Ushering a new era of peace & development

The success of Bangaladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s recent visit to India is not confined in signing three treaties and few Memorandum of Understandings (MoU). If the friendship continues to grow at this pace over the next couple of years, it will certainly usher a new era of development, poverty eradication and generation of new employment in this part of the world. Hasina’s visit was the first step towards this direction.

Since taking over the reins of Bangladesh last year, Hasina showed keen interest in improving ties with India. Unlike the previous regime of Begum Khaleda Zia, which left no stone unturned to trouble India in any manner possible, the daughter of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibar Rehaman sincerely made efforts to remove the seeds of mistrust and lack of understanding between the two countries sowed by her predecessor. More courageous is the fact that she remained strong, solid and committed even after stiff opposition from her detractors.

While all along the Zia regime denied that Bangladeshi soil was being used to launch terror attacks on India, Hasina showing intend of a good neighbourly relations with India handed over the leaders of insurgent groups to India hiding in her country. More reaffirming the shared history, traditional links and the desire of the leaders of the two countries to launch a new phase in their bilateral relations. Both the realised that fact that the recent elections in the two countries presented a historic opportunity to write a new chapter in their relationship.

Both the countries agreed on a vision for the future in the pursuit of the common good - bilaterally, regionally and globally. In this context, the neighbouring countries reiterated the commitment to work together to solve all issues through cooperation and mutual understanding.

The Prime Minister of Bangladesh and the Prime Minister of India recognize that peace and stability in the region is necessary for development and well-being of the people of their respective countries. In this context, they emphasized the importance of close cooperation between India and Bangladesh and the need to effectively harness their respective resources for the good of the peoples of the two countries.

“India will assist us improving Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) an international-level institute,” Hasina revealed while spelling out the outcomes of her India visit. On water sharing, she said after Joint River Commission meeting we would able to address the water sharing of trans-boundary rivers. On Tipaimukh issue, Hasina, also the Awami League chief, said that India assured her that it would not do any thing that would harm Bangladesh. She urged the opposition to participate in the parliament sessions instead of making comments on her India visit outside of the House. On the anti-Indian campaign, Hasina said, “Anti-Indian campaign is nothing new in our country.” Pointing out poverty as the main enemy of the South Asian countries, Hasina said, “Friendly ties among the South Asian countries are necessary to overcome the crisis.”

About her visit to India, she said she achieved what she had wanted. She defended her claim what she termed ‘cent percent successful’ trip saying that she returned fulfilling the country’s interests. On selling out the country to India, she answered, “Sheikh Hasina doesn’t sale country, as we have achieved the country at the cost of 30 lakh lives.”

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina termed her four-day official visit to India as ‘totally successful’. She also justified the decision to allow India to use Chittagong and Mongla ports saying, “In the present day world you cannot live with doors closed.”  She said, “India is our natural friend. India is a big country and it has a very strong economy. It should look after all neighbours — whether they are big or small — on the basis of respect for their sovereignty and equality.”  She said that the joint communiqué signed by Bangladesh and India would ‘open an era of mutual cooperation and understanding’. “I am returning with friendship and cooperation from India,” she added.  She said talks are on for an extradition treaty between Bangladesh and India, adding, “If we can cooperate, we can go to any extent to tackle terror.”

Pointing to the agreements Bangladesh and India signed during her visit on transfer of sentenced persons, and on mutual legal assistance on criminal matters, Hasina said, “I feel these agreements are enough. I feel if the two countries can work together and there is a friendly atmosphere, we can make the two agreements work. But if we still face any problem, we can think of extradition treaty. Discussions are on with India on the extradition treaty.” She said terrorism knows no boundary, adding, “Many of our criminals are hiding in India, and I have asked India to hand them over to us.”

Hasina said she understands how people suffer from terrorism as she herself was a victim of a terror attack in August 2004, and before that she had lost a lot of her family in another deadly attack on them. “We feel we can tackle terrorism if all South Asian countries work together. No kind of terror can be condoned,” she said.

Pointing out that Islam is a religion of peace and does not allow any kind of terror, Hasina said those who are indulging in terror activities in the name of religion are bringing a bad name to it. “Terrorists have no religion,” she added. She said she had clearly stated that Bangladesh will not allow its territory to be used for any kind of terror activities against any country. “Our two countries should cooperate with each other to tackle terror.”

On Bangladesh’s concerns over trade gap with India, she said discussions were held on how to increase Bangladesh’s exports to India. “Some quarters will continue to use anti-India sentiments. You cannot do anything about it. It will continue,” she said.

On sharing the water of common rivers, Hasina said there had been no talk between Bangladesh and India on the matter since 2002, and things started to move forward only after her government had come back to power in January 2009. Already, meetings of the technical committee and water resources secretaries of the two countries took place in the last one year, and the ministerial level Joint Rivers Commission meeting will be held in the current quarter of this year, she said adding, “Talks will be held and we will be able to come to a solution.”

