However, because of the necessity of levelling the field for a free, fair, and credible election, scheduled to held by the end of 2008, it has undertaken some essential and urgent reforms in various fields. Because of time constraints and lack of adequate support from the bureaucracy, all the advisers are working extremely hard to achieve their goal.

In the Election Commission, all-out efforts are on to maintain the election schedule and other related matters. With full support from the army, the CTG has been able to achieve a lot. However, it is now facing heavy pressure from the major parties on the issue of reform of political parties, because the chiefs of both the major parties want to avoid reform.

The CTG appears to be firm in bringing true democracy to the country, a democracy not in words but in deed, a democracy for the people not for some privileged families, a democracy of the people. Attaining freedom is a tough job. To establish a democratic order in a least developed country appears to be a tougher job.

India, no doubt, assisted Bangladesh in attaining freedom, but it misread the people's spirit of independence. They can never accept Indian hegemony. Thus, real understanding will develop only when India starts respecting properly the sentiment of the people of Bangladesh.

Farakka, occupation of Talpatti island by India, Tipaimukh project, non-settlement of border disputes, frequent killings of Bangladeshis near the borders, and high non-tariff barrier on import of Bangladesh products indicate the unfriendly attitude of India.

The Saarc is ineffective and limping because of the Indian attitude. On the one hand, India signs the water sharing Ganges Water Treaty; on the other, it is proceeding with the Tipaimukh project without even informing Bangladesh, which is facing desertification due to the project. Duplicity may pay temporarily. In the long run it may bring bad results.

In recent times, we heard some inspiring statements about greater assistance and cooperation from India. India says it wants to see a democratic, peaceful, and prosperous Bangladesh. At least, it sounds nice.

We are well-wishers of India as a neighbour. But how we can make a sacrifice for it without hurting the interests of our people is bothering us. We lost our deal in Farakka, and we were losers in the Ganges Water Treaty. Bangladeshis are suffering in our enclaves. We are trying hard to sort out all the problems with India but, so far, the result has been disappointing. Unfortunately, even the India media is not friendly to Bangladesh.

The Indian state minister for trade, Mr. Joyram Ramesh, came to Dhaka with five proposals for reducing the massive trade gap and raising bilateral trade between the two countries to $ 20 billion in five years. The proposals are as follows:

• Granting India transit facility.
• Agreeing to Tata company's $ 3 billion infrastructure project.
• Access to New Mooring terminal in the port city of Chittagong.
• Opening additional land customs stations.
• Supply of electricity to Bangladesh from its 1110 mw power plant being set up outside Agartala.

The first two proposals are old ones, and Bangladesh experts will have to carefully and closely examine the other three. (If necessary they may also be examined by foreign consultants.) In fact, our experts should closely examine all the five proposals.

Simple dialogues may improve understanding of each other's points. But the real solution needs political will. We cannot develop closer trade relations with Bhutan or Nepal because of Indian non-cooperation, and we are suffering from shortage of water for irrigation because of Farakka and Tipaimukh projects.

Some of the peasants living in border areas cannot cultivate their land because of hostility of the BSF. In the absence of a friendly atmosphere the proposals do not appear to be readily acceptable. Existing problems need to be solved as early as possible for successful negotiations in future.

We strongly feel the need for reducing our trade imbalance with India, but not at the cost of our people's interests. As the present Indian proposals are sensitive the people will have to be taken into confidence. It is, therefore, advisable that this government, being a caretaker government, should avoid taking decisions in such sensitive matters.

The government is already under heavy pressure due to handling of issues like curbing corruption, reform of political parties, and containing price-hike of essential commodities. Thus, it appears to be advisable to inform Mr. Joyram Ramesh that the government is awfully busy with lots of reform programs and, as such, it would not be possible for it to give due attention to the proposals which needs thorough examination. In fact, it would be more appropriate to take up these sensitive proposals with the next elected government.

A. B. M. S. Zahur is a former joint secretary.