Posted by Dr. Gopal Unnikrishna Kurup
India - Bangladesh Concerns
Building bridges with neighbors, especially looking east in this respect, has become the hallmark of Modi govt.'s foreign policy - a sea change from the amorphous foreign policies of the past Latest endeavor by PM Modi in this pursuit is his visit to Dhaka where already the two countries have reached a watershed in mutual relations, by signing the historic Land Border Agreement ( LBA )which should prove to be a harbinger of peaceful and wholesome bilateral relationship.
India has been providentially instrumental in liberating the erstwhile East Bengal from the oppressive hegemony of big brother Pakistan and help it assuming its present nationhood of independent Bangladesh. Much water has flown under Farraka Barrage since then, and nations cannot afford to live in the past. So it is high time that we again take the initiative to usher in a new mutually beneficial era of friendship. And PM Modi is precisely set out in that task.
There are thorny problems between the two but certainly surmountable. Now that the LBA is sucessfully resolved the water sharing of Teesta river is the key issue. Even after 18 years, the Teesta water-sharing pact is far from being sealed despite the two countries agreeing on a 50:50 formula in 2011. Water is a state subject in India and without West Bengal signing up, the Teesta water pact cannot be sealed. For the LBA also consent of the state was necessary which had prolonged the issue so long, but this time Didi agreed to it and accompanied PM to Dhaka, but the CM has not yet nodded for Teesta River water sharing.
India's northeastern states have the potential to generate 70,000 MW of hydropower. But without Bangladesh allowing transit of the power grid through its territory, drawing and supplying this power to other Indian states is not feasible. India had offered sharing of this power with Bangaladesh in return for transit facility. It took 8 years for that country to clear its misgivings on the proposal before finally it agreed to electricity sharing in October 2013. Bangladesh plays a key role in our sub-regional connectivity plans which include Nepal and Bhutan.
Trade imbalance and security issues, besides the water sharing are now the outstanding problems waiting to be resolved between the two neighbors. In a trade volume of impressive $6.5 billion, Bangladesh's exports to India account for a mere $500 million. Bangladesh demands that India needs to narrow the gap. As it stands they feel that the growing trade only benefits India.
Security concerns of the two sides are very much interrelated. India and Bangladesh share a 4,096-km border. Five Indian states - West Bengal (2,217 km), Assam (262 km), Meghalaya (443 km), Tripura (856 km) and Mizoram (318 km) - have a border with Bangladesh. After decades of non cooperation Bangladesh has now started helping India crack down on the northeastern militant groups, but has also raised its concerns about certain groups using Indian territory against it.
Border states should realize that they have a crucial role in fostering Indo-Bangladesh relations, and should cooperate in that respect with the government at the center.
India - Bangladesh Concerns
India has been providentially instrumental in liberating the erstwhile East Bengal from the oppressive hegemony of big brother Pakistan and help it assuming its present nationhood of independent Bangladesh. Much water has flown under Farraka Barrage since then, and nations cannot afford to live in the past. So it is high time that we again take the initiative to usher in a new mutually beneficial era of friendship. And PM Modi is precisely set out in that task.
There are thorny problems between the two but certainly surmountable. Now that the LBA is sucessfully resolved the water sharing of Teesta river is the key issue. Even after 18 years, the Teesta water-sharing pact is far from being sealed despite the two countries agreeing on a 50:50 formula in 2011. Water is a state subject in India and without West Bengal signing up, the Teesta water pact cannot be sealed. For the LBA also consent of the state was necessary which had prolonged the issue so long, but this time Didi agreed to it and accompanied PM to Dhaka, but the CM has not yet nodded for Teesta River water sharing.
India's northeastern states have the potential to generate 70,000 MW of hydropower. But without Bangladesh allowing transit of the power grid through its territory, drawing and supplying this power to other Indian states is not feasible. India had offered sharing of this power with Bangaladesh in return for transit facility. It took 8 years for that country to clear its misgivings on the proposal before finally it agreed to electricity sharing in October 2013. Bangladesh plays a key role in our sub-regional connectivity plans which include Nepal and Bhutan.
Trade imbalance and security issues, besides the water sharing are now the outstanding problems waiting to be resolved between the two neighbors. In a trade volume of impressive $6.5 billion, Bangladesh's exports to India account for a mere $500 million. Bangladesh demands that India needs to narrow the gap. As it stands they feel that the growing trade only benefits India.
Security concerns of the two sides are very much interrelated. India and Bangladesh share a 4,096-km border. Five Indian states - West Bengal (2,217 km), Assam (262 km), Meghalaya (443 km), Tripura (856 km) and Mizoram (318 km) - have a border with Bangladesh. After decades of non cooperation Bangladesh has now started helping India crack down on the northeastern militant groups, but has also raised its concerns about certain groups using Indian territory against it.
Border states should realize that they have a crucial role in fostering Indo-Bangladesh relations, and should cooperate in that respect with the government at the center.
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