Indo-Bangladesh Relations: Unleashing the Potential
Saumitra Mohan
Additional District Magistrate, Hooghly, West Bengal
e-mail:
saumitra_mohan@hotmail.com
With a shared history and culture, Indo-Bangladesh relations were expected to have a good trajectory but in reality, they have been always been held hostage to misplaced priorities, owing to mutual misunderstandings.
A bilateral relationship which was supposed to be predicated on the strong foundation of a successful 'joint venture' resulting in Bangladesh's liberation through Indian assistance has gone all awry. The potential of bilateral cooperation in sundry fields based on this supposed mutual bonhomie has never been unleashed in a way which could have changed the economy of Bangladesh and could have resulted in substantive gains for India as well, particularly its northeastern region.
The Indo-Bangla Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation signed in the immediate aftermath of Bangladesh's liberation was never allowed to work to its potential owing to various developments including political instability of Bangladesh from time to time. Some contentious issues have always plagued this relationship right from the beginning. While issues like the Tin Bigha Corridor, New Moore Island, sharing of the Ganga water and the Farakka barrage have been resolved more or less to mutual satisfaction, there are still many more such as the Tipaimukh Dam on Barak river in Manipur awaiting resolution.
India has, from time to time, raised concerns over the alleged free run provided in Bangladesh to Indian insurgents and terrorists who have used this Bangla hospitality to launch incursions and terrorist strikes against India. Bangladesh on its part, has always denied its role in aiding and abetting them. Rather it has often believed and seen an Indian role in the disturbances in its Chittagong region, something India has, in turn, always denied. India, in fact, was a reluctant host to thousands of refugees from Chittagong for a long period before they were repatriated following an amicable settlement of the issue. However, many refugees are still believed to be in India fearing loss of life and property back home.
Illegal but regular immigration from Bangladesh into India has also been a cause of concern for the latter and despite recognition of the problem by both sides; no substantive solution has been found. Today, India is home to approximately ten million illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, , something Indian security agencies have been rightly concerned about as there have also been instances of Pakistan's ISI agents finding their way into Indian territory through Bangladesh.
With Bangladesh increasingly a safe conduit for drug trafficking, human trafficking and proliferation of small arms, India has further reasons to be concerned. Moreover, the rise in religious fundamentalism in Bangladesh has posed further threats to India's security and integrity.
Notwithstanding the security threats to India emanating from its soil, Bangladesh refuses to appreciate the imperatives and advisability of border fencing by India and has vehemently opposed the same arguing that it would further sour bilateral relations. Besides, there is the issue of 225 enclaves in each others' possession, which need resolution. Though several joint surveys and studies have been undertaken to resolve this matter, nothing concrete has materialized yet.
Coming to economic cooperation, while India as the stronger partner, has always been magnanimous in its concessions to Bangladesh, the latter is still quite inhibited in getting into a full-fledged economic cooperation, not realizing that it may result in immense mutual benefits. It would also help Bangladesh improve its trade deficit that stands at US$2 billion at the moment. Joint exploration of gas and oil resources in Bangladesh and utilization of the same through the proposed pipeline needs to be seriously considered by Bangladesh as it would not only yield rich economic dividends, but would also take Bangladesh on the path to economic prosperity.
In 2005, the Tata Group, an Indian MNC had proposed to invest US$3 billion, the largest investment plan so far, in Bangladesh. Similar investment opportunities are already lining up, not to speak of those already functional. With both the countries reducing bilateral customs duties and reducing their negative lists significantly, both can earn immense financial rewards in terms of customs duties as much of the illegal trade would be done through legal channels, thereby removing the uncertainties thrown up by the illegalities.
With the Dhaka-Sealdah train service in the offing and Dhaka-Kolkata bus already operational, one hopes that Indo-Bangladesh relations would take a turn for the better in future. The army-backed caretaker government of Bangladesh too is intent on improving bilateral relations with India.
Note: The views expressed herein are those of the author and do not reflect those of the Government.
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