Mistrust must go to open new era of ties

Foreign Minister Dipu Moni speaks at a roundtable on 'Bangladesh-India relations: Exploring new horizon' at BIISS auditorium in the city yesterday. On her right is Prof Rehman Sobhan. BIISS organised the event.Photo: STAR

Different professionals have expressed the hope the prime minister's visit to India would end existing "mistrust" and "non-cooperation" in resolving the problems in trade, maritime boundary, border management, regional connectivity and sharing waters.
Through the visit a new window of relationship will open where the two countries would positively consider each other's interests and settle all disputes, they said at a roundtable styled Bangladesh-India Relations: Exploring New Horizons.
Four separate papers were presented at the roundtable organised by Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) at its auditorium.
BIISS Director General Maj Gen Sheikh Md Monirul Islam gave the welcome speech, while its Board of Governors Chairman Maj Gen Muhammed Firdaus Mian delivered the vote of thanks. Chairman of Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) Prof Rehman Sobhan chaired the function.
In his presentation on Bangladesh-India Relations: Sharing of the Waters of Common Rivers, former foreign secretary Muhammad Zamir presented an overview of common rivers, sharing waters of the Ganges and Teesta and construction of the proposed Tipaimukh dam by India and its impacts on Bangladesh.
"Due to continuous withdrawal of waters through the Farakka Barrage for last 31 years, a significant number of rivers of the Padma basin in Bangladesh have already turned dead," he said, adding the Gorai, a pre-Farakka mighty river, is almost dead now.
The former diplomat said India approved the proposed Tipaimukh dam without sharing sufficient technological data with Bangladesh. "This has been contrary to international practice," he pointed out.
He added the proposed dam will drastically and adversely alter river flow in the downstream and also have hydrological, morphological and ecological consequences during both the monsoon and dry season.
On sharing waters of the Teesta, he expressed the hope differences in this regard will narrow down after the visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and both the countries would sign a deal.
Adviser of Saarc Chamber of Commerce and Industries and former FBCCI president Yousuf Abdullah Harun in his paper on Bangladesh-India Economic Relations highlighted the causes hampering Bangladesh's trade and investment.
"Although Bangladesh and India are situated in a region endowed with vast resources, in reality they could not convert these resources into productive and collective wealth in an accelerating manner. The trade intensity indicates that there is scope for mutual trade and cooperation," he mentioned.
He expressed the hope the premier's visit would resolve all the problems as it would create goodwill on both sides, setting the stage for a comprehensive understanding on various issues of mutual interest.
Bangladesh must seize this opportunity for closer economic relations with India in order to realise its fullest potentials, he added.
Transport sector expert Dr Rahmatullah placed a paper on Bangladesh-India Relations: Regional Connectivity where he pointed out the important issue of improving connectivity in Bangladesh as well as in the region for diversity in trade, investment and development.
Terming the existing connectivity very poor, he said "non-cooperation" and "mistrust" between the two neighbouring countries are the main reason behind it.
He suggested that both the governments come out of the mindset of "mistrust". He also urged the government to invest in the Mongla, Chittagong and the proposed deep sea ports and also in the railway sector to grab the opportunity.
"If we develop our transport sector, there will be huge foreign trade and investment in the country."
Vice-president of Bangladesh Enterprise Institute (BEI) former ambassador M Afsarul Quader presented a paper on Management of Bangladesh-India Border.
He suggested resolving the issues of killings on the border, maritime boundary and demarcating yet-to-be-demarcated 6.5 kilometres border. He also suggested proper implementation of the Mujib-Indira agreement of 1974.
Addressing the roundtable as the chief guest, Foreign Minister Dipu Moni said water related matters are not only very important for the country but also vitally linked to the life, livelihood and economic wellbeing of Bangladesh.
"Unfortunately, following the Ganges Water Treaty, we haven't been able to make further progress on most of our water related concerns, especially sharing waters of other common rivers including the Teesta," she said.
She added dependence of Bangladesh on the waters of Ganges and other common rivers remains an ever-present reminder of the umbilical links between Bangladesh and India.
"Since formation of the present government, our relations with the neighbouring countries received added momentum. The time has given us a unique opportunity as all the South Asian countries are having democratic governments in office. This is the context which has created ground for exploring new horizons in our bilateral relations with India. Our sentiments and goodwill were reciprocated by the Indian leadership," she said.
On trade, she said, "We must act urgently to fully activate all institutional mechanism at our disposal to promote two-way trade between the two countries, remove avoidable hindrances, initiate long-pending trade facilitation measures and ease movement of businesspersons and professionals."
The foreign minister believes the premier's visit would enable building on the already solid foundation of the existing friendly relations with India.
The roundtable was addressed, among others, by Prof Syed Anwar Hossain, former army chief Lt Gen Harun-Ar-Rashid, former adviser to caretaker government Shafi Sami, former police chief Nurul Huda, Maj Gen (retd) Syed Muhammad Ibrahim, Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman, former FBCCI president Mir Nasir Hossain, former commerce secretary Sohel Ahmed Chowdhury and columnist Jaglul Ahmed Chowdhury.