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Sustainability of present momentum of Indo-Bangla relations stressed

Staff Correspondent
Journalists and former ambassadors at a roundtable discussion yesterday emphasised an inclusive and participatory process with political parties and key stakeholders for the sustainability of the current momentum of Bangladesh-India relations.
The discussion titled “India-Bangladesh Relations: Confidence Building Initiatives" was organised by Rashtrobiggan Samity at Jatiya Press Club in the city with its President Prof Gyasuddin Molla in the chair. Principal Shahadat Hussain Rana moderated the discussion.
The policy regarding India should be a national policy, not one of any government or political party, said former ambassador Humayun Kabir in his keynote paper.
Relations with India should be
approached through a kind of national consensus. Otherwise, Bangladesh will have to negotiate with a “weak hand", which could be fraught with serious risks, said Kabir.
He also opined for maintaining transparency in the negotiation process with India and strengthening bureaucratic machinery to support the implementation of the new dimensions of the relationship.
Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) President Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury said all political parties should at least sit together to exchange their views over Bangladesh-India relations.
He said the Indian government already discussed about the deals to be signed with its opposition. “But there is no dialogue between the opposition and the government in our country. There is no
discussion in this regard in the parliament," said Iqbal.
New Age Editor Nurul Kabir said he is anxious over the fact that neither the opposition party nor many of the cabinet members, lawmakers of the ruling party and members of the parliamentary standing committee know about the deals.
Information about the possible deals published in media is being leaked through sources in the government, not coming formally from any government spokesman. The government should clarify what it is planning to do, said Kabir.
Addressing the programme, Dhaka University Vice Chancellor Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique urged both governments to remove hurdles towards preserving the intimate ties among people of the two countries, like those in visa
processing.
National Human Rights Commission Chairman Prof Mizanur Rahman blamed the previous governments for their failure to interest India in working with Bangladesh.
“After the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, some people tried to convert Bangladesh into a mini Pakistan. Why would India maintain good relations with a mini Pakistan?” said Prof Mizanur.
Former ambassador Ashfaqur Rahman urged the government to hold discussions over Bangladesh-India relations in parliament.
BFUJ Secretary General Abdul Jalil Bhuiyan and Dhaka University Department of International Relations Chairman Prof Delwar Hossain also spoke at the discussion.