India’s growing control over Bangladesh worries experts

[Black_cats]

India’s growing control over Bangladesh worries experts​

​

Kushiyara agreement termed unfair, diesel import through pipeline to strengthen India’s control​

Staff Correspondent | Published: 01:11, Sep 18,2022

India’s control over Bangladesh is growing thanks to the latter’s decision to unnecessarily increase dependence on its neighbour, speakers at a press conference organised by Sarbojonkotha, a Bangla quarterly journal, observed on Saturday.

The latest agreement over sharing of the Kushiyara river water is not fair, they said, expressing surprise at the necessity of seeking India’s permission when Bangladesh has its own rights to lift the river water that is inside Bangladesh.

India has already built 12 irrigation projects and power plants in the upstream along the river even without bothering to ask for permission from Bangladesh in the downstream, they noted.

‘Bangladesh’s dependence on India is being unnecessarily increased. The dependency may be useful for the government but does not appear to benefit ordinary people,’ said Sarbojonkotha editor Anu Muhammad.

He said that Bangladesh planned to increase electricity import from India despite having excessive installed generation capacity.

‘India’s control over Bangladesh is strategically beneficial to a vested quarter in India and Bangladesh,’ said Anu Muhammad.

He demanded that border killings by the India’s Border Security Force be probed independently through the UN mediation.

Dhaka University teacher Moshahida Sultana presented a keynote paper at the virtual press conference held in the morning.

The keynote paper said that electricity import from India would soon contribute 16 per cent of the overall installed power generation capacity of Bangladesh.

‘Once the trans-border under-construction pipeline is established, Bangladesh will become dependent on India for meeting more than 20 per cent of its energy demand,’ she said.

The dependency is destined to strengthen India’s control over Bangladesh, she said, potentially opening a window for India’s interfering with Bangladesh’s internal affairs.

Bangladesh can save about $11 by refining imported crude oil in its own refineries but prefers instead to rely on India for refining oil through the construction of tarns-border pipeline which is said to save $2, said Moshahida.

The agreement for withdrawing water from the Kushiyara river in downstream was described as unfair by Md Khalequzzaman, who teaches geology at Lock Haven University in Pennsylvania in the United States.

India filled up canals and other infrastructures along the Barak River in the upstream, he said, reminding its adverse impacts on downstream.

Bangladesh recently reached an agreement with India for lifting 153 cusec of water from a Barak tributary, Rahimpur canal, which flows inside Bangladesh.

‘The agreement sets a bad precedent,’ he said, asking, ‘Why is there a necessity to seek permission from India for lifting water from a canal inside Bangladesh?’

Benefits of the Kushiyara agreement have been exaggerated, he said, adding that the water Bangladesh has permission for lifting from the river can irrigate maximum 3,750 hectares of land.

India has been lifting Kushiyara water apparently even without asking Bangladesh for a long time, Khalequzzaman said while presenting his keynote paper.

Dhaka University teacher Mohammad Tanzimuddin Khan in his keynote paper highlighted border killing by the India’s Border Security Force citing an issue of the US-based Foreign Policy magazine listing Bangladesh-India border among the 13 most dangerous places in the world.

In the years between 2015 and 2022, 161 Bangladeshis were killed by India’s Border Security Force. Another 45 people have been murdered along the border in other incidents in 2020 alone, the highest number of such murder in a decade.

‘Reality does not reflect friendship that the two governments enjoy bragging about,’ said Tanzim.

Experts also called for basin-wise river management, advising Bangladesh to rectify the UN watercourses convention and get a right share of water from trans-boundary rivers in exchange of giving transit to India.

Bangladesh should regularly publish data on stream flows on trans-boundary rivers, they said, reminding that India did not release agreed amount of water through the Farakka Barrage at 65 per cent of the time despite having a treaty.

India’s growing control over Bangladesh worries experts

India’s control over Bangladesh is growing thanks to the latter’s decision to unnecessarily increase dependence on its neighbour, speakers at a press conference organised by...

www.newagebd.net

 

[fallstuff]

India’s growing control over Bangladesh worries​

experts​

​

Kushiyara agreement termed unfair, diesel import through pipeline to strengthen India’s control​

Staff Correspondent | Published: 01:11, Sep 18,2022

India’s control over Bangladesh is growing thanks to the latter’s decision to unnecessarily increase dependence on its neighbour, speakers at a press conference organised by Sarbojonkotha, a Bangla quarterly journal, observed on Saturday.

