Editorial
Tri-nation gas pipeline
Flexibility in approach would be a clincher
The conclusion that one can draw from the statements of both sides after the recently concluded Indo-Bangladesh meetings on the tri-nation gas pipeline is that there is a general agreement to disagree on each other's stated positions on the issue. One could not but notice the sliver of optimism from the statements of Indian minister for petroleum to the journalists after his talks with the Bangladesh political leaders. It needs restating that the project has immense economic prospect for Bangladesh, perhaps more than anybody else. India is unwilling to consider the linkages, those being extraneous to the matter as far as India is concerned. It is our belief that these matters ought to be emphasised as long outstanding problems, which are of major concern to us, rather than as absolute preconditions to be fulfilled before a prized multilateral project in its own right could be implemented. There is merit in the comments of the Finance Minister of Bangladesh that trade and tri-nation gas pipeline ought not to be linked at all. We consider the Bangladesh proposal to set up two separate bodies for pipeline and trade issues a very pragmatic approach. Let us consider the positive side. The region has abundance of gas; the increasing need for all countries in the region for cheaper sources of energy to keep the economic growth ticking, ought to be our major concern. For Bangladesh to be able to access gas from the grid for our use and also be able to infuse our own gas into the grid, provide us with tremendous strategic advantage. The matter of trade deficit with India must be addressed in earnest and so must the matter of unfettered access to Nepal through India and the hydro-electricity import from Bhutan and Nepal. But these are matters that will take time to be sorted out for some very obvious reasons. Can a project like the tri-nation pipeline wait that long? We ought not to reduce the project as a take it or leave it matter. In today's world there is need to display flexibility and an attitude of accommodation in negotiations on matters that have great economic potential. We feel that the project should be put in place sooner rather than later, because of the immense economic benefits that will accrue to Banglaeseh, while retaining its tri-lateral character intact.
| 
