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BANGLADESH-INDIA RELATIONS

Young minds: the game changers

Sajjadur Rahman
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The way the youth envisions the Indo-
Bangladesh relations was evident from the sessions. They want people-to-people (P2P) and business connectivity. They want a big change in the mindset of the two countries. They want to look at the issues and resolve them bilaterally. The youth wants to work together and emphasise new areas of cooperation, despite having differences in security and migration concerns from India's point of view. On the other hand, young academics and professionals of Bangladesh want friendly relations with India based on commonness in culture, heritage and political systems despite disputes on water, transit and trade issues. They want Bangladesh to grow hand in hand with emerging India
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YOUNG minds and the youth population are very talented, they are willing to leapfrog. The only thing they need is what Rosenstein Rodan once said is a “Big Push”. They are fast learners, easily adaptable and more importantly, friendly to innovations and new thoughts.
These are the words of Prof Mahendra P Lama, the founding vice chancellor of Sikkim University. He was addressing young academics and scholars who were in Gangtok, Sikkim to attend a special course on India-Bangladesh Studies.
The way the youth envisions the Indo-Bangladesh relations was evident from the sessions. They want people-to-people (P2P) and business connectivity. They want a big change in the mindset of the two countries. They want to look at the issues and resolve them bilaterally.
The youth wants to work together and emphasise new areas of cooperation, despite having differences in security and migration concerns from India's point of view. On the other hand, young academics and professionals of Bangladesh want friendly relations with India based on commonness in culture, heritage and political systems despite disputes on water, transit and trade issues. They want Bangladesh to grow hand in hand with emerging India.
So to know promising young minds who will guide future bilateral relationship of Indo-Bangladesh is of great importance, especially after the Dhaka visit of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Twenty scholars, 10 from the two countries, gathered in Sikkim University, Gangtok, to attend a weeklong course on Indo-Bangla Studies organised by Dhaka University and Jamia Millia Islamia University, Delhi.
Sajjadur Rahman, senior business correspondent of The Daily Star, a course participant, asks young scholars for their opinions on Indo-Bangla relations. The Daily Star asked them six questions on — the necessity of a strong bilateral relation, assessment on present ties, major obstacles in improving relations, how they see recent developments, how young minds help develop a sustainable relation and people-to-people contact.
Punam Pandey, researcher with USI, Delhi
We are neighbours and we need to interact with each other because we cannot remain isolated from each other.
Present ties between the two countries are good but interactions need to be institutionalised to deepen the relationship. We need to have a forward approach so that we can come over with the past heritage.
With signing of the land boundary agreement, at least one major irritant has gone away.
Young Indians have come together with the young Bangladeshis to understand culture and ethos of each other. It is important to understand each other.
Dr Mansi Mehrotra-Khanna, a researcher based in New Delhi
Developing bilateral relations is necessary for regional stability, economic development, mutual trust, cultural serenity development and understanding.
Present ties are improving, achieving the goals mentioned above. However, the long history mistrust and "fear psychosis” has impeded development of the bilateral relations.
Mutual fear and suspicion is the biggest barrier. India's concern is related to perceived security reasons and Bangladesh's concerns are the perceived feeling of India being a dominant nation and the baggage of Pakistan history carried by the Bangladesh politicians.
She sees the prime ministers' visits as a positive step towards building relations, understanding and mutual trust.
Regular active interactions between scholars of the two countries are required so that there is no communication gap created for the extremists or selfish political forces to mould it to their advantage.
An active and regular people-to-people contact will help in keeping the relations warm. The minds and hearts are ready and open, to accept and understand one another's point of view.
Dr Teiborlang T Kharsyntiew, assistant professor, Sikkim University
There is a need for sustainable engagement between India and Bangladesh. Sustainable engagement will include the involvement of all stakeholders in building up this relationship. This will include constant information to opposition parties, civil societies and other stakeholders.
The present ties between the countries provide ample opportunity, which will survive only when and if all stakeholders are involved.
The major obstacle to the relationship is due to the lack of trust, information deficit and the nonengagement of all parties involved in Indo-Bangladesh foreign policy decisions.
Young scholars from school level to university level are the foundations for bilateral ties as well as regional cooperation. This is one way of improving people-to-
people contact. More and more people-to-people contact will build relationships and dispel the notion of mistrust and misperception.
M Sazzad Hossain Siddiqui, lecturer for peace and conflict studies, Dhaka University
In an era of regionalism, sub-regionalism and globalisation, keeping a nation in isolation is a backward and unscientific idea. Historically, Bangladesh and India shared lot of interests and heritage. These two countries have huge mutual potential.
The present ties, I think, are nothing but misunderstanding and misperception about each other. Vague mindsets are also to blame. And these mainly create obstacle in developing bilateral relations between Bangladesh and India.Indian Prime Minister's visit to Bangladesh could be considered as a milestone in building mutual relations. If there are any limitations, those could be discussed and resolved later.
The youth are usually considered as the change makers. They are more liberal and progressive than the older generation. So involving them in the policy level could open up windows and turn the relations sustainable.
