Prime Minister's visit to Bhutan

In a world confronted with newer crises nearly every day, the importance of regional cooperation, be it at bilateral or multilateral level, cannot be denied. Which brings us to the role SAARC has been playing in South Asia since the mid-1980s. Perhaps the potential that was once noted about the organization has not quite been realised to the extent one would have expected, but the fact remains that the body has brought the countries of this region together in remarkable ways. The recent visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to Bhutan underscores this reality. The three-day trip has now thrown up certain new opportunities for Dhaka and Thimphu to explore.

List among these opportunities the matter of energy cooperation. With Bangladesh currently in need of energy to meet domestic requirements, the good news is that Bhutan with its hydro-electricity reserves can bail it out. Indeed, the two countries have reached a deal on the subject, which should be seen as quite a breather for Bangladesh. Bhutan has also waived all duties on Bangladeshi goods imported by it. That has been reciprocated in the way bilateralism should work. The Bangladesh leader has decided to reduce tariff on 18 Bhutanese items from 15 per cent to zero per cent. Now, all of these are a happy augury for the future and are clearly steps that will boost cooperation in trade. And then comes the question of land connectivity between the two countries. The operative term here is an exploration of the possibility of such connectivity actually taking place. Obviously, it will involve the Indian authorities, who in their turn should respond in light of the cooperative process that has been going on in South Asia.

Overall, the prime minister's visit to Bhutan should be seen not only as giving a spurt to bilateral cooperation in the region but also as a hint of how cooperation among SAARC nations can be expanded, substantively and purposefully, in the times ahead. Difficulties, of course, are always there. But it is the spirit, which again is a reflection of changing times, that matters. In Thimphu, the cooperative spirit was served rather well.