On transit

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DOES India provide any reason for Bangladesh to allow it transit through Bangladesh? India built and commissioned its Farakka barrage without the consent of Bangladesh. India flouted an agreement with Bangladesh, which allowed test running of Farakka barrage for 40 days, to commission the barrage. A dry Ganges is what Bangladesh is getting ever since. India has built, or has plans to built barrages or dams on 54 other common international rivers to make lower riparian Bangladesh's dry.
Due to ships sunk during our Liberation War, Chittagong port remained unusable Bangladesh. And India turned down the request of Bangladesh to let it use the Calcutta port for only six months in 1972.
India in the first place cannot ask Bangladesh for transit because Indian North East is not landlocked. The rest of India can reach its North -east by its own road.
Nepal and Bhutan, being landlocked have claims to transit which India refused for long. And the transit India allows comes to no use for them.
For Bangladesh, disadvantages would by far outweigh possible benefits from allowing India transit through Bangladesh.
For its broken promises, India enjoys low credibility with its neighbours. Either for chauvinism, or something it has, India is less than fair when it comes to deal with its neighbours. India never misses an opportunity to project Bangladesh 'a failed state.'
If India uses the transit through Bangladesh for military objectives in its North-East Bangladesh, it would be punching bag for many.
Why should Bangladesh invite unnecessary troubles for itself?
Reaz Rahman
Eskaton, Dhaka.