Bangladesh and India's connectivity and cooperation have reached a remarkable stage. The recent visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to New Delhi has strengthened the foundation of our cooperation and enhanced the momentum. PM of Bangladesh emphatically and categorically spoke in favor of understandings after coming back from India at a press conference.
We know Bangladesh and India signed seven bilateral documents, aiming to take the relations between the two countries to the next trajectory. The documents were signed, exchanged, adopted and handed over after a bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House in New Delhi.
The two leaders witnessed the signing and exchange of the documents - six new and another renewal. The bilateral documents are MoU for providing a Costal Surveillance System, the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on the use of Chattogram and Mongla ports for the movement of goods to and from India, MoU on withdrawal of 1.82 cusec of water from the Feni River by India for drinking water supply scheme for Sabroom town, Tripura, agreement over implementation of the Lines of Credit (LoCs) committed by India to Bangladesh, MoU between the University of Hyderabad and the University of Dhaka, renewal of a cultural exchange program and MoU on cooperation in Youth Affairs.
The two Prime Ministers also jointly inaugurated three bilateral development partnership projects pressing e-plaques -- import of bulk LPG from Bangladesh, Vivekananda Bhaban (student hotel) at Ramakrishna Mission in Dhaka and Bangladesh-India Professional Skill Development Institute in Bangladesh.
Prime Minister Hasina said Bangladesh's bilateral relationship with India is considered as good-neighborly one among the international community due to multifaceted and multidimensional cooperation. "This cooperation, I firmly believe, will continue in the future." She said the cooperation between the two countries in traditional sectors has significantly enhanced over the past decade.
The Prime Minister said the two countries also extended their helping hands in the areas of blue economy and maritime affairs, peaceful use of nuclear power, space research, and internet bandwidth export and cyber security. Hasina said the relations between the two countries began in 1971 when people from all walks of life joined in the War of Liberation led by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
She said Bangladesh gratefully remembers the immense contribution of the people of India and the government during the War of Liberation in 1971 which will remain a milestone always in Bangladesh-India bilateral relations. Prime Minister Hasina also met Indian President Ram NathKovind at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Indian EM Subrahmanyam Jaishankar called on PM Sheikh Hasina and hoped that relation would reach a new height. Congress president Sonia Gandhi along with former PM Manmohan Singh and others met Bangladesh PM to express solidarity with her activities.
The visit of Sheikh Hasina underlined the fact that India attaches top priority to its ties with Bangladesh and recognizes that today Bangladesh is its largest trading partner in South Asia. According to official documents, the total Indo-Bangla trade crossed US$ 10 billion with a 52 percent increase in Bangladeshi exports, which has crossed $1 billion. Bangladesh is the largest development partner of India that has offered US$ 8 billion of concessional lines of credit.
Bangladesh is also the largest sender of visitors to India, which issued almost 1.5 million visas for Bangladeshi visitors last year. The joint communiqué issued after the formal talks between the two leaders speak of 'advancing mutually beneficial partnership in both conventional and non-conventional areas'.
They expressed their conviction for eliminating terrorism in all its forms. When they met in Delhi, they once again reiterated their commitment to coordinate closely against terrorism, radical groups, smugglers and fake currency peddlers, and continue their fight against organized crime. Both the sides have shown the determination to reduce the border killing up to zero. It is mentionable that only few incidents had occurred in the last year.
The main decisions the two countries reached during the visit include bringing down border killings to zero level; withdrawal of restrictions on Bangladeshi travelers using existing land ports; and working on draft framework of interim sharing agreements for the six rivers -- Manu, Muhuri, Khowai, Gumti, Dharla and Dudhkumar.
The decisions also include making more Indian investment in Bangladesh and India's buying more products from Bangladesh; Bangladesh's opening of a new Deputy High Commission in Chennai; expedition of 12 border haats; considering mutual recognition of certifications of BAB and NABL; moving towards a bilateral India-Bangladesh motor vehicles agreement; and cooperation to commemorate the upcoming anniversaries of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 2020, 50 years of Bangladesh's War of Liberation and the establishment of India-Bangladesh bilateral diplomatic ties in 2021.
We know our PM Sheikh Hasina joined with world leaders at UNO headquarter to pay regards to Mahatma Gandhi on 150th anniversary meeting. Indian Prime Minister Modi reaffirmed India's full support to his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina for realization of her vision of ensuring a prosperous, peaceful and developed Bangladesh.
