recently signed deals with India, including the agreement on transit, has welcomed Dr. Singh's visit too. However, the party and its fundamentalist allies have kept the door open for cynicism. The BNP's position was made known by the former Prime Minister and party chairperson, Khaleda Zia, who demanded that all deals, including those on transit and water-sharing, be made public first.
It is true that many would not like to accept that India and Bangladesh share a relationship based on their common culture, heritage and history. But the general thinking across Bangladesh is that the relationship should see a realistic transformation, to breathe hope into millions in the impoverished country.
Following Sheikh Hasina's visit to New Delhi some 18 months ago, the two countries have witnessed a paradigm shift in their relations. The essence of the new awakening, as all right-thinking people know, is to promote peaceful coexistence and achieve a shared progress. A section of politicians may not agree with this, but the reality that the two countries share a geographical proximity of 4,156 km, cultural and historic bonding and must, therefore, go for greater economic and social interaction for mutual benefit cannot be wished away. Therefore, it is time to go for a peace offensive — both in terms of people's interaction and economic transaction to help integrate the economies and provide larger markets to each other. A strong political will to translate these moves into action is also imperative.
A negative attitude towards neighbours has always proved counterproductive. However, the general perception in Bangladesh is that, as a big economy and the world's largest democracy, India should be more generous towards its neighbour which is a weak economy and a fragile democracy. The overwhelming majority see Dr. Singh's visit as a historic opportunity to rebuild a relationship that could be a model for other South Asian countries.
The two countries have some long-pending issues that need to be resolved. There is a strong indication that the crucial issues of water-sharing from rivers Teesta and Feni, lands in adverse possession and the problem of enclaves, including the demarcation of 6.5 km of land boundary, will be settled. The two countries, for the first time after 1947, recently signed the boundary strip maps to settle disputes along the border. The cross-border trade has got a boost with the opening of new land ports and building of a new immigration building and truck terminal at India's Petrapole port bordering West Bengal.
Effective steps have also been taken to reduce the huge gaps in bilateral trade. Trade and investment have increased substantially. India has decided to invest more in Bangladesh while the Bangladeshi entrepreneurs, too, are keen on investing in India.
For the first time after 1947, the two countries, during Dr. Singh's visit, may decide the fate of 111 Indian and 51 Bangladeshi enclaves, where people have been living virtually as non-state citizens for decades. The opening of ‘Border Haats' is another pragmatic step that will benefit the poor along the borders. There is a strong indication that Dr. Singh will announce a 24-hour access to inhabitants of Bangladesh's Dahagram and Angorpota enclaves, fulfilling the Indira-Mujib land boundary agreement of 1974.
Transit, not corridor, for India is essentially an economic issue. However, thanks to a section of politicians and their backers, the issue has assumed a political dimension. But the country's business communities, independent think tanks and civil society are strongly of the view that initiating a regional connectivity through transit would be a landmark step which will not only demonstrate good neighbourliness but also improve the livelihood of millions.
An eminent South Asian expert, Gowher Rizvi, also the International Affairs Adviser to Sheikh Hasina, explains that a transit between the two countries will require no new agreement as the facility has existed since 1947. Interrupted by the 1965 India-Pakistan war, the transit resumed through the Indira-Mujib treaty, he asserts. The two countries now need to sign a protocol for its operation. While rail and waterways are the first priority for transit, Bangladesh will have to develop its roads to open up the land transit, and also determine a fee for the facility. On the other hand, the transit is not bilateral — it is a regional arrangement involving India, Nepal and Bhutan.
India and Bangladesh have witnessed a flurry of high-profile visits in recent months. Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna, Home Minister P. Chidambaram, Commerce Minister Anand Sharma and National Security Adviser Shiv Shankar Menon visited Dhaka, while New Delhi received Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dipu Moni, Mr. Rizvi and Economic Affairs Adviser Masihur Rahman. They talked mainly about the implementation of the 51-point joint communiqué, regarded as Magna Carta by both sides, issued during Sheikh Hasina's visit in 2010.
