By Sikander Hayat
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajid is on a 4 day visit to India and on this occasion I would like to discuss briefly India Bangladesh relations. For that we have to look at a little bit of history as well. At the time of separation of Bangladesh from Pakistan, India was the biggest friend of this country. But when General Zia took over in Bangladesh after the murder of Sheikh Mujeeb, relations between India and Bangladesh got a bit soured.
Even today there are two camps in Bangladesh; these two camps are based around the descendants of Zia Ur Rehman & Mujeeb Ur Rehman. The former is known to be nationalist and want to keep Bangladesh away from India while the later feels it to be indebted to India for its help in separation from Pakistan and want to bring Bangladesh ever closer to India.
During the last few years India and Bangladesh have been blaming each other for all kinds of stuff. For example Bangladesh is
blamed for sheltering all kinds of anti-India insurgents. On and near India Bangladesh border there are insurgencies in the India’s seven northeast states. The insurgency in Assam is now becoming very problematic and some even say that it is now on par with Kashmir. Insurgents from many of these insurgencies take refuge in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh blames India for stealing its water and considers the water issue as a national security threat.
There are other hurdles as well and there is a very strong public perception in Bangladesh that India is trying to bully Bangladesh
into submission. O H Kabir writes in daily The Financial Express “Now, Bangladesh is under a renewed pressure to allow transit to Indians, Indian goods, arms and ammunitions through Bangladesh. India is also asking for easy and quick passage between different parts of India through Bangladesh, in the name and disguise of Asian Highway.
The Asian Highway, with both its entry and exit points in India would eliminate Bangladesh's natural advantage for trade and international connectivity. It would be advantageous for India at the cost of Bangladesh. Would India provide such benefits to Bangladesh at its cost?
Nepal and Bhutan, being land-locked, have the right to seek transit which India does not allow. India keeps the maritime boundary dispute unresolved and Indian BSF kills innocent Bangladeshis every other day. Smuggled Indian phensedyl and drugs are harming young Bangladeshis. What India did with tiny Tin Bigha corridor for decades is too well known to recall. India did not hesitate to forcibly occupy South Talpatty and the dispute remains unresolved even now. It is imperative for any government of Bangladesh to duly pursue its interests. Bangladesh can neither give up its natural advantages nor its interests.”
The above sentiment shown by a Bangladeshi is very common indeed. Although it is a daunting task indeed but if the present visit by Sheikh Hasina is used well then there is a good chance that relations between the two countries can be put on path to normalisation. Sheikh Hasina is considered to be a friend of India due to her father Sheikh Mujeeb’s good relations with India. India seems to trust her more than former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. The crux of the matter is this; India will have to be magnanimous in its attitude because this chance might not come again in a hurry.
RELATED POSTS
1. Birth of Bangladesh & Secession of East Pakistan
2. Climate Change Consequences For Bangladesh & India
3. Baluchistan Is Not East Pakistan
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajid is on a 4 day visit to India and on this occasion I would like to discuss briefly India Bangladesh relations. For that we have to look at a little bit of history as well. At the time of separation of Bangladesh from Pakistan, India was the biggest friend of this country. But when General Zia took over in Bangladesh after the murder of Sheikh Mujeeb, relations between India and Bangladesh got a bit soured.
Even today there are two camps in Bangladesh; these two camps are based around the descendants of Zia Ur Rehman & Mujeeb Ur Rehman. The former is known to be nationalist and want to keep Bangladesh away from India while the later feels it to be indebted to India for its help in separation from Pakistan and want to bring Bangladesh ever closer to India.
During the last few years India and Bangladesh have been blaming each other for all kinds of stuff. For example Bangladesh is
blamed for sheltering all kinds of anti-India insurgents. On and near India Bangladesh border there are insurgencies in the India’s seven northeast states. The insurgency in Assam is now becoming very problematic and some even say that it is now on par with Kashmir. Insurgents from many of these insurgencies take refuge in Bangladesh. Bangladesh blames India for stealing its water and considers the water issue as a national security threat.
There are other hurdles as well and there is a very strong public perception in Bangladesh that India is trying to bully Bangladesh
into submission. O H Kabir writes in daily The Financial Express “Now, Bangladesh is under a renewed pressure to allow transit to Indians, Indian goods, arms and ammunitions through Bangladesh. India is also asking for easy and quick passage between different parts of India through Bangladesh, in the name and disguise of Asian Highway.The Asian Highway, with both its entry and exit points in India would eliminate Bangladesh's natural advantage for trade and international connectivity. It would be advantageous for India at the cost of Bangladesh. Would India provide such benefits to Bangladesh at its cost?
Nepal and Bhutan, being land-locked, have the right to seek transit which India does not allow. India keeps the maritime boundary dispute unresolved and Indian BSF kills innocent Bangladeshis every other day. Smuggled Indian phensedyl and drugs are harming young Bangladeshis. What India did with tiny Tin Bigha corridor for decades is too well known to recall. India did not hesitate to forcibly occupy South Talpatty and the dispute remains unresolved even now. It is imperative for any government of Bangladesh to duly pursue its interests. Bangladesh can neither give up its natural advantages nor its interests.”
The above sentiment shown by a Bangladeshi is very common indeed. Although it is a daunting task indeed but if the present visit by Sheikh Hasina is used well then there is a good chance that relations between the two countries can be put on path to normalisation. Sheikh Hasina is considered to be a friend of India due to her father Sheikh Mujeeb’s good relations with India. India seems to trust her more than former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. The crux of the matter is this; India will have to be magnanimous in its attitude because this chance might not come again in a hurry.
RELATED POSTS
1. Birth of Bangladesh & Secession of East Pakistan
2. Climate Change Consequences For Bangladesh & India
3. Baluchistan Is Not East Pakistan
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