Bangladesh-India relationship enters a new phase
Thursday, 14 January 2010
Prime Ministers Sheikh Hasina and Dr. Manmohan Singh seem to be inspired by a higher call than mere diplomacy in dealing with the bilateral relations between Bangladesh and India. The joint communiqué, issued on the occasion of Hasina's state visit to India from January 10-13, goes beyond the mundane issues of statecraft and speaks effusively about "a vision for the future." There is not much elaboration on the vision but its holistic nature as well as global reach is clear: "Both the Prime Ministers agreed on a vision for the future in the pursuit of the common good -- bilaterally, regionally and globally." The two prime ministers upheld the principle of democracy as the main basis of improving the relations between the two countries. Though not clearly stated, they held democracy-deficiency as the main factor for the ups and downs in the relationship of the two countries. So, the communiqué records: "Both leaders agreed that the recent elections in both countries presented them with a historic opportunity to write a new chapter in their relationship." They have made bold and ambitious pledges. The future will judge them.
The thing vision apart, the immediate achievement of the Hasina-Manmohan meeting is that it marks the formal end of mistrust and distrust that often bedevilled the relations between the governments of the two countries in the past. Without going into the details, it suffices to note that the present government in New Delhi apparently believes that the Hasina government will take care of its security concerns and the present government in Dhaka that the Manmohan government will be sensitive to the vital interests of Bangladesh regarding the common rivers, trade and economy, maritime boundary etc. The government-to-government relationship between the two countries has never been so good since the 1975 change-over of power in Bangladesh. This changed mood is clearly reflected in the communiqué. India has also made an extraordinary gesture, announcing a line of credit of US$ 1.0 billion to Bangladesh.
Given the current environment of mutual understanding and friendship, it is not surprising that India has respected the sensitivity of Bangladesh regarding the Tipaimukh project and promised to expedite agreements on sharing the waters of the Teesta and other common rivers and solve the problem of maritime boundary through negotiations. India showed a good gesture by agreeing to supply 250 MW electricity to Bangladesh but has been miserly in opening up the Indian market to Bangladesh products. However, any agreement is as good or as bad as its implementation. Bangladesh government will now need great skill and perseverance to translate the political will of the agreements into economic reality.
Hasina-Manmohan Singh meeting seems to have turned a new page in the field of connectivity. The agreement to open up the Chittagong and Mongla ports to be used by India, Nepal and Bhutan and to allow direct links among Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan is purported to promoting a sort of sub-regional cooperation. It is entirely a different matter how Bangladesh with its infrastructural constraints will cope with the additional load at its existing port and road infrastructure, without making massive investments for the purpose. However, the two prime ministers of Bangladesh and India, on their part, turned the format of a bilateral meeting into an initiative for a bigger regional cooperation.
The thing vision apart, the immediate achievement of the Hasina-Manmohan meeting is that it marks the formal end of mistrust and distrust that often bedevilled the relations between the governments of the two countries in the past. Without going into the details, it suffices to note that the present government in New Delhi apparently believes that the Hasina government will take care of its security concerns and the present government in Dhaka that the Manmohan government will be sensitive to the vital interests of Bangladesh regarding the common rivers, trade and economy, maritime boundary etc. The government-to-government relationship between the two countries has never been so good since the 1975 change-over of power in Bangladesh. This changed mood is clearly reflected in the communiqué. India has also made an extraordinary gesture, announcing a line of credit of US$ 1.0 billion to Bangladesh.
Given the current environment of mutual understanding and friendship, it is not surprising that India has respected the sensitivity of Bangladesh regarding the Tipaimukh project and promised to expedite agreements on sharing the waters of the Teesta and other common rivers and solve the problem of maritime boundary through negotiations. India showed a good gesture by agreeing to supply 250 MW electricity to Bangladesh but has been miserly in opening up the Indian market to Bangladesh products. However, any agreement is as good or as bad as its implementation. Bangladesh government will now need great skill and perseverance to translate the political will of the agreements into economic reality.
Hasina-Manmohan Singh meeting seems to have turned a new page in the field of connectivity. The agreement to open up the Chittagong and Mongla ports to be used by India, Nepal and Bhutan and to allow direct links among Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan is purported to promoting a sort of sub-regional cooperation. It is entirely a different matter how Bangladesh with its infrastructural constraints will cope with the additional load at its existing port and road infrastructure, without making massive investments for the purpose. However, the two prime ministers of Bangladesh and India, on their part, turned the format of a bilateral meeting into an initiative for a bigger regional cooperation.