Meanwhile, the main opposition BNP has planned to stage a series of protests against the government in and outside the parliament on various issues including signing of a number of treaties with India. A number of senior BNP leaders said most of the party lawmakers want to join the parliament and stage a strong protest

Reaffirming the shared history, traditional links and the desire of the leaders of the two countries to launch a new phase in their bilateral relations

The Prime Minister of Bangladesh had a meeting with the Prime Minister of India on January 11, 2010, which was followed by delegation level talks. The talks were marked by great warmth, deep understanding and a spirit of close friendship between the two sides.

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh congratulated Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on her party’s impressive electoral victory in the general elections held in December 2008 and lauded the people of Bangladesh for their abiding faith in democracy, which eventually paved the way for return of multi-party democracy in Bangladesh. Both leaders agreed that the recent elections in both countries presented them with a historic opportunity to write a new chapter in their relationship.

The Bangladesh Prime Minister recalled the shared bonds of history, culture and aspirations that bind Bangladesh and India, and paid tribute to the sacred memory of the lives sacrificed for the freedom and independence of the two countries. She called for rededicating efforts to establish a society free from ignorance, fear and want.

Both the Prime Ministers agreed on a vision for the future in the pursuit of the common good ­— bilaterally, regionally and globally. In this context, they reiterated their commitment to work together to solve all issues through cooperation and mutual understanding. They also shared their outlook on the strengthening and reform of multilateral institutions in which developing countries have an effective voice and participation.

The Prime Minister of Bangladesh and the Prime Minister of India recognize that peace and stability in the region is necessary for development and well-being of the people of their respective countries. In this context, they emphasized the importance of close cooperation between India and Bangladesh and the need to effectively harness their respective resources for the good of the peoples of the two countries.

The two Prime Ministers agreed to put in place a comprehensive framework of cooperation for development between the two countries, encapsulating their mutually shared vision for the future, which would include cooperation in water resources, power, transportation and connectivity, tourism and education. They agreed on the need to operationalize the various areas of cooperation at the earliest.

Both Prime Ministers agreed to consider strengthening diplomatic and consular presence in each other’s countries.

Both Prime Ministers reiterated their commitment to democracy, pluralism and rule of law. They expressed satisfaction that the people of both countries have rejected violence, extremism and terrorism and reaffirmed their faith in democracy and development. In this quest, the two leaders resolved to work together to strengthen the forces of democracy and moderation.

Both Prime Ministers condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. They noted that security remained a priority for both countries, as terrorists, insurgents and criminals respect no boundaries. They underscored the need for both countries to actively cooperate on security issues. Both leaders reiterated the assurance that the territory of either would not be allowed for activities inimical to the other and resolved not to allow their respective territory to be used for training, sanctuary and other operations by domestic or foreign terrorist/militant and insurgent organizations and their operatives.

Welcoming the Home Secretary level talks held in New Delhi in December 2009, the two Prime Ministers directed their respective Ministries and agencies to cooperate closely and implement all decisions taken during the talks. While recognizing the need to check cross border crimes, both Prime Ministers agreed that the respective border guarding forces exercise restraint and underscored the importance of regular meetings between the border guarding forces to curtail illegal cross border activities and prevent loss of lives.

The Prime Minister of Bangladesh thanked the Prime Minister of India for facilitating the provision of electricity in Dahagram-Angarpota and invited India to construct a flyover across Tin Bigha Corridor for exclusive Indian use, as agreed earlier.

Both Prime Ministers agreed to comprehensively address all outstanding land boundary issues keeping in view the spirit of the 1974 Land Boundary Agreement. In this context, agreed to convene the Joint Boundary Working Group to take this process forward.

Both Prime Ministers agreed on the need to amicably demarcate the maritime boundary between India and Bangladesh. They noted the initiation of proceedings under Annex VII of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and, in this context, welcomed the visit of a delegation from Bangladesh to India.

It was agreed that Ashuganj in Bangladesh and Silghat in India shall be declared ports of call. The IWTT Protocol shall be amended through exchange of letters. A joint team will assess the improvement of infrastructure and the cost for one-time or longer term transportation of ODCs (Over Dimensional Cargo) from Ashuganj. India will make the necessary investment. Both Governments agreed to expedite implementation. Contractors from both countries shall be eligible for the work.

It was agreed that Bangladesh will allow use of Mongla and Chittagong sea ports for movement of goods to and from India through road and rail. Bangladesh also conveyed their intention to give Nepal and Bhutan access to Mongla and Chittagong ports.

It was agreed that the construction of the proposed Akhaura Agartala railway link be financed by grant from India. A joint team of the railway authorities of the two countries will identify the alignment for connectivity.

The Prime Ministers agreed that RohanpurSingabad broad gauge railway link would be available for transit to Nepal. Bangladesh informed of their intention to convert Radhikapur Birol railway line into broad gauge and requested for railway transit link to Bhutan as well.

Full text of jt communiqué

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