BanglaBhoot
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THE Indian finance minister, Pranab Mukherjee, is scheduled to fly in for a four-hour sojourn in Bangladesh, which by itself perhaps deserves an entry into the Guinness Book of World Record as the shortest state-level visit by any minister anywhere in the world. The short visit has a reasonably long agenda, though. According to a report front-paged in New Age on Friday, Mukherjee will be here mainly to witness the signing of the $1 billion line of credit between the EXIM Bank of India and the Economic Relations Division of Bangladesh, in line with the Dhaka-Delhi joint communiqué released at the end of the India visit of the prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, in January. However, as another report also front-paged in New Age on Friday indicates, he could push for an agreement on waiver of duties on the transportation of over-dimensional cargoes from western India to northeast India through Bangladesh. With one of Hasinas advisers reportedly in favour of waiver and the Awami League-led government having thus far displayed an inexplicable eagerness to grant virtually whatever New Delhi wishes, his visit could add significant momentum towards such an agreement.
If it so happens, it will be doubly delightful for New Delhi; for, it will ensure that India gets maximum returns on the line of credit offered to Bangladesh. As per the terms of the credit, Bangladesh will have to spend the money on the development of infrastructure, which is aimed at facilitating Indias transhipment of goods from its west to northeast. In other words, India will get what it has always wanted but without any expenditure on its part. Moreover, India will get interest on the credit and, if the duty on over-dimensional cargo is waived, it will be all gain and no pain for New Delhi. Simply put, what Bangladesh stands to gain, if anything at all, is inconsequential compared to what India will get.
It is just one aspect in the bilateral relations between the two countries whereby Bangladesh has put in more than its share but India has given up virtually nothing. In fact, India has not shown even the slightest willingness to address the legitimate demands and grievances of Bangladesh. New Delhi refuses to do anything about the killing of Bangladeshis by its border guards, equitable sharing of the common rivers, particularly the Teesta, huge trade imbalance, withdrawal of non-tariff barriers to export of Bangladeshi goods, exchange of enclaves, land border demarcation; the list could go on and on. Moreover, it continues to create more irritants for the already strained relations, e.g. repeated incursion into Bangladeshs maritime territory, fencing of borders, planned construction of a dam on the upstream of the trans-boundary river Barak at Tipaimukh, etc. Then, of course, there are instances of India promising humanitarian help and not delivering on it such as reconstruction of several hundred houses in the cyclone Aila-hit areas.
Indias selfish exploitation of its bilateral ties with Bangladesh has, of late, been criticised even in its own media. For example, the Indian Express wrote in its editorial on August 3: In case after case, the Bangladeshi side has done its bit, laying the groundwork for further agreement, or implementing what was already signed. And in case after case, the Indian side has not reciprocated to any reasonable degree (See todays Op-Ed page for reprint of the editorial). In other words, the Indian government has made it amply clear that its overarching intention is to squeeze the maximum out Bangladesh in return for virtually nothing.
Hence, it is, perhaps, time that the sympathy and support of the conscious and conscientious sections of Indian society were mobilised so that they may keep pressure on their government to address Bangladeshs legitimate demands and grievances. At the same time, politically conscious and democratically oriented sections of Bangladeshi society need to put pressure on the government to desert its subservient foreign policy vis-à-vis India or, for that matter, any other country, and assertively raise problems that India refuses to address and secure their resolution for national interest.
Editorial
If it so happens, it will be doubly delightful for New Delhi; for, it will ensure that India gets maximum returns on the line of credit offered to Bangladesh. As per the terms of the credit, Bangladesh will have to spend the money on the development of infrastructure, which is aimed at facilitating Indias transhipment of goods from its west to northeast. In other words, India will get what it has always wanted but without any expenditure on its part. Moreover, India will get interest on the credit and, if the duty on over-dimensional cargo is waived, it will be all gain and no pain for New Delhi. Simply put, what Bangladesh stands to gain, if anything at all, is inconsequential compared to what India will get.
It is just one aspect in the bilateral relations between the two countries whereby Bangladesh has put in more than its share but India has given up virtually nothing. In fact, India has not shown even the slightest willingness to address the legitimate demands and grievances of Bangladesh. New Delhi refuses to do anything about the killing of Bangladeshis by its border guards, equitable sharing of the common rivers, particularly the Teesta, huge trade imbalance, withdrawal of non-tariff barriers to export of Bangladeshi goods, exchange of enclaves, land border demarcation; the list could go on and on. Moreover, it continues to create more irritants for the already strained relations, e.g. repeated incursion into Bangladeshs maritime territory, fencing of borders, planned construction of a dam on the upstream of the trans-boundary river Barak at Tipaimukh, etc. Then, of course, there are instances of India promising humanitarian help and not delivering on it such as reconstruction of several hundred houses in the cyclone Aila-hit areas.
Indias selfish exploitation of its bilateral ties with Bangladesh has, of late, been criticised even in its own media. For example, the Indian Express wrote in its editorial on August 3: In case after case, the Bangladeshi side has done its bit, laying the groundwork for further agreement, or implementing what was already signed. And in case after case, the Indian side has not reciprocated to any reasonable degree (See todays Op-Ed page for reprint of the editorial). In other words, the Indian government has made it amply clear that its overarching intention is to squeeze the maximum out Bangladesh in return for virtually nothing.
Hence, it is, perhaps, time that the sympathy and support of the conscious and conscientious sections of Indian society were mobilised so that they may keep pressure on their government to address Bangladeshs legitimate demands and grievances. At the same time, politically conscious and democratically oriented sections of Bangladeshi society need to put pressure on the government to desert its subservient foreign policy vis-à-vis India or, for that matter, any other country, and assertively raise problems that India refuses to address and secure their resolution for national interest.
Editorial
