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Ties with India move forward

Muhammad Zamir | July 07, 2014 00:00:00


We have had the interesting visit of Ms. Sushma Swaraj, Indian Minister of External Affairs and Overseas Indian Affairs, from June 25-27. Politicians and the media - both print and electronic - focused overtime on the various aspects of the visit. Analysts viewed her visit as significant given the ramifications associated with the overwhelming victory of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its partners in the recently-concluded Indian parliamentary election.

This was Sushma Swaraj's second visit to Bangladesh after 1998. She had come here that year in her capacity as Indian Minister for Information and Broadcasting to attend the SAARC Information Ministers meeting convened in Dhaka.

For the first time in nearly thirty years, a political party in India has been able to achieve the requisite majority to form government in New Delhi. In the process, the BJP also decimated the Congress Party which was in charge for the last ten years. The fact that the Narendra Modi had a controversial past evinced greater interest from all observers in the electoral outcome. His resounding victory was seen as a significant new factor not only within South Asia in general (particularly in Bangladesh and Pakistan) but also in the wider region.

The new Indian Prime Minister, it appears, has been able to stamp his own brand and authority on the regional scene from the outset. This was initiated with his ground-breaking invitation to the leaders of other South Asian governments to attend his oath-taking ceremony. This chosen moment was able to raise his international status from a politician to a statesman. This also enabled him to transcend the narrow confines that he and his party leaders had created with their contentious and fiery comments during their electoral campaign. This restored a bit of balance within the sensitive paradigm.

The next step, as anticipated, was the destination for his first visit abroad - the least debatable of all - Bhutan. It was quite understandable. This has since been followed by another positive gesture - the new Indian External Affairs Minister undertaking her maiden bilateral official venture through a visit to neighbouring Bangladesh. That underscored the new Indian Administration's effort to gain friends within the region and also to reassure its neighbours that India was willing to listen, enhance cooperation and try to resolve differences and contentious issues through dialogue.

One has to admit that the new Indian External Affairs Minister exhibited great skill and nuance in her comments and discussions with the Bangladesh leadership. This was especially reflected in her measured statement that she delivered on June 26, 2014 in the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) on 'India-Bangladesh Relations: A Framework for Cooperation'. Apparently simple, the address acquired special importance with the denotations and connotations of some of the views expressed therein.

She reiterated in the speech her government's commitment to intensifying and expanding the momentum of cooperation with Bangladesh consistent with the new government's foreign policy which: hopes to build a 'comprehensive and equitable partnership' and 'pursue a policy of active engagement with our neighbours'; will be 'based on the principles of developing peaceful and friendly relations with all countries' - and then comes the phrase - 'anchored in enlightened national self-interest'. She went on to add that this effort would seek to 'combine the strength of our values with pragmatism' to achieve the required 'mutually beneficial relationships'.  This, she pointed out was 'essential for the realisation of our vision of a stable, secure and prosperous South Asia' and that this should be achieved without external influence. She suggested that the goal of prosperity could be achieved through 'economic integration, interconnectedness through trade, investment, transportation, capacity-building, environment-friendly practices and means that promote equitable development in the region'.

One must admit that the expression of views of the new Modi government were very carefully crafted and displayed the built-in determination of safeguarding Indian interests while promoting regional and sub-regional movement forward. Others need to learn from this approach.

With regard to Indo-Bangladesh relationship, Sushma in her speech at BIISS and also in her meetings with the Bangladesh leadership from different political parties clarified that she was 'aware that there are issues of concern to Bangladesh which remain unresolved'.  In this context she referred to outstanding questions like the 'sharing of the Teesta waters' and the 'implementation of the Land Boundary Agreement and its protocol'. There was also reference to 'better border management'. She reiterated the commitment of her government to address 'all these in a manner that improves the welfare and well-being of both our people'.

 I can understand the need to take necessary measures that would not impair the 'welfare' of the people of both countries. However, it also needs to be understood by India that the signing of the Teesta agreement and the ratification of the Land Boundary Agreement, including exchange of enclaves, are consistent with prevailing legal coordinates and should not suffer further delay because of other considerations. Similarly, as has been pointed out many times over the past five years, necessary steps need to be taken not only to ensure 'better border management' but also to stop the shooting of people at the border. Consistent with prevailing international practice, those attempting illegal entry or exit should be identified, searched and arrested without being shot to death. One cannot support illegal immigration or illegal economic migrants or possible human trafficking (as this dynamics can lead to terrorism) but, at the same time, humanitarian law needs to be upheld instead of a violent handling of any situation.

The Indian External Affairs Minister has acknowledged the cooperation received from Bangladesh in 'combating trans-boundary crime, insurgency and terrorism'. It has been designated as a 'model'.  I believe there cannot be any other alternative to this equation. All countries in this region and adjoining regions have to understand that instability not only affects the lives of their citizens but can promote unnecessary difficulties in the governance of neighbouring states. This, in turn, promotes lack of accountability, discrimination and corruption.

South Asia, including Bangladesh, is trying very hard to break out of the shackles of poverty and achieve economic development. The new government in India has laid especial emphasis on this course and they are correct in doing so. Bangladesh has also emphasised on this course of action and is seeking to achieve success through transparency, accountability and digitalisation.

In this regard, Sushma Swaraj's visit has emphasised on greater people-to-people contact (that can promote mutual understanding) and creation of requisite inter-linkages to facilitate economic and commercial opportunities. It has been pointed out that there could be more emphasis on increasing trade through the use of railways, waterways and coastal shipping.

India has sought to be Bangladesh's 'partner of choice' by facilitating trade, addressing the growing trade imbalance and greater Indian investment in Bangladesh. It has been mentioned that this could particularly be done in the textile industry where Bangladesh has a comparative advantage. This has been welcomed by industry representatives in Dhaka. However, at the same time they have asked the Indian government, both in New Delhi and the respective States to address the issues of tariff and non-tariff barriers as well as unnecessary delay at land custom entry points. This is retarding the possibility of increase of diversified exports from Bangladesh to India.

One hopes that the above issues will be addressed with greater commitment and sensitivity during the coming meetings of the Joint Consultative Commission in New Delhi and that of the Joint Rivers Commission.

The visit of the Indian Minister to Dhaka and the earlier visits of our Prime Minister to Japan and to China have underlined the importance of Bangladesh within the geo-strategic matrix prevailing in South Asia, South-east Asia and the Far East. The scope and possibility of a successful Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Forum for Regional Cooperation (BCIM) corridor and Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), whose Headquarters is being set up in Dhaka, will undeniably encourage investment in the sectors of energy, maritime resources (available in our shared coastline and common maritime space), water, agriculture and transportation. This will help develop the chances of the member countries playing a more integrated role through the sharing of experiences and best practices. This will also promote institution building, cultural tolerance, inclusiveness and respect for differences.

Both Bangladesh and India need to understand that there is only one way forward - and that is through a two-way street. This visit should further persuade us to be pro-active in our dialogue aimed at generating collective development.

Muhammad Zamir, a former Ambassador, is specialised in foreign affairs, right to information and good governance.               [email protected]


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