Gains or not from the PM's India trip
Monday, 18 January 2010
It is quite natural that all attention of the nation is now focused on the outcome of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's recently-concluded visit to India. The Prime Minister strongly defended achievements of her visit at a press conference she held last Saturday. It is, however, unfortunate that the outcome of the PM's visit is not being evaluated as it should have been in fair proportions of pluses and minuses. Instead, this has become a political issue -- the government and its supporters claiming hundred per cent success, while the opposition denouncing it as a hundred per cent failure. The fact is that the attainments from the visit are mixed, with some quite positive, a few not so positive and others that leave a lot to be desired. But in all fairness, it would in no way be a responsible position on anybody's part to dismiss off the visit as totally useless for Bangladesh.
Bangladesh's relations with India suffered in the past from a lack of mutuality of understanding on issues which are vital to both countries. Indian authorities used to allege that Bangladesh either turned a blind eye or was not doing enough to restrain terrorists and insurgents who allegedly operated from Bangladesh against India. The three security-related agreements reached during the PM's visit will hopefully answer India's security concerns regarding the allegation that anti-Indian terrorists or insurgents may find a haven in Bangladesh. These agreements would also facilitate Bangladesh in getting India's cooperation in securing itself from activities designed to turn Bangladesh into a staging area for terrorism or extremism of any variety. The accords that have, thus, been signed are stated to be aimed at meeting the security interests of both countries. If it does so as stated, that would contribute to peace and stability in the region.
From the economic perspective, it can be said that the ground have been paved for a major area of cooperation not only between the two countries but also for the region as a whole. Bangladesh has consented that Chittagong and Mongla ports would be allowed for use by India. It has also "conveyed to India its intention to give Nepal and Bhutan access to Mongla and Chittagong ports". It has, however, not been made specifically clear whether India has made any commitment to allow Bangladesh the related access to both Nepal and Bhutan. If such access is given, then regional as well as international trade of Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Bhutan would get a boost from related understanding involving physical access and connectivity. It is notable that the Indian government has offered a credit line to the tune of $1.0 billion to Bangladesh to build infrastructures, apparently in support of operationalising the agreed-upon facility to use Mongla and Chittagong sea-ports for movement of goods to, and from, India through road and rail.
However, it must be noted that the Indians have not been much responsive to addressing three areas of great concern to Bangladesh -- water sharing, steps to bridge the Indo-Bangladesh trade gap in favour of Bangladesh and the maritime boundary. The joint communiqué merely declares the Indian position to go on talking or negotiating on these issues when what Bangladesh desperately needs is time-bound schedules to act on these issues and actual deliver at the soonest. Bangladesh wanted at least 252 items to be taken off the negative list for trading whereas India offered only 47 -- and it is yet to be fully examined whether Bangladesh has exportable surplus in all such items -- and that too after further discussions. One would hope that more constructive activism will be generated on both sides regarding the yet-unresolved issues now that the leadership of the two countries have come closer together and are more respectful of their mutual concerns.
Bangladesh's relations with India suffered in the past from a lack of mutuality of understanding on issues which are vital to both countries. Indian authorities used to allege that Bangladesh either turned a blind eye or was not doing enough to restrain terrorists and insurgents who allegedly operated from Bangladesh against India. The three security-related agreements reached during the PM's visit will hopefully answer India's security concerns regarding the allegation that anti-Indian terrorists or insurgents may find a haven in Bangladesh. These agreements would also facilitate Bangladesh in getting India's cooperation in securing itself from activities designed to turn Bangladesh into a staging area for terrorism or extremism of any variety. The accords that have, thus, been signed are stated to be aimed at meeting the security interests of both countries. If it does so as stated, that would contribute to peace and stability in the region.
From the economic perspective, it can be said that the ground have been paved for a major area of cooperation not only between the two countries but also for the region as a whole. Bangladesh has consented that Chittagong and Mongla ports would be allowed for use by India. It has also "conveyed to India its intention to give Nepal and Bhutan access to Mongla and Chittagong ports". It has, however, not been made specifically clear whether India has made any commitment to allow Bangladesh the related access to both Nepal and Bhutan. If such access is given, then regional as well as international trade of Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Bhutan would get a boost from related understanding involving physical access and connectivity. It is notable that the Indian government has offered a credit line to the tune of $1.0 billion to Bangladesh to build infrastructures, apparently in support of operationalising the agreed-upon facility to use Mongla and Chittagong sea-ports for movement of goods to, and from, India through road and rail.
However, it must be noted that the Indians have not been much responsive to addressing three areas of great concern to Bangladesh -- water sharing, steps to bridge the Indo-Bangladesh trade gap in favour of Bangladesh and the maritime boundary. The joint communiqué merely declares the Indian position to go on talking or negotiating on these issues when what Bangladesh desperately needs is time-bound schedules to act on these issues and actual deliver at the soonest. Bangladesh wanted at least 252 items to be taken off the negative list for trading whereas India offered only 47 -- and it is yet to be fully examined whether Bangladesh has exportable surplus in all such items -- and that too after further discussions. One would hope that more constructive activism will be generated on both sides regarding the yet-unresolved issues now that the leadership of the two countries have come closer together and are more respectful of their mutual concerns.