Delhi-Dhaka bonhomie, Time to begin a new era of friendship

The five far-sighted agreements signed between India and Bangladesh on Monday mark the beginning of a new and happy phase in their relationship. Visiting Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed, known for her positive attitude towards India, has got from New Delhi enough to convince her countrymen that Dhaka can gain a lot by cementing friendly relations with India. Today it is $1 billion line of credit that India has pledged for its eastern neighbour; tomorrow it can be more. Both countries will gain immensely as a result of the accords reached between them to fight terrorism and take their economic, trade and cultural ties to a higher level. It is heartening that the opportunity that has come with Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League recapturing power in Dhaka has begun to be utilised to create a mechanism of friendship that will be difficult to dismantle in the future.
The flow of the promised funds will help Bangladesh expand its train and bus services, providing a fillip to economic activity in the poverty-stricken country. Bangladesh has been allowed direct access to Nepal and Bhutan using India’s rail and road facilities. This was the long-standing demand of Dhaka. Another major demand of Bangladesh that more items should be allowed duty-free export to India has also been conceded. This may help balance trade tilted towards New Delhi. India, too, will benefit considerably with the coming up of a rail corridor through Bangladesh connecting Kolkata and Agartala, reducing the distance of 1700 km between the two cities to nearly 550 km. Under the changed political climate Bangladesh may also agree to the laying of the proposed gas pipeline from Myanmar to India.
It must be underlined that Bangladesh under Sheikh Hasina’s leadership has been greatly helpful in fighting terrorism. She was constructive in not allowing Bangladesh territory to be used for terrorism when her government handed over arrested ULFA chairman Arabindo Rajkhowa to India a few days back. With India and Bangladesh taking on terrorist outfits together, the forces working against peace in India’s Northeast are bound to get weakened. This is how the two countries can ensure that the bonds of friendship become strong and durable. 

Source: The Tribune, Chandigarh, India.

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