Transit is an economic issue, says Indian HC to Dhaka

Bangladesh-India relationship is deep rooted to the history of the independence of Bangladesh. People of India who fought for the noble cause of the liberation of Bangladesh are vehemently honored in the country by its citizens. The reflection of this honor has seen when Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw passed away. In a recent development, India has asked for greater cooperation from Bangladesh in terms of the transit issue.

The four-decade long relationship between the two countries has been expanded in many fields. The range of relations is extended from bilateral to global, trade to diplomacy, tourism to security and education to culture. As far as regional cooperation is concerned, Bangladesh is one of the major nations in map of SAARC and of course very good understanding is prevailing between both the countries to meet up the demands of cooperation in bilateral, regional and international levels.

On Wednesday, July 09, a ministerial level meeting of BIMSTEC has been inaugurated by the Chief Advisor (CA) of the interim government of Bangladesh which was attended by Bangladesh Finance Adviser Mirza Azizul Islam, Bhutan's Finance Minister Lyonpo Wangdi Norbu, Indian State Minister for Rural Development Chandra Sekhar Sahu, Myanmar's Deputy Minister for National Planning and Economic Development Col Thuyain Zaw, Nepal's National Planning Commission member Dr Posh Raj Pandey, Sri Lanka's Minister for Nation Building Estate Infrastructure Development Slinda Dissanayake, and Thailand's Social Development and Human Security Minister Chavarat Charnvirat. The CA of Bangladesh urged in the meeting to formulate a strategy to fight poverty and suggested to take a regional move.

This meeting was held in Dhaka just after the summit of G-8 in Japan and D-8 in Malaysia. Prior to the summit meetings, another ministerial level talk was held in Dhaka on July 03, 2008 on Climate Changes. Environment ministers from eight SAARC member countries--Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, the Maldives and Sri Lanka--and other delegates were participating in the Ministerial Meeting. This meeting was also inaugurated by Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed, CA of Bangladesh, and the ministers took a decision to fight out the issue together.

While prime minister of India and Chief Advisor of Bangladesh was attending G-8 summit and D-8 Summit respectively; both the heads of the states were representing the region, though the visits were on be half of their own nation. In fact, the demand of the time is that, for the betterment of the people of any country, it is impossible to address the international challenges alone for a nation as the Globe is working in an inter-related order. Of course, Bangladesh and India are the two good neighbors to face international challenges from a common platform and philosophy.

Though these two neighbors are belong to a regional association and work for many causes on a similar standpoint and sprit to overcome global needs and challenges, bilateral issues are also very important to resolve that could lead the nations to a more consolidated tie of friendship.

Foreign office of Bangladesh said that foreign secretary level meeting between Bangladesh and India is scheduled on July 17, 2008, will be held in New Delhi, India. Bangladesh is keen to resolve some bilateral issues in this meeting. Exchange of Chitmahals (enclaves), re-demarcation of 6.5 Km border, non-tariff barriers in trade, meeting of Joint River Commission (JRC), water sharing of river Tista would be some of the major issues to resolve in the meeting as said by officials of Bangladesh. It also said that Bangladesh is very keen to see fruitful result in the meeting on those long standing issues.

Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh told to the press that, it is a regular meeting between the foreign secretaries of Bangladesh and India. All bilateral issues will be tabled in the meeting. The issue of JRC meeting will also be raised in the meeting as JRC is not holding meeting since three years. He also told the press that, there are some positive changes in the bilateral relation over the last one and half years. There are significant progresses in understanding on many issues. This progress would be further enhanced at upcoming meeting, he hoped.

Meanwhile, Mr. Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty, the Indian High Commissioner (HC) to Bangladesh engaged in a meeting with Mr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, the Foreign Advisor of Bangladesh, at his office on Thursday (July 10, 2008). After the meeting Indian HC told to the press that his country will demand transit facility from Bangladesh at the foreign secretary-level bilateral meeting in New Delhi on July 17.

‘Of course, we did discuss transit at every forum. At each and every forum we raise this issue. We are interested in transit. We will remain interested in transit,’ a press report quoted Indian High Commissioner Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty. It also added that ‘this is not a political issue at all which was made a huge political issue here. It is an economic issue. Look at the rest of the world.’ However, New Delhi had not set any specific timeframe for Bangladesh to allow a transit, Mr. Chakravarty mentioned.

Anyway, transit facility for India is a sensitive issue in Bangladesh and India has been demanding transit facility for a long time.

It is the time for Bangladesh and India to stand together on regional issues to face the global challenges. At present, Bangladesh and India are co-walkers; resolving bilateral issues is the way to show honor to each other, and of course this process will strengthen their relation further.

As per available information in Dhaka the forthcoming Foreign Secretary level meeting will be led by Touhid Hossain of Bangladesh and Shivshankar Menon of India.