Ways of improving India-Bangladesh bilateral relations?

[Iggy]

^^ Wow!!

I think we've shut up the anti India squad in Bangladesh once and for all . Hopefully now we'll never hear from the likes of Al Zakir.

Yeah right !!

 

[gogbot]

India agrees to cede 17,000 acres to Bangladesh

At last India has decided to settle some of its dues with history with Bangladesh, by agreeing in principle to cede control over some 17,000 acres of territory as part of a larger, comprehensive agreement, in which the remaining tiny part of the 4,096 km-long boundary will be demarcated, while several pockets of adverse possessions and enclaves claimed by both sides are likely to be settled on an “as-is-where-is” basis.

The decision to settle the matter is believed to have been taken at the highest political levels in India, on the eve of Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to India earlier this week, and is in keeping with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s view that small disagreements cannot be allowed to come in the way of a dynamic relationship with Delhi’s eastern neighbour.

Home Secretary GK Pillai confirmed to Business Standard that India, during the home secretary-level talks in Dhaka in early December had offered such a comprehensive agreement to Dhaka – demarcating the remaining 6.1 km of the 4,096-km long boundary, plus settling the matter of adverse possessions and enclaves — and had received a positive response from the Bangladeshi government.

India holds as many as 111 enclaves or tiny bits of land within Bangladesh territory, amounting to some 17,000 acres since the partition of the subcontinent in 1947 (initially held by Pakistan, and after 1971, with Bangladesh), while Bangladesh holds some 51 enclaves amounting to about 7,000 acres in India.

It is believed that India has in principle agreed that it will cede control over its enclaves, even though the difference is about 10,000 acres in Bangladesh’s favour. Meaning, once the negotiations are complete, the Indian enclaves within Bangladeshi territory would be absorbed within Bangladesh and vice-versa.

Officials on both sides agreed that such a path-breaking agreement was on the cards, but it would take between 18-24 months to iron out the details. India needs a constitutional amendment on its part to formalise the boundary demarcation. A joint land boundary working group meeting is expected to be held soon.

In addition, both sides agreed during Hasina’s visit that a flyover would be built to connect Bangladesh territory with the Angarpota-Dahagram enclave, separated by a tiny bit of land called the Teen Bigha corridor (literally, 3 bighas, or the size of a football field), so that Bangladeshis would have 24-hour access to their own territory.

Since Bangladeshis can only exit and enter Angarpota-Dahagram from sunrise to sunset, as India controls the Teen Bigha corridor, the matter had snowballed into a huge issue within Bangladesh.

“The India-Bangladesh relationship has been marred by such silliness over the last several decades, thereby casting a large shadow over the entire relationship,” said noted South Asian analyst BG Verghese.

Verghese pointed out that two Indian prime ministers, Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi, had in fact promised to their counterparts, erstwhile Pakistani prime minister Feroz Khan Noon in 1958 and Mujib-ur Rahman in 1974, in their respective land boundary agreements, that both sides would transfer or “exchange” these small bits of enclaves held in “adverse possession” by the other side.

But nothing of the sort happened, as Left Front politics within West Bengal – some of the intervening pieces of land were said to be “controlled” by the Forward Bloc, even as litigants hit the courts seeking stays on the matter – prevented a diplomatic resolution.

But with the UPA’s second coming, and the Left Front out of the picture, Delhi has now decided that it will move to decisively resolve the matter, sources said.

Sources pointed out that with Sheikh Hasina in power in Bangladesh, “a historic opportunity presented itself, and may not come again. It is better to resolve these issues now and make India-Bangladesh relations a model for South Asia.”

As for the demarcation of the 4,096-km boundary between the two countries (262 km in Assam, 443 km in Meghalaya, 2,216.7 km in West Bengal, 318 km in Mizoram and 856 km in Tripura), only 6.1 km remain to be demarcated, of which two parts are riverine and the third is a tiny piece of land.