The latest agreement over sharing of the Kushiyara river water is not fair, they said, expressing surprise at the necessity of seeking India’s permission when Bangladesh has its own rights to lift the river water that is inside Bangladesh.

India has already built 12 irrigation projects and power plants in the upstream along the river even without bothering to ask for permission from Bangladesh in the downstream, they noted.

‘Bangladesh’s dependence on India is being unnecessarily increased. The dependency may be useful for the government but does not appear to benefit ordinary people,’ said Sarbojonkotha editor Anu Muhammad.

He said that Bangladesh planned to increase electricity import from India despite having excessive installed generation capacity.

‘India’s control over Bangladesh is strategically beneficial to a vested quarter in India and Bangladesh,’ said Anu Muhammad.

He demanded that border killings by the India’s Border Security Force be probed independently through the UN mediation.

Dhaka University teacher Moshahida Sultana presented a keynote paper at the virtual press conference held in the morning.

The keynote paper said that electricity import from India would soon contribute 16 per cent of the overall installed power generation capacity of Bangladesh.

‘Once the trans-border under-construction pipeline is established, Bangladesh will become dependent on India for meeting more than 20 per cent of its energy demand,’ she said.

The dependency is destined to strengthen India’s control over Bangladesh, she said, potentially opening a window for India’s interfering with Bangladesh’s internal affairs.

Bangladesh can save about $11 by refining imported crude oil in its own refineries but prefers instead to rely on India for refining oil through the construction of tarns-border pipeline which is said to save $2, said Moshahida.

The agreement for withdrawing water from the Kushiyara river in downstream was described as unfair by Md Khalequzzaman, who teaches geology at Lock Haven University in Pennsylvania in the United States.

India filled up canals and other infrastructures along the Barak River in the upstream, he said, reminding its adverse impacts on downstream.

Bangladesh recently reached an agreement with India for lifting 153 cusec of water from a Barak tributary, Rahimpur canal, which flows inside Bangladesh.

‘The agreement sets a bad precedent,’ he said, asking, ‘Why is there a necessity to seek permission from India for lifting water from a canal inside Bangladesh?’

Benefits of the Kushiyara agreement have been exaggerated, he said, adding that the water Bangladesh has permission for lifting from the river can irrigate maximum 3,750 hectares of land.

India has been lifting Kushiyara water apparently even without asking Bangladesh for a long time, Khalequzzaman said while presenting his keynote paper.

Dhaka University teacher Mohammad Tanzimuddin Khan in his keynote paper highlighted border killing by the India’s Border Security Force citing an issue of the US-based Foreign Policy magazine listing Bangladesh-India border among the 13 most dangerous places in the world.

In the years between 2015 and 2022, 161 Bangladeshis were killed by India’s Border Security Force. Another 45 people have been murdered along the border in other incidents in 2020 alone, the highest number of such murder in a decade.

‘Reality does not reflect friendship that the two governments enjoy bragging about,’ said Tanzim.

Experts also called for basin-wise river management, advising Bangladesh to rectify the UN watercourses convention and get a right share of water from trans-boundary rivers in exchange of giving transit to India.

Bangladesh should regularly publish data on stream flows on trans-boundary rivers, they said, reminding that India did not release agreed amount of water through the Farakka Barrage at 65 per cent of the time despite having a treaty.

India’s growing control over Bangladesh worries experts

India’s control over Bangladesh is growing thanks to the latter’s decision to unnecessarily increase dependence on its neighbour, speakers at a press conference organised by...

www.newagebd.net

This is not going to get better anytime soon, matter of fact it will only get worse as she clings on power with India's support.

BTW these folks publishing this report might get a visit by the security people.

 

[Homo Sapiens]

This is not going to get better anytime soon, matter of fact it will only get worse as she clings on power with India's support.