During Dr. Singh's visit, the two countries are set to sign a framework agreement on a number of issues, including water-sharing, trade, investment, culture and education. The implementation of projects under the $1 billion LOC from India, to be spent mainly on roads and the railway sector, are of high priority. The cooperation in the power sector, including grid connectivity, supply of up to 500 MW of power from India, including 250 MW at a preferential rate, and Bangladesh's request to set up a high technology joint venture thermal power plant of 1320 MW capacity, is also progressing well.
Besides allowing India's Over Dimensional Cargos (ODCs) to move through the country to Tripura to set up a power plant there, Bangladesh has taken a very strong position against India's northeast insurgents. As a lower riparian country, Bangladesh has asked for a water-sharing deal that covers all 54 common rivers. Therefore, to make Dr. Singh's visit a watershed in bilateral relations, many observers hope, the Indian Prime Minister will make substantial announcements.
The history of the divided subcontinent has been a history of distrust and suspicion. 1971 was an exception, and it lasted only a few years — till 1975 — when Bangladesh's founding father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was assassinated. Therefore, a bold but realistic approach from both sides is expected for the durability of the measures.
One of the major issues that have caused immense ill-will is the killing of Bangladesh citizens by the BSF. New Delhi recently gave strict orders against any further civilian deaths along the border. If this position is maintained strictly, it will have a positive impact. Barring exceptions, the reality is that a majority of cross-border intruders are the abject poor who deserve a humanitarian approach.
Dr. Singh's will be a bilateral visit to Bangladesh in 12 years since Atal Bihari Vajpayee came to Dhaka to inaugurate the Dhaka-Kolkata bus service in 1999. West Bengal Chief Minister Jyoti Basu accompanied Mr. Vajpayee. Dr. Singh will be accompanied by Chief Ministers of five States bordering Bangladesh, including Mamata Banerjee. The Manmohan-Hasina summit, close observers say, has all the potential to infuse a fresh dynamism into the multi-faceted and multi-dimensional relationship.
South Asia has been a tense region since the Partition of India. The prolonged Kashmir dispute has had an adverse impact. The war in Afghanistan and the growing instability in Pakistan make the region more volatile. Therefore, moves to bring people closer need to be welcomed. India and Bangladesh cannot afford to miss the historic opportunity to be part of a new future.
(The writer is a Bangladeshi author and journalist. His email: hh1971@gmail.com)
Keywords: Manmohan's Dhaka visit, India-Bangladesh ties, Sheikh Hasina
Yes all very well having a 'good' relationship with Bangladesh, however India need to make sure that there is no infiltration of illegal immigrants and arms and cattle along the border. Also India first needs to develop itself before being over-generous with a previously hostile neighbour.
Had the govt of India accepted Mr P.A.Sangma's initiative about 15 years ago ,we would have had the entire ULFA and NDFB cadres back home and peace and tranquility would be reigning in the entire NEI.With peace,would come economic prosperity. Rightly so the former Lok >Sabha speaker , Mr P A Sangma ought to have been on the PM's team to Dhaka for it was his idea alone and he had the conviction to believe that the North east would be a lot better by working on Look South Economic policy.One should give credit where it is due. Nevertheless, the idea that Mr P A Sangma mooted has taken root and his foresight will soon bear fruit.
Quite fairly and prudently the pros and the cons of the India-Bangldesh relations has been discussed.Its evident that, a rather frail bangladeshi economy,has more to gain than India would. We cannot undermine the fact that a strong relation with bangladesh , will strenthen our stronghold in North eastern region and with an ambitous project of setting up A Power plant in Tripura ,mutual co-operation is all the more important and both the countries will be benefactor to each other in years to come.
The Hindu has always been positive and level headed in all its news. We hope and pray that the other media (print, TV, online, etc..) understand that they can follow the example of The Hindu in making India a better country and not make the people of India dance to the nonsensical that they dish out. Well done to the entire team at The Hindu. Good to see a bright star in the darkness and the gloom that we call the Indian media.