The riverine boundaries are related to the Mohuri and Sui rivers, both of which flow into Bangladesh from India, but whose ownership has been contested by both sides. While Delhi has offered that the median of the river be used to divide it up, the problem is that the river changes course every year as it floods the plain and therefore, the mid-point of the river changes as well.

Over the last many years, Indian and Bangladeshi officials have contested ownership of the rivers, citing maps that date as long back as 1914. But with the new bonhomie between the two nations, it is now being said that these issues will also be quickly resolved.

Come on idune tell us all how this is an Indian ploy.

we are amending our constitution, to make this deal work.

 

[gogbot]

Yeah right !!

They have committed them selves to hating India over bettering Bangladesh.

even if we give them a document of surrender they will claim its an Indian ploy worked up to get them of guard.

 

[Al-zakir]

Deals With India: BNP turns to like-minded parties to stage protests


A number of party leaders said they are even planning to return to the House to build a greater movement in and outside the parliament.


Friday January 15 2010 01:52:29 AM BDT


Rakib Hasnet Suman




Rakib Hasnet Suman BNP, the main opposition in parliament, has taken an initiative to build a greater unity among political parties and personalities traditionally known as having doubts about India's good will towards Bangladesh.(The Daily Star )

The unity is sought to protest the treaties and memorandums of understanding (MoUs) Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina signed with India during her recent visit there, according to party insiders.

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, also leader of the opposition, is likely to make a formal appeal to prospective allies on Saturday to that effect.

She is scheduled to address a media briefing on the day to make public her formal reaction to the outcome of the prime minister's visit to India.

She is also expected to announce some protest programmes like demonstrations including rallies and human chains at the briefing, demanding cancellation of the signed treaties and MoUs, which her party thinks do not protect the country's interest.

A number of party leaders said they are even planning to return to the House to build a greater movement in and outside the parliament.

Standing Committee Member Lt Gen (retd) Mahbubur Rahman told The Daily Star last evening that they reject the joint communiqué of Bangladesh and India after thorough discussion on it in the committee.

The chairperson will clear the party's position on the bilateral deals and might also announce the protest programmes, he said adding that the people of the country have got nothing other than added frustrations from the premier's visit to India.

Other party insiders said as a part of the initiative to form the greater alliance, a pro-BNP intellectual already talked to well known left leaning politicians, and that a number of senior BNP leaders and allied intellectuals will talk to many other such organisations and personalities in a bid to bring them to a common platform, which would be led by BNP.

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told The Daily Star that they intend to create a national consensus to protect the country's greater interest.

"The chairperson in her address will give the nation a direction, and we will work to implement that by taking all into confidence," he said.

http://www.bangladesh-web.com/view.php?hidRecord=300957

 

[gogbot]

Deals With India: BNP turns to like-minded parties to stage protests


A number of party leaders said they are even planning to return to the House to build a greater movement in and outside the parliament.


Friday January 15 2010 01:52:29 AM BDT


Rakib Hasnet Suman




Rakib Hasnet Suman BNP, the main opposition in parliament, has taken an initiative to build a greater unity among political parties and personalities traditionally known as having doubts about India's good will towards Bangladesh.(The Daily Star )

The unity is sought to protest the treaties and memorandums of understanding (MoUs) Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina signed with India during her recent visit there, according to party insiders.

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, also leader of the opposition, is likely to make a formal appeal to prospective allies on Saturday to that effect.

She is scheduled to address a media briefing on the day to make public her formal reaction to the outcome of the prime minister's visit to India.

She is also expected to announce some protest programmes like demonstrations including rallies and human chains at the briefing, demanding cancellation of the signed treaties and MoUs, which her party thinks do not protect the country's interest.

A number of party leaders said they are even planning to return to the House to build a greater movement in and outside the parliament.

Standing Committee Member Lt Gen (retd) Mahbubur Rahman told The Daily Star last evening that they reject the joint communiqué of Bangladesh and India after thorough discussion on it in the committee.

The chairperson will clear the party's position on the bilateral deals and might also announce the protest programmes, he said adding that the people of the country have got nothing other than added frustrations from the premier's visit to India.