Many educated people in Bangladesh now realizing that, BNP and other opposition party's allegation that, BAL is an Indian puppet is not without merit. There was a time in 1990s and 2000s when BNP got discredited and ridiculed by many intellectuals and a section of populace for saying the obvious which is now completely clear. Those intellectual thought, BNP is unnecessarily suspicious of India and BAL's 'positive engagement' with India will be only beneficial and without any risk.

I only hope, people of Bangladesh take back their country before it ultimately lost it's independence and sovereignty and turned into a colony of India. It is already a vassal turning into a full-fledged colony with deliberate creation of dependency on India, be it political, economic, cultural and even in defence sector.

 

[UKBengali]

Load of nonsense.

BD has been getting relatively more powerful vis-a-vis India since AL came into power in 2009.

The whole of the India NE region relies on BD both for its security and in the future for its prosperity.

Same for W Bengal in the future as BD becomes the centre of a region of 400 million people where goods, services and energy flows freely.

The idea that India can turn a huge nation population wise of 165 million into a colony in perpetuity is ridiculous. India has no such capability and they know it.

 

[LakeHawk180]

Load of nonsense.

BD has been getting relatively more powerful vis-a-vis India since AL came into power in 2009.

The whole of the India NE region relies on BD both for its security and in the future for its prosperity.

Same for W Bengal in the future as BD becomes the centre of a region of 400 million people where goods, services and energy flows freely.

The idea that India can turn a huge nation population wise of 165 million into a colony in perpetuity is ridiculous. India has no such capability and they know it.

We don’t have such ambitions either.

 

[bluesky]

This is not going to get better anytime soon, matter of fact it will only get worse as she clings on power with India's support.

BTW these folks publishing this report might get a visit by the security people.

BD people can expect a few more slavery treaties with India before the next election is held.

The next govts cannot just reject the treaties unilaterally.

 

[Ajamal]

India’s growing control over Bangladesh worries experts​

​

Kushiyara agreement termed unfair, diesel import through pipeline to strengthen India’s control​

Staff Correspondent | Published: 01:11, Sep 18,2022

India’s control over Bangladesh is growing thanks to the latter’s decision to unnecessarily increase dependence on its neighbour, speakers at a press conference organised by Sarbojonkotha, a Bangla quarterly journal, observed on Saturday.

The latest agreement over sharing of the Kushiyara river water is not fair, they said, expressing surprise at the necessity of seeking India’s permission when Bangladesh has its own rights to lift the river water that is inside Bangladesh.

India has already built 12 irrigation projects and power plants in the upstream along the river even without bothering to ask for permission from Bangladesh in the downstream, they noted.

‘Bangladesh’s dependence on India is being unnecessarily increased. The dependency may be useful for the government but does not appear to benefit ordinary people,’ said Sarbojonkotha editor Anu Muhammad.

He said that Bangladesh planned to increase electricity import from India despite having excessive installed generation capacity.

‘India’s control over Bangladesh is strategically beneficial to a vested quarter in India and Bangladesh,’ said Anu Muhammad.

He demanded that border killings by the India’s Border Security Force be probed independently through the UN mediation.

Dhaka University teacher Moshahida Sultana presented a keynote paper at the virtual press conference held in the morning.

The keynote paper said that electricity import from India would soon contribute 16 per cent of the overall installed power generation capacity of Bangladesh.

‘Once the trans-border under-construction pipeline is established, Bangladesh will become dependent on India for meeting more than 20 per cent of its energy demand,’ she said.

The dependency is destined to strengthen India’s control over Bangladesh, she said, potentially opening a window for India’s interfering with Bangladesh’s internal affairs.

Bangladesh can save about $11 by refining imported crude oil in its own refineries but prefers instead to rely on India for refining oil through the construction of tarns-border pipeline which is said to save $2, said Moshahida.

The agreement for withdrawing water from the Kushiyara river in downstream was described as unfair by Md Khalequzzaman, who teaches geology at Lock Haven University in Pennsylvania in the United States.

India filled up canals and other infrastructures along the Barak River in the upstream, he said, reminding its adverse impacts on downstream.