People-to-people contact or track II diplomacy is more time worthy and more flexible. This is less restricted and considers the strengths and weaknesses of the relationship. So P2P contacts will be more effective along with the track I diplomacy of the countries.Tahmina Rahman, Lecturer, International Relations, Dhaka University
You can never choose your neighbour. Like it or not, you are surrounded by India on three sides of the border. It is essential to have a functioning bilateral relation between Bangladesh and India to improve the livelihood of people of both countries. We share so many things in common, such as culture, and economic and political systems, which can be used as a foundation to boost relations. Also in this age of globalisation, no state can prosper by neglecting its neighbours. It is an inter-connected world and Bangladesh and India must usher the way to regional integration and prosperity by working on areas of common interests.It is a bit early to predict. But things look quite promising as of now. I'm more optimistic about track II diplomacy. We need to work hard on institutionalising or giving this cooperative movement we are experiencing right now a permanent character.
Inconsistency in policymaking, lack of farsightedness among the decision makers, lack of continuity in foreign policy, negative image portrayed by media on both sides, politicians' reluctance to put human security over national security and failure to put oneself in the shoe of other are the major obstacles in the path to building a successful bilateral relation.
I just hope that we can secure the momentum that has been created. It is easy to lapse into a confrontational path again. Now, what we need is thinking outside the box and increasing P2P and government-to-government interaction.
Changing the perception is important when we talk about bringing any kind of change. Young people are more open to suggestion and innovative in nature. Before they get brainwashed by the politicians and the media, it is important to help them see the world in an unbiased manner. Young scholars can actually act as change-makers by blowing away the fog of misperception, distrust and confusion. They are the ones who can take a holistic approach to the issues of importance in the region and work on mutually beneficial ways to resolve disputes.
P2P connectivity is of utmost importance. We are stuck here with the age-old idea of national security. Bureaucracy is not something that welcomes alternative ways of thinking. That's why we need to focus on P2P connectivity. When interdependence reaches a critical mass and when people on both sides have regular and direct communication, it becomes difficult for the politicians to reverse this flow. The common people also become more conscious about the ground realities and whether or not they are being played by the governments.
Syed Saifuddin Hossain, senior research associate, Centre for Policy Dialogue, Dhaka
Though geographically separated, both India and Bangladesh share a long history of common values and tradition. Political ties between the two are deep rooted and have the potential not only to reduce but erase the distance between these countries. Potential benefits, for both the countries, from a strong relationship have been analysed and advocated by experts from both sides for decades. It is only a matter of motivation and pro-activeness from the leadership to turn these potential into reality. The immense growth opportunities that each of these neighbouring countries is able to offer to the other have to be sensibly explored. No doubt that if India and Bangladesh are able to realise these potentials, the economic reality of the whole of South Asia will take a positive turn.
It is a sweet and sour relationship. Both the countries have taken bold initiatives to move forward by way of addressing the issues of transit and connectivity, and energy cooperation in a new fashion. Understandably, national interest has to be given the highest priority in any negotiation. Then again, we must get rid of the baggage we are carrying from the colonial past. It is high time we look ahead.
The key factor impeding a holistic congenial relationship between the two countries is what many refer to as trust deficit. We have witnessed unprecedented shifts in Indo-Bangla relations as the political scenario changed over the years. However, we need to realise that it is people who matter more than politics. Debates over the Teesta water sharing, border security, and demarcation of land and maritime boundaries need to be concluded in a mutually beneficial manner.
Indeed the recent prime ministerial visits have created some hope for refurbishing the relationship between the two countries. There are a lot of issues on the table which include cooperation in such areas as transit and connectivity, water and energy, and culture and media. However, the “Mamta effect" has somehow shrouded a cloud of uncertainty over the future of the endeavours undertaken by both the governments. Nevertheless, we still hold high hopes and look forward to amicable resolution of the contentious issues.
It is often said that young minds are the drivers of growth. This cohort has the potential to reshape the future of the Indo-Bangla relationship. All they need is a perfect platform to explore their ideas. During the latest visit of the Indian Prime Minister to Bangladesh, a memorandum of understanding has been signed between Dhaka University, Bangladesh, and Jawaharlal Nehru University, India.
We need many more such deals to facilitate student exchange programmes. Joint scholarship programmes by both the governments will further encourage such an initiative. It is also the responsibility of young minds/professionals to make their presence visible by way of engaging into policy debates, and writing analytical and evidence-based research reports and articles with the objective of raising issues of development concern in both the countries.
As I mentioned earlier, people have to be at the centre of every development initiative. Academics, business people, cultural activists and media personnel from both India and Bangladesh need to interact more with each other to understand what their counterparts consider important for fostering the relationship between the two countries. Tourism, student exchange programmes, and conferences for young professionals are some of the tools to promote such interactions. Needless to say, the visa regimes in both countries will need to be rationally relaxed to facilitate such people-to-people contact.
sajjad@thedailystar.net