The two-day seminar on Indo-Bangladesh relations, participated by former High Commissioners of the two countries, concluded Saturday and called for a holistic approach in addressing bilateral issues and challenges. The seminar adopted a nine-point 'declaration' that urged the respective governments to intensify their cooperation on security-related matters and utilisation of shared and other natural resources for mutual benefit of the two countries. The seminar was organised by the Department of International Relations of Dhaka University in collaboration with India-Bangladesh Foundation.
What the participants at the seminar suggested are in fact nothing new. Hundreds of seminars and symposiums held in Dhaka and Delhi in the past dwelt on these issues that have prevented the two next-door neighbours from attaining a win-win situation in bilateral ties. The only difference between the just-concluded seminar and others is that the former envoys, who were once officially assigned to work for improving bilateral relations, took part in it as retired diplomats. They could now talk freely but while in office, they couldn't do so.
But what's the distance between Bangladesh and India? It's a stone's throw from Benapole. But the fact remains that the psychological distance between the two is miles apart although they are next-door neighbours, destined by history and geography to live in a state of amity and harmony. That something is missing in bilateral ties is adequately reflected from the former High Commissioners' free and frank soul-searching. The Bangladesh Foreign Minister, who opened the meeting on Friday, hit the right chord when he said mutual recognition and respect for each other's importance is the defining factor of Dhaka-Delhi relationship.
The Indo-Bangladesh relations were revitalised and given a new direction by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Dr Manmohan Singh in January 2010 which was reinforced in September 2011. The Joint Communique of 2010, Joint Statement of 2011 and the Framework Agreement on Cooperation for Development signed in 2011 charted the future course of bilateral relations. It is time for both India and Bangladesh to see how the decisions already taken could be implemented to create a win-win situation. Buoyant growth of the two economies is indeed the need of the hour. Trade and commerce need to be invigorated to reduce the ever-yawning trade deficit of Bangladesh against India. Mutual recognition agreements could be beneficial in reducing non-tariff barriers. Reduction in non-tariff barriers between Bangladesh and India is likely to have important implications in terms of improved market access.
Bilateral cooperation and collaboration between the two countries require more people-to-people contacts. There is still room for further easing of visa restrictions which have of late become much more stringent. There have been forward movements in respect of joint efforts to curb terrorism, Indian export of power to Bangladesh, Dhaka's gesture in allowing food shipments through its territories to north-eastern states of India. There are, however, serious pending issues like the Teesta water-sharing and the Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) between the two neighbours. They could settle these amicably as they did in the case of maritime boundary delimitation. Such a solution would surely add a new dimension to the bilateral relations between the two countries.
Beefing up bilateral Indo-Bangla ties
FE Team | Published: November 17, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00
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