PM Sheikh Hasina discussed with PM Narendra Modi regarding Teesta water sharing, Rohingya issue and NRC in India. Indian PM reassured that Teesta problem will be solved by discussing with the concerned stakeholders. He also said India is in touch with Myanmar to solve the Rohingya issue.
He mentioned that NRC process is transparent and those who are aggrieved can move to the higher court. It is evident from the above description that problems have been discussed freely and frankly and proper steps have been taken to move forward.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina addressed World Economic Forum's Indian Economic Summit and got appreciation from business leaders. She has sought more Indian investment in Bangladesh, saying that the country has the most business-friendly environment and policy in South Asia. She also suggested the Indian business leaders to boost their trade and cooperation with Bangladesh, which will be facilitated by the government.
Bangladesh has offered three Special Economic Zones for Indian investors in Mongla, Bheramara and Mirsarai and substantial investment from Indian investors in these three Indian Economic Zones in Bangladesh would help to broaden our exportable base, she said. She said her government is working to restore the previous connectivity which was suspended after 1965. It is mentionable that plans are being implemented to open even more routes. She has been awarded Tagore Peace Award by Asiatic Society.
India's government and private companies are investing in Bangladesh in different sectors especially in the most vital energy sectors. Recently, Indian Reliance Group started power project at Meghna Ghat having a capacity of 718MW. Works are progressing at Mongla to establish 1320 MW power plant by India. Bangladesh is also importing 1600 MW from India.
After coming back from India PM Sheikh Hasina said at a press conference that "we always protect our interest in all fields, the stretch of the river Feni from where India will take water is a catchment area and it belongs to Bangladesh. That is why we signed a MoU with India."
She said her government has already discussed with India the water-sharing of the Monu, Mohuri, Khowai, Gumti, Dharla and Dudhkumar rivers, and steps are being taken in this regard. "Besides, discussion is going on over the water-sharing of the Teesta River."
She also mentioned that the source of the Feni River is in Khagrachhari and about 94km-stretch of the river is along the Indian border. Hasina said the scarcity of drinking water is acute in Tripura's Sabroom town, and the MoU was signed with India to give it 1.82 cusec water. "The volume of water we will give to India is very insignificant and we will use most of the water of this big river.
"If anyone wants water for drinking purposes, and if we don't give that, it doesn't look good," said Hasina. Taking a swipe at BNP leaders for criticizing the Feni river deal, she said Ziaur Rahman and Khaleda Zia during their visits to India could not strike any deal on the water-sharing of the Ganges River. "When the media asked Khaleda Zia about the issue of Ganges water-sharing upon her return from India, Khaleda Zia said she forgot to raise the issue."
"How could that party the BNP talk about the issue of Feni River when it forgot to protect the country's interest and realize the rightful demand for water of a big river like the Ganges?" Turning to the recent deal for exporting LPG to India, the PM said she can never ever compromise the country's interest and everyone should know that. "We always put our country's interest first and there is nothing to raise question about this.
We import LPG in bulk, then we bottle it and supply throughout the country as per our demand. We will export part of the excess LPG to Tripura of India." She mentioned that a new LPG item would thus be added to the country's export basket. She also recalled the role of the people and the government of Tripura during Bangladesh's Liberation War in 1971.
We know those who are criticizing recently signed documents they should remember that they could not negotiate properly to solve the major issues between Bangladesh and India rather they had complicated the relations between Bangladesh and India. Border Boundary Act has been implemented and maritime boundary also has been done due to the goodwill from both the sides.
It is agreed that radar will be installed for coastal surveillance, it will protect and secure our maritime area as well as explore and develop the blue economy. We know by this time India is helping Mauritius, Sicily and Maldives for coastal surveillance. Negotiation is going on to do the same thing in SriLanka also. It may be mentioned India is one of the partners of QUAD involving USA, India, Japan and Australia to maintain security and peace in Indo-Pacific region. Bangladesh- India cooperation is a significant progress in this arena.
There are criticisms by some vested quarters regarding use of ports and radars for surveillance that this will go against interest and sovereignty of the country. We know every country of the world is cooperating with other countries in all sectors including security. All vibrant ports are being used by all in the world.
Some groups are creating confusion and making obstacles in the path of peace and progress. It may be remembered that independence, sovereignty of Bangladesh had been established by the sufferings and sacrifice of the people of Bangladesh as well as with the direct involvement and sacrifice of Indian Mitra Bahini in 1971.
Bangladesh and India are cooperating for progress and development as well as to ensure peace and security in this region. This will be helpful for peace and progress not only for Bangladesh and India but also for the region.
The writer is an academic, former ambassador, leader-student action committee 71 and freedom fighter.
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