Bangladesh recently reached an agreement with India for lifting 153 cusec of water from a Barak tributary, Rahimpur canal, which flows inside Bangladesh.

‘The agreement sets a bad precedent,’ he said, asking, ‘Why is there a necessity to seek permission from India for lifting water from a canal inside Bangladesh?’

Benefits of the Kushiyara agreement have been exaggerated, he said, adding that the water Bangladesh has permission for lifting from the river can irrigate maximum 3,750 hectares of land.

India has been lifting Kushiyara water apparently even without asking Bangladesh for a long time, Khalequzzaman said while presenting his keynote paper.

Dhaka University teacher Mohammad Tanzimuddin Khan in his keynote paper highlighted border killing by the India’s Border Security Force citing an issue of the US-based Foreign Policy magazine listing Bangladesh-India border among the 13 most dangerous places in the world.

In the years between 2015 and 2022, 161 Bangladeshis were killed by India’s Border Security Force. Another 45 people have been murdered along the border in other incidents in 2020 alone, the highest number of such murder in a decade.

‘Reality does not reflect friendship that the two governments enjoy bragging about,’ said Tanzim.

Experts also called for basin-wise river management, advising Bangladesh to rectify the UN watercourses convention and get a right share of water from trans-boundary rivers in exchange of giving transit to India.

Bangladesh should regularly publish data on stream flows on trans-boundary rivers, they said, reminding that India did not release agreed amount of water through the Farakka Barrage at 65 per cent of the time despite having a treaty.

India’s growing control over Bangladesh worries experts

India’s control over Bangladesh is growing thanks to the latter’s decision to unnecessarily increase dependence on its neighbour, speakers at a press conference organised by...

www.newagebd.net

It is not control but a growing friendship. Economic ties are key to success of India and BD. BD is emerging as the economic tiger of the Asia.

 

[EasyNow]

I'm not sure if there's any more credibility in these allegations than what is usually thrown around.
The report seems to have 3 main points / speculations :

1 - That the kushiara agreement is unnecessary and disadvantageous - I'm not sure of the background, but the allegation does not really make sense. Why would BD need an agreement to use local water? There's obviously more to it but the report makes it seem very simplistic.

2 - That BD is buying electricity from India when it generates enough of its own - This is patently not true as seen in recent load shedding, BD has always needed to buy energy. Also the idea that we should be refining our own oil is a long and complex discussion that has to factor in cost Vs benefit. The report again simplifies this for political points.

3 - border killings, this has been a long term problem that needs to be dealt with - and has been discussed between the countries, so it's unfair to act like there is some sort of new capitulation.


Obviously no Bangladeshi wants to be reliant on India - but in many respects we always have been - and will be for the foreseeable, particularly as Bd is downriver from India, and it's our largest land link to the world. This report makes it too simplistic and has its pre-conceived agenda - with the same old hogwash tbh

 

[Homo Sapiens]

BD people can expect a few more slavery treaties with India before the next election is held.

The next govts cannot just reject the treaties unilaterally.

Biggest thing worry me is the energy dependence this govt. is creating deliberately by building oil pipeline, electricity transmission line across the border. These are costly, permanent structures and Bangladesh will be compelled to buy energy from India whether any future non-BAL govt. like it or not. BAL govt. already made agreement with ADANI group to buy electricity for the next 30 years. At first Bharat will create significant dependency by promoting these arrangement, then it will start blackmailing and interference like it does on Nepal and Bhutan.

 

[Homo Sapiens]

That the kushiara agreement is unnecessary and disadvantageous - I'm not sure of the background, but the allegation does not really make sense. Why would BD need an agreement to use local water? There's obviously more to it but the report makes it seem very simplistic.

BAL govt. is desperate to show Bangladeshi people a river treaty. Their carrot would be, 'Look we may not achieve bringing water in Teesta river, but here is Kushiyara river water for you'.

Haven't you seen, Hasina made a press conference where she said ''I did not came back from India empty handed''. She was reffering this Kushiyara river water treaty.

 

[One_Nation]

We don’t have such ambitions either.

