Good chance to settle disputes

Foreign policy experts yesterday said the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance's (UPA) victory in the Indian elections offers a fresh opportunity for Bangladesh to resolve the unsettled issues with its powerful neighbour.
Farooq Sobhan, former foreign secretary and president of Bangladesh Enterprise Institute, said the polls result could be a positive outcome for Bangladesh as it will give India a stable government and help maintain continuity in Indo-Bangla relations.
Sobhan said he expects the UPA victory to add momentum to the relations between the two neighbouring countries as the Congress would like to see progress in Indo-Bangla relations.
He said the UPA's victory gives an opportunity for the two governments to take advantage of old ties and goodwill to improve regional and bilateral economic cooperation.
Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury, former foreign secretary and foreign affairs adviser to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, said the new blood in Congress leadership could provide a fresh approach to settle unresolved issues between Bangladesh and India.
Asked about the significance of UPA's victory for Bangladesh, he said, "It would largely depend on the new generation and whether they can have a positive approach to other South Asian nations and Bangladesh.”
Shamsher outlined the unresolved issues of water-sharing, maritime boundary, gunfight between BDR and BSF and trade deficit that require a fresh approach and renewed commitment from the Indian government.
"This is a time for new outlook. This opportunity should be utilised to resolve these issues," he said.
Shamsher said a stable government without any pressure from alliance partners would allow the Congress to make bold decisions on free-market economic policies and foreign investment that could benefit Bangladesh.
However, he said the Awami League government has to be attuned to public reactions to the deals done with India.
The next months would reveal the nature of the new relationship between the two governments, he added.
Imtiaz Ahmed, professor of international relations department at Dhaka University, said the UPA's victory will give Bangladesh a chance to discuss unsettled issues like demarcation of maritime boundary, Tipaimukh Dam project, border fencing and regional cooperation with India.
"This is the first time India, Pakistan and Bangladesh have become close allies of the USA. So, there is likely to be stability in the region," said Imtiaz.
He said the UPA's victory is a good sign for regional cooperation on counter-terrorism as the UPA government had shown a positive approach in this regard since the Mumbai attacks last November.
Imtiaz also hoped that Trinamool Congress would increase its secular image despite having past links with the BJP.
Former foreign secretary CM Shafi Sami said the Congress leadership would help strengthen the ties between Bangladesh and India to utilise their economic potentials properly, particularly for the people of the adjoining areas of the two countries.
"Both the countries can hopefully make concrete decisions over the unsettled issues between them," he said.
Historically, Awami League always had good relations with India and it will be strengthened in the future, said Shafi Sami, also former adviser to a caretaker government.
He, however, said both the countries should consider the issues on economic merits and there should not be any undue intervention.
Political scientist Prof Emajuddin Ahmed said the Congress party's victory in Indian polls is surely a very positive sign for stability in South Asia because of the party's secular political philosophy.
On regional front, its prime goal should be fighting terrorism. India can take a lead role in multilateral framework in fighting militancy, he said.
The relations between Bangladesh and India are supposed to be strengthened further because of the non-communal stance of the leaderships of both the countries, Emajuddin, former vice-chancellor of Dhaka University, told The Daily Star.
There is every possibility that the unsettled issues between the two neighbouring nations will be settled but Bangladesh has to insist on those, he said.
Former ambassador Muhammad Zamir said the UPA's victory will be positive for Bangladesh but the country's policy makers have to push for reaching acceptable solutions to the unresolved issues between the two countries.