From bilateral to multilateral cooperation

Bangladesh is looking forward to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit with a positive frame of mind. A number of agreements are expected to be signed during his visit. The ratification of the 1974 Land Boundary Agreement by Indian parliament after 41 years has provided the right kind of momentum to the visit, prompting expectation for more positive results. The exchange of adverse possession areas between the two neighbours will not only lessen the sufferings of the inhabitants of the enclaves but also help ease immigration and root out illegal cross-border trade to a large extent.
However, amid the exuberance there are reasons to be disappointed once again at the reported skirting of the Teesta water sharing deal. If an agreement on sharing this particular river's water could be signed this time, after the earlier initiative by Modi's predecessor Dr Manmohan Singh fell through, it would not only have been an icing on the cake but also a diplomatic coup for the premier from the Bharatiya Janata Party over the Congress leadership.
True, Narendra Modi came to power with massive support but not without a legacy embedded in parochial and communal brand of politics. To his credit, he overcame his limitations in more ways than one in order to display a cosmopolitan approach towards politics both at home and abroad. In recent times he has never given any cause for others to remember his alleged sinister role in the Gujrat communal violence. His transformation from a regional leader to the premier of the world's largest democracy to a globe trotter personality is amazing indeed.
Before coming to Bangladesh, he has had his bonhomie with the world's most powerful office holders in Washington, Tokyo, Beijing, Seoul and even Ulaanbaatar, capital of Mongolia. This is a reflection of a different, if not new, India -one that is willing to reach out to the outside world. In today's world, though, such diplomatic dashes are linked to economic partnership involving trade, investment, regional and international forums where the hosts and guests defend their common strategic and business interests.
On that count, Modi unlike most of his predecessors, has brought along with him a kind of dynamism in leadership to court his counterparts abroad. Clearly, he has been pragmatic enough to find merit in the give-and-take theory. No doubt, such an approach has earned him friends all across the globe. The important thing is that in the global village of today, leaders across the disputed boundaries are considering economic ties a stronger compulsion than land or other disputes. This is indeed a good sign. The ruckus over Arunachal's disputed area where soldiers from both sides alleged violation of the line of control weeks before Modi's visit could not prove to be a hurdle to the  tour schedule.
So the overriding need for leaders the world over is to advance economic and trade interests of their respective countries. On that count, the compulsion for developing bilateral and multilateral relations is now given the priority never given any time in the past. Thus countries are looking for platforms of various sizes and shapes in order to exploit collective interests. A small country, Bangladesh has more reasons than its large neighbour India and its two important partners in progress Japan and China to further its economic and business cause.
It is worth remembering here that the country's trade deficit with both India and China is increasing unabated.  Its bilateral relations with both countries are warm with minor irritants. But unless the issues are addressed at this stage, the trade gap will only continue to yawn further. China has become a manufacturing hub of cheap home appliances, machines and tools. It has been successful in promoting its products all across Asia, America, Africa and even Europe. Even some of its products have captured Indian market. Does it indicate a trade war in the offing?
India has been performing excellently in the information and technology (IT) sector. Moreover, its highly accomplished crop of economists and scientists are proving competitive globally. Also, this large country is rich in resources. But Bangladesh, on the other hand, can boast its human resource which unfortunately is considered mostly raw in the absence of a comprehensive plan with it. Time-befitting education and training could transform this raw resource into a skilled and expert force to reckon with. The country can surely learn from both India and China in developing its human resources as well as expanding its industrial base for production of cheap goods.
To this end the country will surely have to count on the support of both India and China. But then there are other friendly nations which have always stood by its side in order to take its development initiatives to the next level. Japan is one such nation. The fact that Japan has pledged an assistance of US$6.0 billion to Bangladesh over the next five years speaks volumes for its goodwill. The Bay of Bengal Industrial Growth Belt (BIG-B) as proposed by the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during Bangladesh premier's visit to that country can be a good enough forum for the purpose.   
The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation has failed to live up to its promise. With technological background and financial aid of countries like China and Japan, Bangladesh can indeed take its manufacturing skill to the next level. The proposed Bangladesh, China, India and Myanmar (BCIM) -- Economic Corridor -- to come into effect after its final meeting in Kolkata in India this year or early next year-- will provide the conduit for promoting trade and investments among four member-countries in the region. There are examples galore where small nations have thrived commercially and economically beside giant neighbours. India has lent its helping hand too to both the BCIM and BIG-B and now all such initiatives have to be coordinated through such initiatives in order to put funds and expertise to good use.
The increasing Indo-Chinese cooperation holds good prospect for Bangladesh, because they are going for regional land connectivity. The revival of the silk route or the Asian Highway and the Kolkata to Kunming road link under the proposed Bangladesh, China, India and Myanmar (BCIM) cooperation framework that connects the four member-countries to the New Silk Route will only bolster the infrastructure needed for catapulting the country's industrial base and business performance.              
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