Pranab Mukherjee’s visit to Bangladesh has made clear that the security situation in that country is under control and it is the BNP that has to overcome its mental block to make a new beginning.
India should grasp the opportunities which are discernible in the political horizon in Bangladesh and deepen relations through engagement at the track two tier involving India’s political parties as well as by involving West Bengal as a major partner.
Anand Kumar replies: There may not be one or single document providing authentic information regarding so many enclaves. But a 520-page historical study of the enclaves has been done by Brendan R. Whyte at the University of Melbourne in 2002. This study has large number of documents which throw light on the issue.
India and Bangladesh need to work together in the field of health and medical research to devise expedient measures to contain the menace of arsenic poisoning of ground water.
P.K. Gautam replies: These are ad hoc and post event figments of imagination. It was clearly not a lack of foresight. Too many aims and wish lists would have diluted India’s strategic objectives. The political leadership of Bangladesh was also not fully formed, and it would have been a poor judgement, rather complete lack of foresight, to have asked for such favours.
A country cannot behave like a proverbial camel that enters a tent pushing the owner out. Good diplomacy has to have a stop and an exit. I also find some now desiring and saying that India should have kept areas of Chittagong for better connectivity to the north eastern region. There is no end to these theoretical counterfactuals, and I think India did just the right thing. Transit passage etc., is an issue of continued diplomacy as part of foreign policy which is now slowly emerging.
The goodwill built up during Khaleda Zia’s recent India visit needs to be capitalised upon judiciously, by keeping a manifestly even-handed stance on the internal politics of Bangladesh.
Indian leaders may have to convincingly convey to Begum Zia and her BNP party delegation their commitment towards the economic development of Bangladesh, continuation of Indian aid, and intent to address the balance of trade issue irrespective of the party in power there.
That cooperation between neighbours can pave the way for resolving issues relating to the management of shared borders is amply demonstrated by the outcomes of various bilateral interactions that took place between India and Bangladesh in recent months.
The relations between Bangladesh and India are important and have a strong historic basis. The prospects for these relations to grow in strength are indeed enormous if they are pursued for mutual benefit and with mutual respect. Our geographical proximity, cultural affinity and shared history should form the parameters of our relations.
Ershad’s recent visit to India seems to have whetted his political ambition. In the last election he was hoping for the post of president, a ceremonial position in Bangladeshi political set-up; now he has stated openly that he wants to be prime minister after the next elections.
Political Turbulence in Bangladesh Fails to Dampen the Indian President’s Visit
Pranab Mukherjee’s visit to Bangladesh has made clear that the security situation in that country is under control and it is the BNP that has to overcome its mental block to make a new beginning.