Indians ambitions about Bangladesh are well known just like they are for Pakistan:

Indian reunification - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Pakistan-Bangladesh merger with India possible, like ‘Germany unification’, Khattar says

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar made these remarks after inaugurating BJP’s national Minority Morcha training camp Monday.

theprint.in

 

[Homo Sapiens]

That BD is buying electricity from India when it generates enough of its own - This is patently not true as seen in recent load shedding, BD has always needed to buy energy. Also the idea that we should be refining our own oil is a long and complex discussion that has to factor in cost Vs benefit. The report again simplifies this for political points.

Recent load shedding was a deliberate decision of Govt. to buy less diesel to preserve the Forex which was failed. Now load-shedding is back to previous low level.

The most pathetic affair in Bangladesh is that, we did not add a single oil refinery in the last 50 years of independence. We are still using Pakistan era single refinery in Chattogram. At least then Pakistani govt. were more visionary than all the govt. of Bangladesh in the last 50 years. Vital and critical infrastructure for Bangladesh's national security all were established during Pakistan era but later Bangladesh govt. did very little or nothing to add more value to it. Hydropower dam, Ordnance Factory, Radar stations, Atomic research institute, railway workshop, Motor assembly plant, air force bases (Bangladesh could not add a single full fledged air force base than what Pakistani govt. established before 1971. we are still using civilian runway for air force plane!) to name a few from Pakistani era.

 

[bharat62]

India’s growing control over Bangladesh worries experts​

​

Kushiyara agreement termed unfair, diesel import through pipeline to strengthen India’s control​

Staff Correspondent | Published: 01:11, Sep 18,2022

India’s control over Bangladesh is growing thanks to the latter’s decision to unnecessarily increase dependence on its neighbour, speakers at a press conference organised by Sarbojonkotha, a Bangla quarterly journal, observed on Saturday.

The latest agreement over sharing of the Kushiyara river water is not fair, they said, expressing surprise at the necessity of seeking India’s permission when Bangladesh has its own rights to lift the river water that is inside Bangladesh.

India has already built 12 irrigation projects and power plants in the upstream along the river even without bothering to ask for permission from Bangladesh in the downstream, they noted.

‘Bangladesh’s dependence on India is being unnecessarily increased. The dependency may be useful for the government but does not appear to benefit ordinary people,’ said Sarbojonkotha editor Anu Muhammad.

He said that Bangladesh planned to increase electricity import from India despite having excessive installed generation capacity.

‘India’s control over Bangladesh is strategically beneficial to a vested quarter in India and Bangladesh,’ said Anu Muhammad.

He demanded that border killings by the India’s Border Security Force be probed independently through the UN mediation.

Dhaka University teacher Moshahida Sultana presented a keynote paper at the virtual press conference held in the morning.

The keynote paper said that electricity import from India would soon contribute 16 per cent of the overall installed power generation capacity of Bangladesh.

‘Once the trans-border under-construction pipeline is established, Bangladesh will become dependent on India for meeting more than 20 per cent of its energy demand,’ she said.

The dependency is destined to strengthen India’s control over Bangladesh, she said, potentially opening a window for India’s interfering with Bangladesh’s internal affairs.

Bangladesh can save about $11 by refining imported crude oil in its own refineries but prefers instead to rely on India for refining oil through the construction of tarns-border pipeline which is said to save $2, said Moshahida.

The agreement for withdrawing water from the Kushiyara river in downstream was described as unfair by Md Khalequzzaman, who teaches geology at Lock Haven University in Pennsylvania in the United States.

India filled up canals and other infrastructures along the Barak River in the upstream, he said, reminding its adverse impacts on downstream.

Bangladesh recently reached an agreement with India for lifting 153 cusec of water from a Barak tributary, Rahimpur canal, which flows inside Bangladesh.

‘The agreement sets a bad precedent,’ he said, asking, ‘Why is there a necessity to seek permission from India for lifting water from a canal inside Bangladesh?’

Benefits of the Kushiyara agreement have been exaggerated, he said, adding that the water Bangladesh has permission for lifting from the river can irrigate maximum 3,750 hectares of land.

India has been lifting Kushiyara water apparently even without asking Bangladesh for a long time, Khalequzzaman said while presenting his keynote paper.

