Round
The World
New
Delhi, 10 June 2015
Modi in Bangladesh
CHECKMATING CHINA
By Gaurav Kumar Jha
(Research Scholar, Jawaharlal Nehru
University)
“We cannot love India”, wrote Tahmima Anam, a
Bangladeshi novelist in The Guardian in
2007. “The relationship is too unequal for romance,
and our neighbour is too aggressively self-interested to be embraced as a
generous parent”. From this abysmal point 8 years ago, the wheel has turned
around whereby Prime Minister Modi’s recent visit was hailed by the Bangladeshi
media as “memorable” and a “watershed” which has accelerated the momentum.
Bangladesh,
with which India shares a
4,096 km long border and is an important aspect of the NDA’s foreign policy saw
Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj make her first foreign visit to Dacca
last June giving New Delhi
ample time to settle the contentious Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) issue which
was unanimously passed in Parliament.
This set the tone for Modi’s visit ensuing a new
period in Indo-Bangla strategic and economic ties in energy cooperation, space
and nuclear accord, bilateral trade, infrastructure, education, health and
people-to-people exchanges between the two countries via regional transit.
With 22 bilateral agreements under his belt, Modi
underscored the “two nations are bound by the threads of history, religion,
culture, language and kinship – and, of course, passion for cricket”, adding, “the
future I dream for India is
the future I wish for Bangladesh.”
The centre piece was clearly the LBA for which the Instruments of
Ratification were exchanged. Further, both countries pledged a zero tolerance
policy on terrorism and signed MoUs on cooperation in human trafficking, fake
currency and narcotics smuggling. New bus link connecting
Agartala-Dhaka-Kolkata and Guwahati- Shillong-Dhaka were inaugurated, resulting
in the distance from Kolkata to Agartala being reduced from 1650 km via
‘chicken neck’ to 500 km.
Besides, to counter China’s
cheque diplomacy, India
announced a second $2 billion line of credit for Bangladesh,
the largest line of credit extended to any country by New
Delhi barring Afghanistan,
for “developmental projects particularly in the area of public transport,
roads, railways, inland waterways, ports, ICT (information and communication
technology), education, health etc.”
To improve security, agreements were
concluded to combat human trafficking, smuggling and circulation of fake Indian
currency notes. Given that Bangladesh
is a major transit point for fake Indian currency. A major concern of New Delhi vis-à-vis
militants attacking Indian assets and taking refuge across the border was
addressed with Modi and Sheikh Hasina reiterating their commitment to “their
respective territories would not be allowed to be used for any activity
inimical to the other.” Recall, the Bangladesh
Premier had handed over four militants wanted by India
for staging attacks in north-east India soon after assuming power in
December 2009.
Another major breakthrough
of the visit is in transport and connectivity wherein India
has successfully removed Bangladesh
as one of the pearls in China’s
strings, given Dacca agreeing to permitting
Indian cargo ships to use its Mongla and Chittagong
ports.
Pertinently, the Chittagong port developed by the Chinese had always been
suspiciously viewed by India
since its initiation. Ships will now ferry cargo from Bangladesh to Indian ports instead of going via Singapore as
earlier.
Further, to lessen the burgeoning close to $6 billion trade deficit of
the $6.5 billion bilateral trade, a pact was signed to set up an economic zone which
would allow Indian companies to set up a manufacturing base therein and export
goods to India.
Reportedly, nearly a dozen companies have shown interest in setting up industries
there.
The visit also fostered closer ties in
energy cooperation between the two nations whereby India has established
itself as a primary collaborator in Bangladesh’s energy sector. Indian
companies engaged in power generation, transmission and distribution, if given
an opportunity, shall assist Bangladesh
in its target of achieving an installed capacity of 24,000 megawatts (MW) by
2021. New Delhi
has agreed to increase power export from existing 500 MW to 1,000 MW.
Towards that end, New Delhi has agreed to consider Dacca’s
proposal “to allow import from India
to Bangladesh additional
power in a phased manner through construction of an additional grid
interconnection in western Bangladesh”.
Along-with construction of a pipeline for the export of diesel from West Bengal
to Bangladesh.
The two countries have
agreed to hold an annual dialogue “to undertake comprehensive energy sector
cooperation including areas of coal, natural gas, LNG, supply of petroleum
products in the sub-region, renewable energy, oil and gas pipelines”.
Additionally, an inland
water transit trade pact was initialed which will allow use of rivers of both countries
to promote trade among India’s
north-eastern states and adjoining parts of Bangladesh. Dacca,
on its part, will gain access to Nepal
and Bhutan through Indian territory. Modi and Hasina also signed a pact to
promote maritime cooperation in the Bay of Bengal and Indian
Ocean.
However, despite making immense headway, there are considerable
challenges for taking this bilateral relationship to a higher level.
One of the most heated issue is the agreement on Teesta river. Though
Sushma Swaraj clarified prior to Modi’s departure that an agreement on Teesta
was not on the cards, the Prime Minister indicated in Dhaka
that the deal is still alive.
“Our rivers should nurture our relationship, not become a source of
discord. Water sharing is, above all, a human issue. It affects life and
livelihood on both sides of the border... I am confident that with the support
of state governments in India,
we can reach a fair solution on Teesta and Feni Rivers.
We should also work together to renew and clean our rivers,” he said.
With 54 transnational rivers between the two neighbours and only one Ganga river accord concluded, undoubtedly, this matter shall
continue to be an issue of conflict, competition as well as cooperation.
The second unfinished agenda: No talks took place
on climate change and its impact on the socio-economic life of people. Scientists
forecast, the drying up of water sources in the Himalayan glaciers and
subsequent rise in sea levels shall drive up the menace of migration from Bangladesh to India resulting in the possibility
of further tension.
Overall, Modi’s visit took bold initiatives in
continuation with principles of non-reciprocity of the Gujral doctrine.
Excepting the Chinese who have accused the Prime Minister of leaving
Bangladeshis ‘thirsty’ and ‘frustrated’(Xinhua, China’s official news
agency), most analysts agree that Modi has deftly taken forward policies and
initiatives of his predecessor Manmohan Singh to newer heights. Namely, Bangladesh as
an equal and honourable partner, a process which seems irreversible. ----INFA.
(Copyright, India
News and Feature Alliance)
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