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Manmohan ' s Visit

Former diplomats see some issues in shadow

UNB, Dhaka
Former diplomats of Bangladesh have expressed guarded optimism about the outcome of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Dhaka on September 6-7.
Some of them prefer to wait to see the nature of the agreements and MoUs (memorandum of understanding) to be signed during the visit and came up with divergent views on issues including border demarcation, sharing of Teesta-Feni waters, transit, and trade.
Farooque Sobhan, a former foreign secretary now in London, told the news agency over phone that on the whole, this is going to be a good and positive visit.
About the debates over allowing transit to India, he said, "I don't see any major problem regarding the transit. It's a non-issue. The issue is connectivity.”
Connectivity is of integrating Bangladesh's overall transport system with ASEAN countries, northeast India, China, Nepal and Bhutan, he said.
Farooque Sobhan, who also served as Bangladesh High Commissioner to India, said it is crucial to develop Bangladesh's road and rail communications system.
Priority should be given to modernise railways and highways, as
improved roads, railways, and power situation are the prerequisites to attract foreign investment in Bangladesh.
He also laid emphasis on unhindered duty-free access of Bangladesh products to Indian markets. Another key issue, the diplomat said, is Bangladesh's access to hydropower of Bhutan and northeast India to meet the power deficit.
The former ambassador hopes that Manmohan's visit would pave the way for a major step forward in the bilateral relations and open the avenues for Bangladesh's cooperation with Bhutan, Nepal, China, and ASEAN.
Critical in his appreciation, former foreign secretary Shamser Mobin Chowdhury said the government is not earning public confidence about what it is going to be signed with India.
“It seems the government is hiding something (in dealing with India)...there is no transparency, and a lot of questions and concerns are being raised by the people".
Referring to transit issue, Shamsher Mobin, now adviser to the BNP chairperson, said so long the government had been telling that a framework agreement would be signed on transit, but now the government is saying no new agreement is required since the Bangladesh-
India bilateral trade agreement of 1972 is in place.
Under the cover of bilateral trade agreement of 1972, the government is trying to give the transit facilities by signing some protocols and MoUs, he said. “This is a shift of the government from its earlier position. Why is this shift? ”
On transit fee, he said it is not yet fixed while an adviser to the prime minister says asking fees for transit is an uncivilised thing. "Where is the clarity of the government?"
Shamer Mobin also mentioned some reports about the protests in Assam over the border demarcation while India's BJP opposes the sharing of the Teesta river water.
Referring to the Indian vice-president and the foreign minister's meetings with opposition leader Khaleda Zia in Dhaka recently, he said the Indian leaders also agreed with Khaleda Zia's views that whatever agreements be signed should be made public.
About transfer of enclaves and adversely possessed lands, the former foreign secretary said the IndoBangladesh joint survey team face resistance from the local people at Baralekha in Moulvibazar district and Goainghat in Sylhet as they do not know what is going to happen to their fate in the name of joint survey.
However, terming the Indian
Prime Minister's visit as important, he preferred to wait to see the outcome of the visit.
Ambassador Mohammad Zamir said Manmohan's visit is opening a window of opportunity and that must not be closed through unnecessary controversy.
"What one needs to understand is that the intention is pious, and there is need for political will”. He said what is important, however, is that the stakeholders will include not only politicians but also bureaucrats".
About transit, Zamir said transit and connectivity are inter-related and will require cooperation from all countries including Nepal and Bhutan. He said it should also address issues which cast their own shadows on areas like financial gain arising out of geo-strategic location. This shall be pursued cautiously and carefully, he suggested.
Ambassador Sirajul Islam Sabuj appeared a bit apprehensive about the positive outcome of the visit for the benefit of Bangladesh. He questioned the sincerity of India over the last 40 years in resolving the bilateral issues like sharing of the waters of 54 common rivers, trade deficit, border killing, and delimitation of the maritime boundary.
He, however, said Bangladesh needs good and friendly relation with India for its future development.