When world is looking East Indian-Bangladesh good neighborly relationship is now more critical for sustainable growth of trade and business relationship for poverty alleviation and economic development of the region.

Bangladesh for its unique and strategic geographical location can turn into a vibrant conduit linking South Asia with South East Asia. Being surrounded by almost 2.75 sides by huge India and having the relation supplemented by blood and tears during liberation of 1971 Bangladesh is definitely the most trusted friend of India in the region.

Over the years few manageable irritants have sourced bilateral relationship causing some mistrust and disbelief among people. But we believe political leadership now realizes the necessity for resolving the matters on the basis of respecting sovereign reality of the countries and remaining frank and open on every issue of mutual interests and benefits. We hope with this very motive Indian and Bangladeshi Prime Ministers now attending UN General Assembly meetings in New York will meet at the sidelines for exchanging pleasantries and discussing issues of bilateral interest. In the change world order it is reality that India and China are developing as major economic force with business, trade and development focus being directed to this region. Bangladesh can immensely benefit in adopting a very balanced foreign relation strategy.



River Water Sharing:

Teesta and Feni River water sharing initiatives got stuck at an advanced stage during the immediate past regime of Congress party led coalition government for stubborn attitude of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banarjee. Bangladesh has been assured all along that Indian government remains committed and positive. Recently President Pranab Mukherjee and Foreign Minister Shusama Saraj also sounded positive. We expect that even Chief Minister Mamata who apparently appears to have great sympathy for her Bangla speaking neighbors now realize that she has no legitimate ground to keep a lower riparian country deprive of its share of water .Till India agree to sign the Tessta and Feni River Sharing agreement people of Bangladesh will always have doubt about sincerity of Indian government about fulfilling its commitment in other areas like not doing anything in Ganga Brahmaputra River linkages which may harm Bangladesh . We hope Modi Government will resolve its internal issues and arrange to sign the water sharing agreement at the soonest.


Exchange of Border Enclaves and Signing Border Agreement:

It is a pity that two SAARC neighbors whose bonding through fighting shoulder to shoulder in the historic liberation war of Bangladesh could not implement full Mujib-India treaty. After efforts of past Congress Government with Hasina Government in the past term this almost reached signing stage. But India needs two thirds majority support in Lokhshava to amend the constitution.  BJP which was opposing it in the past has realized the necessity for it after forming government with landslide majority .There should no such excuse to pass the resolution in the Lokshova for amending the constitution towards signing the agreement . We hope that this matter is a done deal and will be implemented soon.

Prisoners and Criminals Repatriation Treaty: It is a reality that many convicted and alleged criminals escape through porous borders to India and have safe hiding there. From across the border they control their criminal and terrorist networks inside Bangladesh. Similarly in the past Indian Rebel and terrorists organizations were trained in side Bangladesh territory by international terrorist organizations to carry out subversive activities inside India. We understand now a treaty has been signed to repatriate such subversive elements. Bangladesh Government over the past 5 years has done enough to crush hide outs of Indian separatist organizations from the soil of Bangladesh. Even in the recent past huge arms and ammunitions believed to be disposed by Indian terrorist groups were recovered from the tea gardens and forests in Saccharin Habiganj. The safety and security of the region will be significantly improve if both countries effectively police against escaping of criminals across the border and immediately hand over suspected criminals after they are arrested. We were always against barbed wire fencing along the border .But now we feel it is an essential nuisance to check illegitimate migration. But there can be many more border market and authorized movements of traders and businessmen. Visa issues must be made more simplified and made easy. There are no reasons why border clashes can be zeroed.



Road, River and Railway Linkages:

Before formal transit or transshipments are negotiated and settled Bangladesh and India must have multiple roads, river and Railway linkages established for trade and peoples movement. Agartala -Akahura railway linkage can very soon facilitate people and commodity movement from Tripura to Kolkata. This can benefit India and Bangladesh. India must realize what a boost in their economy can be if Indian Sates of Tripura and West Bengal can be linked through Railway and Road .However for this to happen India has to realistically appreciate uneasiness of Bangladesh as India for some reasons best known to them discourages linkages of Nepal and Bhutan through their territory with Bangladesh.

Bangladesh did not hesitate to let India use Akahura –Agartala corridor to transship its heavy equipment for the construction of Power plant at Paltana. Now the plants built and commissioned. Tripura Government wants to supply at least 100 MW electricity to Bangladesh but conspicuously Indian Government is hesitating. The noble gesture of Bangladesh has not been reciprocated yet.

India can be immensely benefitted from using Chittagong and Mongla Port .But for that to happen India must sign the river water sharing treaty facilitating all season navigation of different rivers of Bangladesh and major improvement of railway and roads of Bangladesh. India must be meaningful partners in progress for these works.




Energy Trading:

We all aware that India Bangladesh can be both greatly benefitted from extensive energy and power trading linking its gas and power grids and working with open minds for setting up SARRC power and energy grids . These have to be multilateral initiatives. India must abandon its strategy of bilateral actions. India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Myanmar can together develop their enormous hydro power generation potentials and share the power among them in regional power grid and even export the surplus to South Asia and Central Asia. Similarly India, Myanmar and Bangladesh can take joint initiative in exploring and developing offshore petroleum resources and share through win-win contracts.

Cooperation in Sports and Cultural Activities:

Bangladesh and India share common cultural and social history being part of greater India, Two great poets Rabindranath Tagore and Nazrul Islam are the great common linkages. Works on both in either side of the border in greater unison can bring the nations closer. Bangladesh is ICC full member in Test Cricket. Bangladesh hosted India for its first ever test match in Dhaka but till now it is only India which has not invited Bangladesh for a test series. Why there cannot regular soccer festivals involving three top teams of India and Bangladesh one year in Bangladesh and one year in India. There is not much difference in standards of soccer among the two teams. Similar kind of series can happen in hockey as well. India can assist Bangladesh in training and coaching facilities of its athletes in Patiala institute and help developing Bangladesh institutes in upgrading its own facilities.

Everything depends on mutual trust and respect. India as larger nation and stronger economy must treat Bangladesh as sovereign equal and for its grater national interest must prevail over its superiority complexes. Let us hope that Hasina-Modi meeting on the sidelines provides new sense of direction to already brightening bilateral relations. Great opportunity now has appeared for both Bangladesh and India walk hands in hand on the corridor of progress for the brighter future.

** BD, India share same concern

BDST: 1226 HRS, SEP 24, 2014