Other party insiders said as a part of the initiative to form the greater alliance, a pro-BNP intellectual already talked to well known left leaning politicians, and that a number of senior BNP leaders and allied intellectuals will talk to many other such organisations and personalities in a bid to bring them to a common platform, which would be led by BNP.

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told The Daily Star that they intend to create a national consensus to protect the country's greater interest.

"The chairperson in her address will give the nation a direction, and we will work to implement that by taking all into confidence," he said.

http://www.bangladesh-web.com/view.php?hidRecord=300957

so you dont want 17,000 acers of land.

Or a passage way to Nepal or Bhutan.

or 1 billion line of credit which will be used to improve rail infrastructure. Possible railway to nepal or Buthan

or 250 mw

or the fact that the work on the dam has stopped.

you dont want to negotiate with India but then blame India for not getting anything from us.

 

[Al-zakir]

so you dont want 17,000 acers of land.

Wasn’t it our in first place?

Or a passage way to Nepal or Bhutan.

Nepal and Bhutan market totally control by you thus we have less than nothing chance to get in to their small market.

or 1 billion line of credit which will be used to improve rail infrastructure. Possible railway to nepal or Buthan

You offer this loan to improve our infrastructure to carry your goods to your eastern states with our money. It not like you giving this money to us as gift. No one is fool here beside awami.

or 250 mw

This is a stupid idea by all angles to import electricity from hostile neighbor. If any industry develops depending on your electricity than what if you shut down the electricity whenever Bd goes against your interest or even if BNP-Jamat comes in power next time around. AWami must be thinking with their behind rather than god giving brain.

or the fact that the work on the dam has stopped.

Temporary suspension due to awamis subservient mentality toward delhi. As soon awami out of power, you would not stop for a second to restart the project.

you dont want to negotiate with India but then blame India for not getting anything from us

We do not want anything from you that is not ours.

-We are asking for our share water according to international river linkage law.
-Tin bigah corridor according to mujib-indira agreement.
-Get out of Tipali Island.
-Lay off your dirty hand from our internal politics.
-Stop killing our civilian in the boarder.
-Stop pressing us to give you corridor to your eastern state in the name of Asian highway and so on.......

You are only making friend with la-hasina, her family and her dalal bahini. You need to build good relation with country Bangladesh based on mitual interest with respecting each other Sovereignty, culture, ideology, religion and forgein policies.

BNP-Jamat and other right wing party represnt more than half of the population in BD and they are uniting to bring about some change on country's direction. Awami may be in power but it is a weak government and may be thrown out soon if it still continue with it's anti-islamic policy despite good relation being build between bharat and awami.

 

[Awesome]

Much like Pakistan, the good relations of India is with the ruling party not with its people.

 

[Chanakyaa]

Much like Pakistan, the good relations of India is with the ruling party not with its people.

Yes, but it does make a difference in case of India.
Congress has been the Ruling party for 80% of the period since Independence.

Hence, Indian Policies are very much same Throughout or at least based on a concept by a Single party ruling for 60 Years.

Hence, The Ideology has been some what static.

Though time and again, things have been different with Different PMs. But BD has been never regarded as threat, its the misuse of BD land, which has been.

But 2010 is witnessing a phenomenal change of relations and most importantly the relation have been very warm.
Wish this improves even further.

 

[Spitfighter]

Much like Pakistan, the good relations of India is with the ruling party not with its people.

Pakistan and Bangladesh are nothing alike, while there are a significant number of people in Bangladesh that aren't in favor of better relations with India, the people aren't as hostile as they generally are in our case so better relations are a real possibility. The current government was elected by the people after all. Moreover, India has gone out of its way to show that the government can deliver even on tough issues like the Tipaimukh barrage further strengthening their position at home.

