A view from Dhaka

Bangladesh was left disappointed and frustrated as the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh wrapped up his two-day visit to our nation’s capital this week. The much hyped and eagerly awaited trip symbolised many hopes and anticipations as most Bangladeshis were expecting  truly bold and historic steps toward better bilateral relations between the two neighbouring nations. Unfortunately, the visit proved to be an anti-climax.

For Bangladeshis, the failure to agree on the most important item on the agenda was a huge blow to the initial euphoria surrounding this historical summit. India’s failure to deliver on a promised agreement on sharing the water of the Teesta River with Bangladesh was disappointing to say the least. Both India and Bangladesh had agreed to a 50-50 share of the River’s water that runs through West and East Bengal. But the proposed pact fizzled out last minute after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee pulled out from Manmohan Singh’s Dhaka entourage saying the water sharing proposal harms her state’s interests.

The failure of the Teesta agreement brought down two other key deals: The transit agreement that would let India use Chittagong and Mongla ports to transport goods through Bangladesh as well as sharing the Feni River waters.

The Bangladesh government is hiding its disappointment tactfully by using diplomatic jargon. They have stated that they hope the issue can be resolved soon and look forward to working out a new treaty. The summit proved a blow for Hasina’s expectations for Manmohan Singh to reciprocate her bold steps during her 2010 visit to New Delhi when she addressed the immediate concerns for India during the signing of the January 2010 MoU between the two countries. These concerns were security concerns of Indians against insurgents in North East Indian states and request for transit through Bangladesh.

Bangladeshis feel India missed a chance to take full advantage of bilateral agreements between the two nations. Hardly any of the key issues such as killings on the border by the Border Security Force of India, imbalance in bilateral trade, tariff and non tariff barrier to Bangladeshi products, were efficiently addressed.

What was addressed was the exchange of enclave as well as demarcation of the remaining land boundary, overland transit to and from Bangladesh and Nepal through India, India’s decision to give duty free access to 46 textile items from Bangladesh, exchange of government TV channel programmes, cooperation between Dhaka University and Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi, protection and biodiversity of the Sundarban Forest in Bangladesh. Cooperation on renewable energies and deals in fisheries between the two countries were also agreed on.

These deals were not very high on Bangladesh’s agenda for the summit and as a leading Bangladeshi daily pointed out: “could have been done at the level of joint secretaries of both countries”.

Bangladesh is not terming Manmohan Singh’s visit a failure but are calling it ‘disappointing.’ New Delhi’s failure to address Dhaka’s legitimate concerns proved to be a let down for the Awami League government and has certainly given its opposing parties more ammunition who are calling the visit ‘a failure.’

At the end of the day, Bangladesh’s interests are intertwined with those of India’s for geographical and geopolitical reasons. The two countries share 54 common rivers and must seriously work to settle the issue of Teesta and Feni River. Water is a major concern for Bangladesh and one that is a sensitive issue. But as PM Manmohan Singh pointed out in his speech in Dhaka that “it is possible for the two countries to agree on cooperative arrangements based on the principle of equity, fairplay and no harm to either party.” The PM pointed out the Ganges Water Treaty of 1996 as one such example which has stood the test of time.

India and Bangladesh must look into building strong land and water connectivity with each other as well as with other SAARC members if we wish to see South Asia rise as a regional power. With this ambition in mind one can say perhaps West Bengal could have risen above its narrow national interests for the sake of better bilateral and regional cooperation.