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Dhaka-Delhi relations historic: Khaleda
http://thenewnationbd.com/newsdetails.aspx?newsid=43222
Right mindset, pol will to strengthen ties
. Diplomatic Correspondent
BNP Chairperson and Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Begum Khaleda Zia has said that since Bangladesh-India relations are important and historic, with the right mind set and political will it is possible to strengthen these relations for the benefit of our two peoples.
"The main challenge to further development of our relations is the lack of confidence and trust among our peoples in our relationship, Khaleda Zia, also a former prime minister saidin an email interview with Smruti S. Pattanaik, a research fellow of the Indian Institute of Defence Studies and Analysis (IDSA).
She said early resolution of our outstanding problems on the basis of mutual benefit and pursued with mutual respect should be the main goal and added the issues that are most important and deserve highest priority are sharing of the waters of our common rivers,killing of unarmed civilians in the border areas and a satisfactory resolution of our land boundary demarcation and understanding each other's security concerns.
Khaleda Zia said that they have always strongly advocated connectivity as a way for closer integration, not only in South Asia but going beyond to South East Asia and China, Japan and Korea. "This also fits in with the 'Look East' policy that we pursue. This will facilitate increased trade and movement of people and ideas amongst all of us."
In this context, she said Bangladesh is in a strong position to play a positive role in fostering and promoting understanding in the region. We are privileged to have very good and close friendly relations with all the countries of South Asia and we, as a nation, are committed to maintain and strengthen these ties for the benefit ofall our peoples.
The BNP chairperson told the IDSA research fellow that, "Bangladesh and India share more than 4000 kilometres of land boundary. There is a lot of distortion in the way this boundary was drawn by our colonial rulers. We must resolve this. There is a lot of movement of people through these borders. This is a historical fact. There are prevailing international laws, conventions and practices that guide management of international boundaries and the movement of people through them.The same laws, conventions and practices should be followed here, especially bearing in mind the very nature of our relations."
The scopes for cooperation between our two countries, she said, are enormous and include a whole range of issues of common interest, including on combating the threat of all kinds of terrorism. As we all know, the threat of terrorism has become a major issue in our region. We need to work together to contain and eliminate it.
Continuing, she said the SAARC Regional Convention on Suppression of Terrorism, 1987 and the Additional Protocol to this Convention, 2004 provides an excellent legal and political comprehensive framework for such cooperation. We need to focus on this.
She stated that the trust deficit between two neighbors can be narrowed and eliminated if we moved ahead on resolving our outstanding bilateral issues based on mutual benefit through sustained discussions and enhanced people to people contact.
The BNP chairperson told the IDSA research fellow that Bangladesh first championed the cause for institutionalized regional economic cooperation in South Asia when Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman formally initiated the concept back in 1979. This eventually led to the emergence of SAARC in 1985.
"I agree that SAARC' sprogress has not yet fully met people's expectations as the countries of SouthAsia continue to suffer from endemic poverty in varying degrees. Plus other social challenges remain to be met. But we have made significant progress in some areas. For SAARC to progress faster, we must demonstrate greater political will. In spite of its perceived short comings, SAARC is now universally recognized as a viable tool for effective regional economic cooperation in South Asia," she added.
Khaleda Zia said all forms of cooperation are possible between our two countries, including defence, to fight the threat of piracy and terrorism.
She said that her message for the people of India is one of friendship and understanding. Being immediate neighbours, we are destined to live with each other and we must do so in peace and harmony. We cannot mean any ill to each other; neither can we afford any malice between us, she stated.
Concluding, she said, "We must learn from our rich cultural heritage, enhance people to people contact,work to resolve our differences and generate greater trust amongst our people.Sustained and open dialogue and discussions for our mutual interest and benefit should form part of the very core of our relationship. At the same time,respect for each other's independence as sovereign entities must be all pervasive."
http://thenewnationbd.com/newsdetails.aspx?newsid=43222
Right mindset, pol will to strengthen ties
. Diplomatic Correspondent
BNP Chairperson and Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Begum Khaleda Zia has said that since Bangladesh-India relations are important and historic, with the right mind set and political will it is possible to strengthen these relations for the benefit of our two peoples.
"The main challenge to further development of our relations is the lack of confidence and trust among our peoples in our relationship, Khaleda Zia, also a former prime minister saidin an email interview with Smruti S. Pattanaik, a research fellow of the Indian Institute of Defence Studies and Analysis (IDSA).
She said early resolution of our outstanding problems on the basis of mutual benefit and pursued with mutual respect should be the main goal and added the issues that are most important and deserve highest priority are sharing of the waters of our common rivers,killing of unarmed civilians in the border areas and a satisfactory resolution of our land boundary demarcation and understanding each other's security concerns.
Khaleda Zia said that they have always strongly advocated connectivity as a way for closer integration, not only in South Asia but going beyond to South East Asia and China, Japan and Korea. "This also fits in with the 'Look East' policy that we pursue. This will facilitate increased trade and movement of people and ideas amongst all of us."
In this context, she said Bangladesh is in a strong position to play a positive role in fostering and promoting understanding in the region. We are privileged to have very good and close friendly relations with all the countries of South Asia and we, as a nation, are committed to maintain and strengthen these ties for the benefit ofall our peoples.
The BNP chairperson told the IDSA research fellow that, "Bangladesh and India share more than 4000 kilometres of land boundary. There is a lot of distortion in the way this boundary was drawn by our colonial rulers. We must resolve this. There is a lot of movement of people through these borders. This is a historical fact. There are prevailing international laws, conventions and practices that guide management of international boundaries and the movement of people through them.The same laws, conventions and practices should be followed here, especially bearing in mind the very nature of our relations."
The scopes for cooperation between our two countries, she said, are enormous and include a whole range of issues of common interest, including on combating the threat of all kinds of terrorism. As we all know, the threat of terrorism has become a major issue in our region. We need to work together to contain and eliminate it.
Continuing, she said the SAARC Regional Convention on Suppression of Terrorism, 1987 and the Additional Protocol to this Convention, 2004 provides an excellent legal and political comprehensive framework for such cooperation. We need to focus on this.
She stated that the trust deficit between two neighbors can be narrowed and eliminated if we moved ahead on resolving our outstanding bilateral issues based on mutual benefit through sustained discussions and enhanced people to people contact.
The BNP chairperson told the IDSA research fellow that Bangladesh first championed the cause for institutionalized regional economic cooperation in South Asia when Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman formally initiated the concept back in 1979. This eventually led to the emergence of SAARC in 1985.
"I agree that SAARC' sprogress has not yet fully met people's expectations as the countries of SouthAsia continue to suffer from endemic poverty in varying degrees. Plus other social challenges remain to be met. But we have made significant progress in some areas. For SAARC to progress faster, we must demonstrate greater political will. In spite of its perceived short comings, SAARC is now universally recognized as a viable tool for effective regional economic cooperation in South Asia," she added.
Khaleda Zia said all forms of cooperation are possible between our two countries, including defence, to fight the threat of piracy and terrorism.
She said that her message for the people of India is one of friendship and understanding. Being immediate neighbours, we are destined to live with each other and we must do so in peace and harmony. We cannot mean any ill to each other; neither can we afford any malice between us, she stated.
Concluding, she said, "We must learn from our rich cultural heritage, enhance people to people contact,work to resolve our differences and generate greater trust amongst our people.Sustained and open dialogue and discussions for our mutual interest and benefit should form part of the very core of our relationship. At the same time,respect for each other's independence as sovereign entities must be all pervasive."
