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The enigma of Bangladesh-India relations
Rashid Askari
Bangladesh's relations with India may well be weighed up by their geographical locations -- a weak little mouse in a mighty cat's paw. Three-fourths of Bangladesh is surrounded by India, and one-fourth by the Bay of Bengal. If India is a big banyan tree, Bangladesh is a twining tendril around it.
Bangladesh took on this shape as the result of a rash and inequitable political Caesarian done in 1947 in the name of the so-called "Two-Nation theory." Its arms and legs were amputated, and it was severed from an indistinguishable land, and a millennium-old culture. We are greatly endangered for the loss of our organs. The neighbouring demi-super power tries to use our lost organs against us. This is where lies the crux of Bangladesh-India relations.
Another thing that matters in this relation is India's role in the Liberation War of Bangladesh. Bangladesh owes a debt of gratitude to India. For this deep sense of gratitude on one hand, and the vulnerability of geographical location and other concomitant weaknesses on the other, Bangladesh cannot always negotiate strongly with India over different bilateral issues. India's big-brotherly attitude and hegemonic control over the neighbouring countries sometimes work as a hindrance to the smooth functioning of relation building agenda. Besides, the change of governments in both the countries largely affects the relations.
The Mujib-Indira Pact could have been the best possible catalyst for the best possible relations between the two countries, if it had been fully realised. But, after Mujib's assassination in 1975, Bangladesh-India relations have been more or less a source of continued disappointment, especially for the people of Bangladesh. The building of many upstream dams, the Ganges water share deprivation, indiscriminate killing of Bangladeshi nationals along the border, sufferings of the land-locked people of Bangladeshi enclaves in India have hugely frustrated the people of the downstream delta -- Bangladesh.
The people of Bangladesh have now come to realise the importance of the improvement of relations with India. India is one of the four countries (BRIC) in the world that could lead the world in the foreseeable future. So, it would be very prudent of Bangladesh to develop an amicable relation with India, and benefit from it through trade, commerce, investment, technical and scientific cooperation, and education. We should not be obsessed with the geopolitical stereotype of a regional Cold War between the Sino-Pak and Indo-Soviet alignments, and be worried about our own vulnerability.
It is no wonder that India is developing its relationship with China and America, moving away from Saarc and opening new windows on regional and sub-regional cooperation. The Manmohan Singh government unequivocally reaffirmed India's commitment to Saarc and regional cooperation during the last Saarc Summit. Ever since then, there have been a number of developments in the whole process of regional cooperation. So it is time for Bangladesh to settle the differences, and develop fresh relations on the basis of friendship and mutual trust.
Although the Indian premier's last visit to Bangladesh has been a mixed blessing, it may mark a new dawn in the history of Indo-Bangladesh relations and break fresh ground in bilateral ties in future. Though the Teesta water sharing issue has cast some aspersions on it, and upset the people of Bangladesh, still there is hope against hope. Both the premiers expressed an unambiguous willingness to reach a mutually acceptable solution to the water sharing of Teesta and Feni rivers.
The two countries have inked framework agreements on land boundary demarcation, and exchange of adversely held enclaves, which may help settle the decades-old border disputes. Prime Minister Singh announced the access of the Bangladeshi nationals to Dahagram and Angorpota enclaves through the "Tin Bigha corridor" round the clock, which made the people very happy. They have signed some other agreements which are also important.
Although the dramatic cancellation of the Teesta and Feni river water sharing deal has cast a cloud over the bilateral relations, every cloud has a silver lining. There are chances of a better deal on it. Despite the opposition of Vallabhbhai Patel, Nehru concluded the historic Delhi Pact with Pakistan. The way the present two premiers, Sheikh Hasina and Monmohan Singh, have reassured us about the signing of the water treaty in the near future, we can easily hope against hope.
For whatever reason, it is most unfortunate that both the countries have failed to improve their relationship. The state principles of both the countries are almost identical. There should not be any room for doubt and distrust between them. But how can they achieve this? All the disputes between the two countries should be settled by diplomatic means.
The agreements signed during the visit of Mommohan Singh should be properly and quickly implemented so that there remain no fears of a hidden agenda. There should be a clear time frame for the implementation of boundary demarcation and enclave exchange agreements. It has to be ensured that the Bangladeshi products that have duty-free access to Indian market are not faced with any unpredictable non-tariff barriers.
On the other hand, Bangladesh should, for obvious geographical exigencies, provide connectivity for the countries of the region, especially for Nepal, Bhutan, and India. The India card players in Bangladesh should no longer hoodwink the people into believing in the story of "Indian hobgoblins" who are lying in wait to eat up Bangladesh. Through successful accomplishment of the agreements so far concluded, India can win back the confidence of the Bangladeshi people.
The people of Bangladesh should also reciprocate, and secure a win-win situation. India should get rid of its hegemonic role, and Bangladesh should come out of the shell of any kind of unfounded xenophobia. Only through the exercise of liberal and unprejudiced views and benevolent attitudes can the two countries earn each other's trust. Failing this, Bangladesh-India relations would continue to remain in the doldrums.
The writer teaches English literature at Kushtia Islamic University.
The enigma of Bangladesh-India relations
A commentary on the Indo Bangladesh relationship.
The positives and the negatives that rue this relationship.
One wonders what is the answer.