You have to remember that this is a Pakistani website, so most Bangladeshi members who would be interested would most likely be against better relations with India. I think many are just suspicious about India's intentions but then there are others who are simply blinded by hate. Take Al Zakir for instance, he claimed his ancestors were from Afghanistan/Iran and he would like to form an 'Islamic army' to barricade India. Surely, people like him aren't representative of Bangladesh or Bangladeshis.

Could it be that you are a descendant of those Persians and Afghans?

Yes I am.

Bharat will be barricade by Islamic army and that will make me really happy.

Bharat dominance will be history as I see it.

Like I said, some people here just suffer from an inferiority complex, they aren't representative of Bangladesh.

 

[Al-zakir]

Pakistan and Bangladesh are nothing alike, while there are a significant number of people in Bangladesh that aren't in favor of better relations with India, the people aren't as hostile as they generally are in our case so better relations are a real possibility. The current government was elected by the people after all. Moreover, India has gone out of its way to show that the government can deliver even on tough issues like the Tipaimukh barrage further strengthening their position at home.

You have to remember that this is a Pakistani website, so most Bangladeshi members who would be interested would most likely be against better relations with India. I think many are just suspicious about India's intentions but then there are others who are simply blinded by hate. Take Al Zakir for instance, he claimed his ancestors were from Afghanistan/Iran and he would like to form an 'Islamic army' to barricade India. Surely, people like him aren't representative of Bangladesh or Bangladeshis.
Like I said, some people here just suffer from an inferiority complex, they aren't representative of Bangladesh.

Same awami was in power in 1972 with greater people support yet same people sent the founder of that party to hell because of over depend on bharat and anti Islamic drive. Same party was out of power 21 years and then people of bd decided to gave them chance in 1996 to 2001 though same people again kicked them out for their anti Islamic activity, terrorism and bharat loving policy. They have managed to come to power with combined effort of your country, west and gaddar moeen and his breeds.

You need to listen to your enemy and in that case is me for the real truth. You can make up all you want with awami and believe their rosy words that Bangladeshi suddenly converted to awamism but at the end of the day it’s real Islamic force that will decide awamis fate in coming days. You and your awami were jumping like money after the election that you will destroy Jamat-e-Islami in the name of so called war criminal though you could not even start the process as of yet...
Awami main supporters are non Muslims and classless low qualities Muslim that hold no powers in Bangladesh thus you do the math. Moreover some young and neutral voters supported awami because it promised to give jobs for every family and taka 10 per kg rice which already proven as false promised and people realizing that they were doped with awamis deception.



Awami is already facing turbulence in home ground though you like to believe otherwise.

 

[Roby]

Awami main supporters are non Muslims and classless low qualities Muslim that hold no powers in Bangladesh thus you do the math. Moreover some young and neutral voters supported awami because it promised to give jobs for every family and taka 10 per kg rice which already proven as false promised and people realizing that they were doped with awamis deception.

So you are saying the majority of Bangladeshi people are classless low quality Muslims (including minorities) , since they elected the Awami Government in power...

Can you explain what you mean by classless low quality Muslims??

 

[Spitfighter]

Same awami was in power in 1972 with greater people support yet same people sent the founder of that party to hell because of over depend on bharat and anti Islamic drive. Same party was out of power 21 years and then people of bd decided to gave them chance in 1996 to 2001 though same people again kicked them out for their anti Islamic activity, terrorism and bharat loving policy. They have managed to come to power with combined effort of your country, west and gaddar moeen and his breeds.

You need to listen to your enemy and in that case is me for the real truth. You can make up all you want with awami and believe their rosy words that Bangladeshi suddenly converted to awamism but at the end of the day it’s real Islamic force that will decide awamis fate in coming days. You and your awami were jumping like money after the election that you will destroy Jamat-e-Islami in the name of so called war criminal though you could not even start the process as of yet...
Awami main supporters are non Muslims and classless low qualities Muslim that hold no powers in Bangladesh thus you do the math. Moreover some young and neutral voters supported awami because it promised to give jobs for every family and taka 10 per kg rice which already proven as false promised and people realizing that they were doped with awamis deception.



