Bottom Line
Relations with India and Myanmar
ALTHOUGH Bangladesh's relations with India and Myanmar (Burma) are characterised as friendly and mutually supportive, there is room for much improvement in interactive relations in all sectors with both the neighbours. In the past, an inconsistency existed in the conduct of Bangladesh foreign policy. On the one hand, there appeared to be a set of policies, which were designed to turn the country into "a cocoon," on the other hand, there was another set of liberal policies that tended to operate in a trans-national environment.
What is called for is removal of this incoherence because policies that pull in different directions are being implemented. The landslide win of the Awami League (AL)-led grand alliance provides an opportunity to take the initiative for bold and courageous decisions in removing the anomaly.
The realities of the 21st century (such as globalisation and interdependence) will inevitably have an impact on the choices for Bangladesh. It seems that the range of choices available to Bangladesh will depend on the policy makers' capacity to take advantage of geopolitics rather than being constrained by it.
Relations with India
Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi, President of the Indian National Congress, congratulated Sheikh Hasina on her stunning victory. It is reported that India's External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee is expected to visit Dhaka in the third week of this month. Awami League is deeply committed to secularism in the People's Republic of Bangladesh. The majority of non-Muslims in the country support AL. Secularism is not to be mistaken with atheism. In government, secularism means a policy of avoiding entanglement between government and religion, of non-discrimination among religions, and of guaranteeing human rights of all citizens, regardless of faith. India's leaders, irrespective of political parties, appear to be more comfortable with Sheikh Hasina than Begum Khaleda Zia because of AL's commitment to secularism. Furthermore, there are other reasons, like AL's stance on terrorism and the formation of a South Asian Task Force. Most of the veteran Awami League leaders had worked hand in hand with Indian leaders during the 1971 liberation struggle. There had been much goodwill between the leaders of the two countries. During the past rule of AL in 1996-2001, two landmark agreements were concluded. One was the 1996 Ganges Water Treaty with India for 30 years, and the other was the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Agreement with Tribal representatives in 1997. During her tenure as opposition leader, Sheikh Hasina maintained good relations with Indian leaders. One of her visits took place in June 2006, when she was accorded a warm reception and her visit was widely covered in the media. Sheikh Hasina's government will have to play a prudent role in forging economic integration of the region for economic advancement. Furthermore, interconnectivity, including multi-modal transport within the region, has historically been the key to regional prosperity. On energy, water, food, global warming, and terrorism, Bangladesh needs to have a cooperative policy with India so that both countries may be placed in a "win-win" position. As an emerging regional power, India, on the other hand, has the responsibility to understand and respect Bangladesh's sentiment, and take initiatives to settle prickly bilateral issues, including the maritime boundary, on the basis of fairness. Although no one can deny that there is a presence of a small group of anti-India elements in the country, there is also a tremendous goodwill in Bangladesh for the people in India. But India has failed to utilise this goodwill through neglect and naivety. Relations with Myanmar
Although Bangladesh and Myanmar have many similarities, including the observance of the New Year on April 14th, Bangladesh has not given much attention to some issues that are vital for Myanmar. Myanmar's concerns, like the rise of Islamic extremism in Bangladesh, some Rohingyas' link with militants, suspicion of smuggling of weapons to Myanmar from Bangladesh, and underlying apprehension of economic exploitation by Bangladeshi people (as those in the colonial days of Myanmar), need to be addressed immediately. Apprehension exists that militant Islamic forces around the Teknaf region may cross the border with weapons to destabilise Myanmar, and that is why one may argue Myanmar has been hesitant to provide direct road connection with Bangladesh. Bangladesh must deal with these lurking sensitive issues, and convince Myanmar that Bangladesh poses no threat to Myanmar's stability. The time, and opportunity, has come for the new government to meet the challenges. The prime minister-elect may consider undertaking her first official visits to neighbouring countries to underscore the importance Bangladesh attaches to them.
Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi, President of the Indian National Congress, congratulated Sheikh Hasina on her stunning victory. It is reported that India's External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee is expected to visit Dhaka in the third week of this month. Awami League is deeply committed to secularism in the People's Republic of Bangladesh. The majority of non-Muslims in the country support AL. Secularism is not to be mistaken with atheism. In government, secularism means a policy of avoiding entanglement between government and religion, of non-discrimination among religions, and of guaranteeing human rights of all citizens, regardless of faith. India's leaders, irrespective of political parties, appear to be more comfortable with Sheikh Hasina than Begum Khaleda Zia because of AL's commitment to secularism. Furthermore, there are other reasons, like AL's stance on terrorism and the formation of a South Asian Task Force. Most of the veteran Awami League leaders had worked hand in hand with Indian leaders during the 1971 liberation struggle. There had been much goodwill between the leaders of the two countries. During the past rule of AL in 1996-2001, two landmark agreements were concluded. One was the 1996 Ganges Water Treaty with India for 30 years, and the other was the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Agreement with Tribal representatives in 1997. During her tenure as opposition leader, Sheikh Hasina maintained good relations with Indian leaders. One of her visits took place in June 2006, when she was accorded a warm reception and her visit was widely covered in the media. Sheikh Hasina's government will have to play a prudent role in forging economic integration of the region for economic advancement. Furthermore, interconnectivity, including multi-modal transport within the region, has historically been the key to regional prosperity. On energy, water, food, global warming, and terrorism, Bangladesh needs to have a cooperative policy with India so that both countries may be placed in a "win-win" position. As an emerging regional power, India, on the other hand, has the responsibility to understand and respect Bangladesh's sentiment, and take initiatives to settle prickly bilateral issues, including the maritime boundary, on the basis of fairness. Although no one can deny that there is a presence of a small group of anti-India elements in the country, there is also a tremendous goodwill in Bangladesh for the people in India. But India has failed to utilise this goodwill through neglect and naivety. Relations with Myanmar
Although Bangladesh and Myanmar have many similarities, including the observance of the New Year on April 14th, Bangladesh has not given much attention to some issues that are vital for Myanmar. Myanmar's concerns, like the rise of Islamic extremism in Bangladesh, some Rohingyas' link with militants, suspicion of smuggling of weapons to Myanmar from Bangladesh, and underlying apprehension of economic exploitation by Bangladeshi people (as those in the colonial days of Myanmar), need to be addressed immediately. Apprehension exists that militant Islamic forces around the Teknaf region may cross the border with weapons to destabilise Myanmar, and that is why one may argue Myanmar has been hesitant to provide direct road connection with Bangladesh. Bangladesh must deal with these lurking sensitive issues, and convince Myanmar that Bangladesh poses no threat to Myanmar's stability. The time, and opportunity, has come for the new government to meet the challenges. The prime minister-elect may consider undertaking her first official visits to neighbouring countries to underscore the importance Bangladesh attaches to them.
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