Round The World

New Delhi, 20 January 2010

Sheikh Hasina’s Visit

MENDING INDIA-BANGLADESH TIES

By Monish Tourangbam

Research Scholar, School of International Studies, JNU

The manner in which Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina brushed aside criticism of her good rapport with New Delhi is a sign of good things to come in India-Bangladesh relations. It was a long-awaited visit coming almost a year after she donned the premier post early last year. When the Hasina led-Awami League won a landslide election, the news was greeted with much hope because the party has been known to value regional cooperation, particularly good relations with neighbour India.

The Opposition spearheaded by Khaleda Zia led Bangladesh National Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami criticized the Hasina government of surrendering the country’s national interests to India. But, Hasina slammed the critics saying, Bangladesh “in this day and age cannot remain with doors closed.” This determined statement sealed the intention of her government to mend ties with its larger neighour. Now, the renovation work has to be carried out most earnestly and in the mutual interest of both the sides.

The recent visit was being keenly watched as the electoral win of the Awami League was hailed as the return of secularism and democracy to the nation plagued with inter-party rivalries and religious radicalism. In recent times, an initiation seems to have been ushered in to better assess the relations between the neighbours in the light of the changing times, and not let unsettled issues mar development prospects. As such, the visit had been seen as an important step towards taking the ties out of the dark clouds of mistrust and confidence deficit.

A lot of positive energy generated out the meetings between the leaders and important strides were made in different areas of cooperation. The Bangladeshi PM called on all the important leaders of the Indian establishment. No stones were left unturned to make it known that India saw a lot of potentials and opportunities in PM Hasina’s tenure. She was conferred with the prestigious Indira Gandhi Prize for peace, disarmament and development for 2009. True to all expectations, the high-level visit has managed to wipe out the cold vibes of the past. It has been a defining moment with the range of issues that the agreements have touched and the meeting of minds on a number of thorny issues erstwhile hindering the inertia of relations.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh held talks with his Bangladeshi counterpart on a wide of regional and bilateral issues. In a single stroke, a literal facelift has been given to the bilateral ties between the two nations. Emphasizing its commitment and sincerity to assist Bangladesh in its developmental activities, New Delhi has extended $1 billion line of credit for development projects in the neighbouring country. It is the largest ever one-time bilateral financial assistance India has provided to any country. “India stands ready to be a full and equal partner in the realization of your vision of social change and economic development for Bangladesh,” said  Manmohan Singh.

Zero-tolerance for terrorism and to jointly fight against terror in all its manifestation was of paramount importance, with the Bangladeshi leader assuring her Indian counterpart that the Bangladeshi territory will not be used for anti-India activities by insurgents from the northeastern States. This issue is of utmost concern to India’s security condition and has been enduring piece of the interactions. Other vital issues of mutual concern discussed during the meetings were sharing of river waters, the resolution of the maritime border dispute, the promotion of bilateral trade and new steps to increase rail and road links between the two countries.

The proceedings resulted into three treaties being signed on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, mutual transfer of convicted prisoners, and cooperation in the fight against international terrorism, organized crime and illegal drug trafficking. Counter-terrorism efforts would be majorly expanded and enhanced as result of these pacts since New Delhi will have be better enabled to press Dhaka for the extradition of suspected insurgents from its northeastern States who have taken shelter in Bangladeshi territory over the years. In previous regimes, the issue of sheltering of insurgents from northeastern India has created a host of mistrust between the two sides and any progress mitigating this concern will serve as a confidence building measure.

Often personal relationships and the shared memories of cooperation and mutual understanding help steer diplomacy in a positive way. The Awami League and the Congress share abundance of goodwill and respect for each other reflected in the ease with which some important milestones have been covered. The outcome has been duly assisted by some good spadework done before the visit. Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Dipu Moni had visited India in September last year. This was followed by the visit from Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao to Dhaka November last year seriously deliberating with her Bangladeshi counterpart Mohammed Mijarul Quayes on some of the issues to be covered during Hasina’s visit later.

In an unmistakable sign of a new chapter in India-Bangladesh ties and showing the increasing confidence on each other, New Delhi agreed to allow rail transit from Bangladesh to Nepal and Bhutan, thus acceding to a demand long-sought by Dhaka. The two sides also inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on expanding power cooperation that will include building inter-grid connectivity. They signed another pact on enhancing cultural cooperation and people-to-people contacts.

India agreed to supply 250 MW of electricity through its central grid. The visit also secured important efforts to improve connectivity and commerce, including decisions to start the Akhaura-Agartala rail link and declare Asughat in Bangladesh and Silghat in India as ports of call, with Bangladesh also allowing Indian access to the Mongla and Chittagong sea ports for economic purposes. It was agreed to remove non-trade barriers and India showed its intention to prune further its negative list of items Bangladesh can export to India.

Bangladesh also invited India to construct a flyover across Tin Bigha Corridor for exclusive Indian use. Both sides agreed to address all boundary issues in the spirit of the 1974 Land Boundary Agreement and to amicably demarcate the maritime boundary noting the initiation of proceedings at the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Regarding the ticklish issue of the Indian plan to construct a dam over Barak River in Manipur in the northeastern region, India reassured that it will do nothing to jeopardize Bangladesh’s interest.

As is evident from the range of issues and agreements reached on some of the most pressing issues between the two nations, astrology forecasts a good future ahead. But, it is also true that sections of Bangladeshi politics are up in arms against India. So, the road ahead is not easy for both the establishments. The agreements signed and the promises should be carried forward cementing the need for each other. India, with its overwhelming presence in South Asia should walk the extra mile to assuage Bangladesh that all new developments would be carried forward on the basis of mutual interest and consent. ---INFA

(Copyright, India News and Feature Alliance)