It would have been a historic visit unlike Vajpayee or Late Basu's,only if the Indian Prime Minister would have had the previledge of addressing the Jatiya Sansad,the Bangladeshi Parliament.The opposition parties,Jammat-E-Islami and the BNP is running wild propaganda saying,some secret pacts would be signed during the high profile visit and has urged upon the government to make public the minutes of all deliberations.It then would have been interesting to see if the two parties would have attended the JS session,which they have been whimsically abstaining so long.What remains to be seen is how soon after Dr.Manmohan's deparature the opposition launches its post Eid anti-government agitation which it has been holding on during the Ramadan.
Foreign policy of India towards Bangladesh has not shown much cradebility in past, but this time situation has changed we can now expect that much will come out of the talk. A happy and prosperous neighbour is alway a positive indicator of healty relation ship.Let's see what fruit will come out of the talk.
Brilliant work.
As the saying goes make hay when the sun shines. The present government has a friendly and cordial approach towards the Indian govt, so we should be making the most of it. The ties should be cemented so that after a point the govt in power should not matter at all.
One wishes that some good results come out of our Prime Minister’s visit to Bangladesh. There are enormous opportunities for bilateral cooperation in so many fields. Even if one wishes to ignore one cannot overlook the issue of illegal migration of Bangladeshi nationals into Indian territory. Solution has to be found sooner or later for this.
BanglaDesh has an important role in bringing peace in North East which eventually will lead to progress and development of North East India. Hence we must nurture this relationship with care and warmth. A direct land route from Rest of India to North East thru bangladesh will cut cost of transportation and will bring immense benefit to the region because of low cost both in manufacturing and marketing. We can create underground tunnel Dams inspite of flat land with new power technolgy to generate Power generation capacity in BanglaDesh. We can exploit stregth of cheap labour by setting up labour intensive industries. We must move positively and we will find the way out of the mess created by the erstwhile Pakistan regime.
without any doubt, its an excellent article. Actually, a stable, friendly, and cooperative Bangladesh-India relationship is indispensable for both the countries and such a relationship is only possible through mutual understanding, with a broad agreement on the basis of recognition of each other's national interests.
The distrust between the two countries arises because of the improper handling of border,water-sharing issue and the immigrants of bangladeshi region,which most of them came at the time of war for the liberation of bangladesh.As both the countries has the same political and cultural history,these issues can be resolved by political will.the upcoming visit of prime minister after 12 years is a revolutionary step in this direction,definitely it will open a new paradigm for the wide range of issues and it is in the interest of both the asian giant and a young nation which is looking for a bright future.
A well summed up article of all the issues in consideration at present between india and bangaldesh. All the relavent information has been well articulated with facts and figures. The Hindu does a fine job in sourcing such well written articles. Keep it up.
This is a historic opportunity for greater cooperation and understanding between our countries. Great to see the Hindu publishing a Bangladeshi viewpoint!
Just like East and West Germany, India and Bangaladesh should merge and bring peace to the people but the region. Some bold moves are needed from both sides. The post of President and Prime Minister should be equally shared between the people from both regions periodically. This setup should be constitutionally guaranteed for say like 100 years. The name could be changed to something like India Bangla Desh! Wishful thinking huh! Why not?
Absolutely wonderful and balanced article. India's relations with BD should be no less than our relations with Bhutan. I've full confidence in PM singh to transform this idea into a realization.
The author rightly pointed out Bangladesh has made several friendly gestures to India that deserve equal or greater reciprocation from India it being the larger neighbor with greater economic wherewithal. Current government in Bangladesh is indeed a breath of fresh air as far as India-Bangladesh relationship is concerned, Hasina government has risked hostility from opposition in its initiatives to improve ties with India. India should do whatever it can to help out its neighbor by walking the extra mile and knowing that a prosperous Bangladesh is India's best interest.
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