Bangladesh's economy, witnessed the overall growth at an annual rate of 8%, is one of the fastest growing economies in the world. Therefore, India-Bangladesh friendship is important in the region for South-Asia development. However, islamic extremism agains minorities need to be address by the Bangladesh government.
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The Honourable Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina visited India from October 3 to October 6, 2019. The visit comes commenced months after Prime Minister Modi was sworn in as Prime Minister for the second time. India and Bangladesh are region friends, connected historically and share cultural similarities. Therefore, the visit highlighted the special relationship between the two countries. The India Economic Forum was convened by the World Economic Forum on October 3 and 4 in Delhi. Sheikh Hasina gladly participated in the event, also she was invited by the World Economic Forum to be the chief guest at the event. On October 5, She met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Ramnath Kovind and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.
The bilateral relations between India and Bangladesh are currently in a good situation and were reviewed during the tour. Apart from that, some other regional issues were also discussed, and informally discussed the topic such as Islamic extremism on minorities in Banglades. A 53-paragraph joint statement was also published at the end of the visit, the statement mentioned the main points of various discussions held during the visit. This statement gives an idea of what the next India-Bangladesh relationship will look like, and that is why this statement is considered so important for further development in relation for regional peace and tranquillity.
The statement mentions, the two countries have agreed on varied areas to prioritise in order to further enhance mutual cooperation. This matter deserves special attention. Border security and management in this area, a partnership that will benefit both parties equally; Development of enhanced means of communication by land, water and air; National security cooperation; Complementary development strategies, energy cooperation; Increasing cultural cooperation by organizing events like Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti (2020), Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's Jayanti (2020) and Golden Jubilee of Bangladesh Liberation War (2021).
As many as 7 agreements were made during the tour on communication, connectivity, individual as well as joint capacity building, border security, culture, etc., which can be said to be the immediate result of this tour. Provision of coastal surveillance equipment, implementation of shipments to India from Chittagong and Mongla ports, agreement to withdraw 1.82 cusecs of water from Feni river for drinking water for Sabroom town in Tripura, various loans from India to Bangladesh. During the visit, 7 MOUs were signed on cooperation, revival of cultural exchanges, enhancement of youth interaction between the two countries. Apart from this 3 projects were also inaugurated. Import of liquefied petroleum gas from Bangladesh, Vivekananda Bhavan at Ramakrishna Mission in Dhaka.
Sheikh Hasina's visit to India was important in underlining the trust and friendship between the two countries. However, the expectations of the people of Bangladesh were very heightened from this tour. Therefore, the people in Bangladesh seem not very satisfied with this meet. India is a big neighbor and so it still had a lot to offer to Bangladesh, a feeling that the people there have. Bangladeshi people had high hopes for an agreement between the two countries on the sharing of Teesta water, which has been pending since 2011. However, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has different opinion and rejected the draft agreement approved by the two countries and rejected the Teesta water sharing agreement.
In 2017, the Bangladeshi people had also hoped that India would take a stronger stance on the issue of the Rohingya refugees expelled from Rakhine state in Myanmar, to repatriate them. During the present visit, India reiterated its position that these refugees should be allowed to return safely, and should be able to conduct their lives properly. Moreover, it also promised to increase the assistance provided to these refugees.
However, this is not enough, a similar role was seen everywhere in Bangladesh. India is an ally and a regional power. Therefore, the Bangladeshi people hope that by discussing this issue with Myanmar, the Rohingya refugees can be forced to return home without fear and create an environment where they can live in peace. Bangladesh has also sought help from other countries in this regard. Sino-Myanmar relations are friendly. When Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visited Peoples Republic of China in July, she raised the issue there as well.As a result Chinese administration promised help, however as expected nothing ever materialised ever since.
In recent times, Bangladeshis have been growing suspicious of India. This cannot be said to be due to a specific issue. Many issues are due to the long stalled Teesta water sharing agreement, India's role on the issue of Rohingya refugees and their active engagement in cross-border drug trafficking, and the ongoing national citizenship registration drive in Assam. In particular, the National Citizenship Registration Campaign has hurt a lot of Bangladeshis, which is completely absurd from Indian perspective. Because, they feels that all this is just to find illegal Bangladeshis in India, which is obviously correct to maintain Indian sovereignty. As many as 1.9 million people have been denied citizenship in the campaign. Therefore, the people there are afraid that all of them will be deported to Bangladesh at some point, and such drastic measures are important from Indian perspective.
India has vowed not to send anyone to Bangladesh. However, Bangladeshis are still skeptical of India's behaviour and promise. It is important to take seriously the growing violence against the Hindu minorities of the Bangladesh by the local Islamic extremists (Bangladesh in the midst of Fanaticism and Extremism), as it may have an adverse and irreversible effect on relations between the two countries in the years to come. There might be a dense possibility ahead int he future that India may isolate Bangladesh on the ground of violence against Hindu minorities and disrupting the peace in the region.
A long-term friendly relationship with Bangladesh is in line with India's policy of prioritising its eastern and all neighbouring nations. Not only because of this, but also to bring peace and stability to North East India. So far Bangladesh has also provided good cooperation to India in setting up regional / sub-regional initiatives like Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) and Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal (BBIN). However the policies of the Indian Govt. are flexible to accommodate any further Indian interest and may change overtime.
It is easy to go through Bangladesh to reach the North East part of India. Also, Bangladesh's contribution will be important for establishing peace in Northeast India. For several decades, separatist activities and regular extremism have been going on vigorously in North East India funded by Bangladesh separatist and Islamic extremists, however in recent years, the region has calmed down due to the cooperation of Bangladesh. After coming to power in 2009, Sheikh Hasina took strict action against separatist groups living in Bangladesh and doing anti-India activities. It was this action that enabled India to arrest the ULFA president Arbind Rajkhowa or Bodo separatist leader Ranjan Daymari.
Globalisation is being called for all over the world today. Priority is being given to self-interest. Paradigm shift is witnessed in Political-economical equations. In this background, it has become necessary for India to deepen its relation with neighbourhood, along with India-Bangladesh bilateral and cross-border relations. In order to avoid any adverse effect or consequences of globalisation, it is more and more necessary to strengthen regional relations in south-east Asia. Today, economic stability is take positive shape in Bangladesh. Its economy is growing at an annual rate of 8% and is considered one of the fastest growing economies in the world today and masses are being alleviated from poverty throughout Bangladesh, . Therefore, friendship with Bangladesh is very crucial from the regional context.
The evaluation has to be made against the recent visit to Chine by Sheikh Hasina. Although any concrete results of the China tour are yet to be materialise, the Bangladeshis were not fazed by the tour. China as a national is outsmart Bangladesh, its behaviour is ostentatious. E.g. During Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Bangladesh in 2016, an agreement on financial assistance of $28 billion was signed, under which China approved a loan of $2 billion. China also announced scholarships for Bangladeshi students.
In Bangladesh, their leader's visit to India is accessed through the lens of profit and loss. Therefore, an action taken at such a time, no matter how small, becomes crucial and also helps to prevent the propagation of forces that are toxic to the regional relationship. It should be noted that there are two sides in the internal politics of Bangladesh as to how the relations with India should be. The political opponents of the Awami League have been alleging that it is India-style. So, some such incidents give them an opportunity to create an anti-India atmosphere.
Bilateral relations have many complexities. Still, these relationships need to be fuelled and nurtured over time. The visit made it clear advocates, both countries want to strengthen ties and make the friendly transition in the region. From the experience so far, it seems that it will be beneficial to continue the efforts in the direction of creating a positive image in the minds of the masses.
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