Winds of change
THE Bangladesh prime minister's visit to India on January 10-13, 2010 was a momentous event. For the first time since the assassination of the Father of the Nation the two countries have been able to create an environment of trust and cooperation that will be beneficial to both. Given the asymmetric relationship due to the different geographic, economic, and population size of the two countries there is a latent fear in some quarters in Bangladesh of social Darwinism that suggests survival of the fittest. Adherents of this school of thought following Plato and the Aristotelian argument in favour of economic self-sufficiency to secure a nation's power would see a deepening of Indo-Bangladesh relations as "inherently threatening." They argue that such ties would be harmful to "national interest" by invoking the necessity of political and economic self-sufficiency, thereby reducing dependence on others.
In this age of globalisation it would be well nigh impossible, and indeed suicidal, to restrict socio-economic advancement of the people by refusing to relate with others who are already positioned in a higher rung of the economic ladder and could become the third largest global economy in a few decades.
A careful reading of the joint communiqué issued after the prime minister's visit would leave no doubt that not only have our (and India's) concerns on security and terrorism been addressed but that the two leaders have "put in place a comprehensive framework of cooperation for development between the two countries, encapsulating their mutually shared vision for the future, which would include cooperation in water resources, power, transportation and connectivity, tourism and education."
The agreements on Mutual Legal Assistance on Criminal Matters, Transfer of Sentenced Persons, and on Combating International Terrorism, Organised Crime and Illicit Drug Trafficking are essentially covered by the Saarc Convention on Terrorism, various UNSC resolutions and international law.
The visit addressed positively the challenges faced by the Bangladesh in the area of food security (albeit the prime minister, in her press conference on January15th assured the nation that the country had enough food stock to meet future needs) by recognising that "the eradication of poverty and ensuring food security were great challenges of the century (and) agreed that the international community should initiate a fully coordinated response and address these issues in a comprehensive manner, from short to medium and long term. India also agreed to "supply to Bangladesh 250 MW electricity from its grid. In this context, both prime ministers emphasised the need to expedite inter-grid connectivity. They also agreed that the two countries shall cooperate in development and exchange of electricity, including generation from renewable sources, and may set up joint projects or corporate entities for that purpose."
The Bangladesh prime minister agreed that Bangladesh would allow use of Mongla and Chittagong seaports for movement of goods to and from India through road and rail. Bangladesh also conveyed its intention to give Nepal and Bhutan access to Mongla and Chittagong ports.
Surprisingly, some people in Bangladesh apprehend that allowing India to use Chittagong and Mongla ports would "seriously endanger the country." One may wish to be reminded that Rotterdam, the largest port in Europe, provides excellent access to the hinterland, reaching Basel, Switzerland and France. Rotterdam functions as an important transit point for bulk material and between Europe and overseas. From Rotterdam, goods are transported by ship, river barge, train and road.
Likewise Singapore, currently the world's busiest port in terms of total shipping tonnage, transships a fifth of the world's shipping containers and half of the world's annual supply of crude oil. It is difficult to understand how road, rail and port connectivity can endanger the security of Bangladesh when the meaning of the term "security" is no longer confined to physical security of a nation but includes food, environment, freedom from want and poverty, health, education and many other aspects of life that provide a meaningful existence.
It would be inane to blame the prime minister for not concluding an agreement of sharing of Teesta River. If the Ganges Water Treaty had taken so many years to be concluded, the expectation of an agreement on Teesta was impractical. The issue was addressed in Delhi and the water resources ministers are to meet for an expeditious conclusion of a treaty.
The Indian agreement to address removal of tariff and non-tariff barriers and port restrictions, and facilitate movement of containerised cargo by rail and water, India's initiative to provide duty-free access to Saarc LDCs to the Indian market and reduction of the number of items from India's negative list that were of direct interest to Bangladesh are positive developments.
One should also note India's announcement of a line of credit of $1 billion for a range of projects, including railway infrastructure, supply of BG locomotives and passenger coaches, rehabilitation of Saidpur workshop, procurement of buses including articulate buses, and dredging projects. The joint communiqué also includes many other issues of importance to Bangladesh.
No one in his right mind would expect one visit to solve all outstanding issues. If anything, the visit has created an atmosphere of trust between the two countries that has been lacking for a long time. The unequivocal assurance that the territory of either would not be allowed for activities inimical to the other, and the resolve not to allow their respective territories to be used for training, sanctuary and other operations by domestic or foreign terrorist/militant and insurgent organisations and their operatives, will be beneficial to both. One hopes that the many follow-up actions that will be required will be taken in right earnest to bring about the lifting of bilateral relations to a higher level.
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