BanglaBhoot
RETIRED TTA
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Mamun Rashid
What did we get from this relationship? What did we get from Manmohan Singh? What did we get from our said-to-be longtime friend Pranab Mukherjee?
Dhaka Tribune – December 5, 2013
Ask that question to Indian foreign ministry officials or journalists here in Dhaka, and they would reply that India wants peace and stability in this part of the world, that India does not want Bangladesh territory to be used for any anti-India insurgency activities, or for Bangladesh to harbour terrorist groups. They may even tell you they want Bangladesh to help smooth their supply chain with the northeastern provinces.
If you ask them why Indian territory was used to harbour Shanti Bahini or separatists from Bangladesh, or why the BSF are killing ordinary Bangladeshis, they will immediately change the subject.
On the other hand, they would not miss a chance to tell you how bureaucratic the Bangladesh board of investment is. India has many friends among our politicians, journalists, singers, musicians, university teachers or economists, who always feel that we could do more for India, and that we need an India-friendly government here in Dhaka. They all love to visit India. Someone from their family was either born in or studied in India. India helped us in 1971. Rabindranath Tagore was born in India.
Lately, we are seeing many Indian nationals joining senior positions with local and global companies here in Bangladesh, though the number obtained from the board of investment always differs from actual numbers. Their spouses are joining English medium schools, or various Indian joint ventures here without even any valid work pass. Nowadays, India has emerged as the only “saviour” of the present government, despite tremendous criticism home and abroad. Rumour has it, the entire Ershad drama was orchestrated by India, where huge money is alleged (though there is no evidence) to have changed hands. We were surprised to see the Indian envoy visiting Ershad at his house just the day after the Ershad drama. I don’t know how Indian media would have reacted towards similar things committed by a foreign diplomat in India. Look at Indian media reports on Bangladesh: These are ill-drafted or motivated without any background research. Even an apprentice journalist with any Bangladesh newspaper would write a better report. We have always been told we can’t afford to have a large neighbour like India not being friendly to us.
However, with the recent outcome of the Felani killing case, or BSF killings, or India’s inability to ensure sharing the water of the common rivers, I am asking: What did we get from this relationship? What did we get from Manmohan Singh? What did we get from our said-to-be longtime friend Pranab Mukherjee? Our seniors always wanted better connectivity between people of the two countries. We wanted the Indian private sector to see synergy with our private sector.
We wanted Indian researchers in tropical medicine and agriculture to find friends among our researchers and try to help create more synergy between our academic institutions, especially management and technology ones. Bangladesh wanted a piece of the growing Indo-Bangla trade, which is seriously lopsided towards India. We wanted India to help our “made in Bangladesh” goods to find their abode in the Indian states without any hassle.
There have been many visits from the Indian seniors. Indian companies are seeing good sales in Bangladesh. Many Indian citizens have been recognised for their roles in our War of Liberation and there have been many cultural as well as youth exchange programs. These are all good gestures from both the parties. Yet, people here feel we are giving away too much to India in exchange for little material gains. Businessmen and professionals also feel that commercial deals were not done in a transparent way, giving too much leeway to the Indian telecom or power companies.
No doubt, Bangladesh in its own interest should try to make the best out of this relationship. At the same time, India as a large neighbour and an emerging global voice has many things to do for its next door neighbour and long term friend. Bangladesh always gave less pain to India than Pakistan, or even Sri Lanka. Bangladeshis were always warm and hospitable to any Indian visitor or friend. We wanted to be a good friend, not a distant rural cousin.
What does India want from us? | Dhaka Tribune
What did we get from this relationship? What did we get from Manmohan Singh? What did we get from our said-to-be longtime friend Pranab Mukherjee?
Dhaka Tribune – December 5, 2013
Ask that question to Indian foreign ministry officials or journalists here in Dhaka, and they would reply that India wants peace and stability in this part of the world, that India does not want Bangladesh territory to be used for any anti-India insurgency activities, or for Bangladesh to harbour terrorist groups. They may even tell you they want Bangladesh to help smooth their supply chain with the northeastern provinces.
If you ask them why Indian territory was used to harbour Shanti Bahini or separatists from Bangladesh, or why the BSF are killing ordinary Bangladeshis, they will immediately change the subject.
On the other hand, they would not miss a chance to tell you how bureaucratic the Bangladesh board of investment is. India has many friends among our politicians, journalists, singers, musicians, university teachers or economists, who always feel that we could do more for India, and that we need an India-friendly government here in Dhaka. They all love to visit India. Someone from their family was either born in or studied in India. India helped us in 1971. Rabindranath Tagore was born in India.
Lately, we are seeing many Indian nationals joining senior positions with local and global companies here in Bangladesh, though the number obtained from the board of investment always differs from actual numbers. Their spouses are joining English medium schools, or various Indian joint ventures here without even any valid work pass. Nowadays, India has emerged as the only “saviour” of the present government, despite tremendous criticism home and abroad. Rumour has it, the entire Ershad drama was orchestrated by India, where huge money is alleged (though there is no evidence) to have changed hands. We were surprised to see the Indian envoy visiting Ershad at his house just the day after the Ershad drama. I don’t know how Indian media would have reacted towards similar things committed by a foreign diplomat in India. Look at Indian media reports on Bangladesh: These are ill-drafted or motivated without any background research. Even an apprentice journalist with any Bangladesh newspaper would write a better report. We have always been told we can’t afford to have a large neighbour like India not being friendly to us.
However, with the recent outcome of the Felani killing case, or BSF killings, or India’s inability to ensure sharing the water of the common rivers, I am asking: What did we get from this relationship? What did we get from Manmohan Singh? What did we get from our said-to-be longtime friend Pranab Mukherjee? Our seniors always wanted better connectivity between people of the two countries. We wanted the Indian private sector to see synergy with our private sector.
We wanted Indian researchers in tropical medicine and agriculture to find friends among our researchers and try to help create more synergy between our academic institutions, especially management and technology ones. Bangladesh wanted a piece of the growing Indo-Bangla trade, which is seriously lopsided towards India. We wanted India to help our “made in Bangladesh” goods to find their abode in the Indian states without any hassle.
There have been many visits from the Indian seniors. Indian companies are seeing good sales in Bangladesh. Many Indian citizens have been recognised for their roles in our War of Liberation and there have been many cultural as well as youth exchange programs. These are all good gestures from both the parties. Yet, people here feel we are giving away too much to India in exchange for little material gains. Businessmen and professionals also feel that commercial deals were not done in a transparent way, giving too much leeway to the Indian telecom or power companies.
No doubt, Bangladesh in its own interest should try to make the best out of this relationship. At the same time, India as a large neighbour and an emerging global voice has many things to do for its next door neighbour and long term friend. Bangladesh always gave less pain to India than Pakistan, or even Sri Lanka. Bangladeshis were always warm and hospitable to any Indian visitor or friend. We wanted to be a good friend, not a distant rural cousin.
What does India want from us? | Dhaka Tribune