Dhaka University teacher Mohammad Tanzimuddin Khan in his keynote paper highlighted border killing by the India’s Border Security Force citing an issue of the US-based Foreign Policy magazine listing Bangladesh-India border among the 13 most dangerous places in the world.

In the years between 2015 and 2022, 161 Bangladeshis were killed by India’s Border Security Force. Another 45 people have been murdered along the border in other incidents in 2020 alone, the highest number of such murder in a decade.

‘Reality does not reflect friendship that the two governments enjoy bragging about,’ said Tanzim.

Experts also called for basin-wise river management, advising Bangladesh to rectify the UN watercourses convention and get a right share of water from trans-boundary rivers in exchange of giving transit to India.

Bangladesh should regularly publish data on stream flows on trans-boundary rivers, they said, reminding that India did not release agreed amount of water through the Farakka Barrage at 65 per cent of the time despite having a treaty.

India’s growing control over Bangladesh worries experts

India’s control over Bangladesh is growing thanks to the latter’s decision to unnecessarily increase dependence on its neighbour, speakers at a press conference organised by...

www.newagebd.net

It is only two way cooperation between india and bangladesh .

Indians ambitions about Bangladesh are well known just like they are for Pakistan:

Indian reunification - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Pakistan-Bangladesh merger with India possible, like ‘Germany unification’, Khattar says

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar made these remarks after inaugurating BJP’s national Minority Morcha training camp Monday.

theprint.in

Cooperation between india pakistan and bangladesh is possible in future .

 

[bluesky]

This is not going to get better anytime soon, matter of fact it will only get worse as she clings on power with India's support.

BTW these folks publishing this report might get a visit by the security people.

BD people can expect a few more slavery treaties with India before the next election is held.

The next govts cannot just reject the treaties unilaterally.

BAL govt. is desperate to show Bangladeshi people a river treaty. Their carrot would be, 'Look we may not achieve bringing water in Teesta river, but here is Kushiyara river water for you'.

Haven't you seen, Hasina made a press conference where she said ''I did not came back from India empty handed''. She was reffering this Kushiyara river water treaty.

Kushiyara treaty calls for Indian permission even if you want to wash your head with its water. And Hasina Bibi says she brought good news from her trip to India.

About getting water from Teesta, we better not expect water unless Mamata Bibi stops withholding water from Teesta before entering BD.

I know my opinion has no value, but I personally do not think the Teesta project by a Chinese company can bring water unless a new barrage is built at its junction with Brahmaputra/ Jamuna.

However, the project profile has no provision to build a barrage. This is why I call it the Teesta Beautification project. And its cost will certainly rise to $3 billion from today's estimated $1 billion.

All bloody false estimates to hoodwink the public. So, it is another $3 billion burden, but without water. However, the project will stop the erosion of the river banks and river water overtopping the dikes.

 

[Chat SAMOSA]

I'm not sure if there's any more credibility in these allegations than what is usually thrown around.
The report seems to have 3 main points / speculations :

1 - That the kushiara agreement is unnecessary and disadvantageous - I'm not sure of the background, but the allegation does not really make sense. Why would BD need an agreement to use local water? There's obviously more to it but the report makes it seem very simplistic.

2 - That BD is buying electricity from India when it generates enough of its own - This is patently not true as seen in recent load shedding, BD has always needed to buy energy. Also the idea that we should be refining our own oil is a long and complex discussion that has to factor in cost Vs benefit. The report again simplifies this for political points.

3 - border killings, this has been a long term problem that needs to be dealt with - and has been discussed between the countries, so it's unfair to act like there is some sort of new capitulation.


Obviously no Bangladeshi wants to be reliant on India - but in many respects we always have been - and will be for the foreseeable, particularly as Bd is downriver from India, and it's our largest land link to the world. This report makes it too simplistic and has its pre-conceived agenda - with the same old hogwash tbh

I am trying to find good info into the rationale. Of the top, the electricity thing - what I read says India gave concessional financing to BD for building Maitri thermal plant. I don't know how this is anything other than helping. Why is the op article talking about increasing dependency whereas this would increase BD electricity generation.

Any good source of details appreciated