Political leaderships seen vital for boosting ties with India
Saturday, 9 January 2010
Former foreign minister M Morshed Khan said thorny issues must be removed through visionary apsproach by political leaderships to foster a good relation and meaningful cooperation between Bangladesh and India.
Mr Khan, however, feels a lack of requisite preparation for bringing about such a change in the bilateral ties through the Prime Minister's (PM) forthcoming visit to India at an important juncture on the diplomatic front.
"It's not a difficult task. The issues are not such that cannot be resolved. It needs visionary approach and open mind," he said in an interview with UNB on the eve of Sheikh Hasina's New Delhi visit.
The PM leaves for New Delhi tomorrow (Sunday) for a four-day visit-at a time when new governments are in office in both the countries in changed political milieus that experts think could provide chances for making a breakthrough in resolving the longstanding issues.
Many of these are considered irritants and date back to the partition of the subcontinent in 1947 at the end of the colonial British rule, such as border demarcation, water sharing of common rivers and exchange of enclaves.
Asked how to reduce the trade gap with India, Mr Khan said New Delhi should allow duty-free export from Bangladesh and remove all non-tariff and para-tariff barriers.
On the killing of innocent civilians by Indian Border Security Force (BSF) along the border, Mr Khan deplored that despite repeated assurances from the political level, the killing has not yet stopped.
He expects the PM will come with a fruitful solution stopping the killing of innocent civilians.
On the question of ULFA, the former minister said, "Only thing we must take care of it that Bangladesh doesn't become a war-field of others. India must see that Bangladesh remains a peaceful neighbour, rather than fighting somebody else's war."
Mr Khan, however, feels a lack of requisite preparation for bringing about such a change in the bilateral ties through the Prime Minister's (PM) forthcoming visit to India at an important juncture on the diplomatic front.
"It's not a difficult task. The issues are not such that cannot be resolved. It needs visionary approach and open mind," he said in an interview with UNB on the eve of Sheikh Hasina's New Delhi visit.
The PM leaves for New Delhi tomorrow (Sunday) for a four-day visit-at a time when new governments are in office in both the countries in changed political milieus that experts think could provide chances for making a breakthrough in resolving the longstanding issues.
Many of these are considered irritants and date back to the partition of the subcontinent in 1947 at the end of the colonial British rule, such as border demarcation, water sharing of common rivers and exchange of enclaves.
Asked how to reduce the trade gap with India, Mr Khan said New Delhi should allow duty-free export from Bangladesh and remove all non-tariff and para-tariff barriers.
On the killing of innocent civilians by Indian Border Security Force (BSF) along the border, Mr Khan deplored that despite repeated assurances from the political level, the killing has not yet stopped.
He expects the PM will come with a fruitful solution stopping the killing of innocent civilians.
On the question of ULFA, the former minister said, "Only thing we must take care of it that Bangladesh doesn't become a war-field of others. India must see that Bangladesh remains a peaceful neighbour, rather than fighting somebody else's war."