Awami is already facing turbulence in home ground though you like to believe otherwise.

Antagonizing Bangladesh is not in India's interest as is abundantly clear from all the concessions we've made for Bangladesh. Whether they're economic or diplomatic, India is going out of its way to show Bangladeshis that we are not the enemy, we never have been. If you guys work with us, we'll go the extra mile to work with you. The GoI has proved this beyond reasonable doubt.

There are extremists in Bangladesh who would rather shoot themselves in the foot than cooperate with India, can you tell me how this benefits Bangladesh? Don't you want Bangladesh to be rich and influential? For example, not only did Khaleda oppose each and every move aimed at increasing cooperation she turned a blind eye to the activities of terrorist organizations such as ULFA. How did her actions benefit Bangladesh?

I can tell you this, we can either cooperate and pull our people out of poverty or we can confront/destabilize each other and remain as one of the poorest regions in the planet. I realize that it is still too early to predict where our relations are going, it will take a lot of time and effort to maintain the momentum, but its a step in the right direction. We will gain nothing by fighting each other so stop dreaming about 'barricading India' and 'Islamic armies'. Open your eyes and move past all this hatred or 60 years from now Indians and Bangladeshis will still be poor and we'll still be fighting. India and Bangladesh hardly have any major disputes to begin with!!

China went from 0 to superhero, and we're still arguing over nonsense. Did you know that they have surplus power but they still build a power plant every week? Yeah, that's how quickly that country is growing.

Try this,

South Korea underwent a similar transition by the way. East Asia in general has become a center of economic and military power like North America and Europe, we're still nobodies. Awesome right?

If you think India exerts undue influence in Bangladesh, don't you think Bangladesh would be in a better position to resist if our economies were interdependent and Bangladeshi cities looked like their Chinese counterparts?

You're too busy focusing on mushriks and Muslims, take off the religious lenses and realize that people are just people. Bangladesh is already a reality, there's no need to continually assert yourself and your identity, especially not by beating your chest and wearing your religion on your sleeve. The time has come for us to work together and become another Europe or East Asia.

 

[Al-zakir]

^^^^
I have no argument against your this argument and I take it as good intention. As I have said before that I am not against cooperation or development. Lets see how future turn out.

There are extremists in Bangladesh who would rather shoot themselves in the foot than cooperate with India, can you tell me how this benefits Bangladesh? Don't you want Bangladesh to be rich and influential? For example, not only did Khaleda oppose each and every move aimed at increasing cooperation she turned a blind eye to the activities of terrorist organizations such as ULFA. How did her actions benefit Bangladesh?

Point out blame on Islamist of khaleda will not build good relation between BD-Bharat. All party needs to be aboard.

 

[toxic_pus]

Much like Pakistan, the good relations of India is with the ruling party not with its people.

I assume, what you are saying is that Bangladeshis do not consider India to be friendly, or perhaps, AL is doing, what it is doing without a popular support base.

I have news for your. Really. Recently The Daily Star together with Nielsen Bangladesh carried out an opinion poll, across Bangladesh. The results a very encouraging.



65% say, they are satisfied with AL, while a measly 17% say they are dissatisfied. 62% think that the country is going in the right direction.

How does PM Ms Hasina fare?



A whopping 72% think she is doing just fine.

Given that AL is always known to be friendly to India, the results mean, either majority of Bangladeshis are comfortable with being friendly to India, or India doesn't matter much in BD politics. I am more inclined to believe the former.

A humble word of suggestion. Don't get carried away by the Zakirs, dunes, Munshis on this forum. They represent a minority sentiment.

The truth is almost always the opposite of what they say.

 

[toxic_pus]

Awami main supporters are non Muslims and classless low qualities Muslim that hold no powers in Bangladesh thus you do the math.

You just called the majority of BDeshis as 'non Muslims' and 'low quality Muslims'

...people realizing that they were doped with awamis deception.



Awami is already facing turbulence in home ground though you like to believe otherwise.

The survey above begs to differ.