Indo-Bangladesh meet

Indo-Bangladesh meet

— The Foreign Secretary level meet between India and Bangladesh has just concluded in New Delhi. Water issue between the two countries was discussed in length which often vitiated public opinion on both sides. There are 53 common rivers but progress on water sharing treaty or embankment protection of rivers flowing through both countries was slow and tardy. It has now been agreed that the technical committee would hold its meeting early and resolve the issue quickly. The trade deficit of Bangladesh which is estimated to be $ 2 billion also featured in the talk. Dhaka would like India to remove non tariff barrier and duty free access. India’s request for granting transit rights to goods for the North East did not find favor with the Bangladesh government. Terrorism originating from Bangladesh was discussed. Bangladesh described terrorism as global problem and the issue was left to be discussed in the forth coming meeting of the Home Secretaries. Bangladesh under Khaleda Zia followed an anti India policy to please the fundamentalist Islamic elements of the Bangladesh National Party formed by her husband Gen Zia. Her government blocked India’s proposal for India-Myanmar gas pipe-line through Bangladesh and also stonewalled a proposal to have a road link of India with ASEAN region through Bangladesh. Her government did not admit the presence of insurgent camps in Bangladesh nor admit influx of Bangladeshis to India.With the care taker govermnent in Bangladesh backed by the army, there are perceptible changes in Bangladesh’s India policy. The caretaker government executed six Islamist leaders belonging to Jamatul Mujahideen Bangladesh including the dreaded Bangla Bhai. Dr Fakruddin Ahmed; Chief Adviser of Bangladesh Government admitted the presence of NE insurgents in Bangladesh. The release of four detainees by Bangladesh to Indian authorities is a good beginning. The Bangladesh government has also agreed to hand over ULFA leader Anup Chetia. The next meeting of the Home Secretaries of both the countries in Dhaka would provide a forum to discuss all the pending issues relating to terrorism, influx of Bangladeshis to India, eviction of Bangladesh based terrorist groups including ULFA. The last meeting of the Home Secretaries was held in Delhi in August 2007 — such meetings are held annually as a part of bilateral institutional mechanism set up in 1994. Mere talk of good will would be meaningless unless ground reality is recognized and positive action taken by the Bangladesh Government. The presence of insurgent leaders of North East in safe sanctuary of Bangladesh and huge influx of Bangladeshis to the North-East and particularly to Assam are problems which must be addressed with sincerity by both the countries. source: telegraph india editorial