The visit of Bangladesh Foreign Minister Ms. Dipu Moni to India from 8-10 September and her meetings with her Indian counterpart S.M. Krishna and other leaders has been described by the Bangladeshi minister as “groundbreaking”. Probably she was referring to the chief outcome of visit—that of India Delhi acceding to Dhaka’s request for more ground connectivity to land-locked Nepal and Bhutan through its soil.

“Connectivity is a topical issue around the world as it is an integral part of development. So that is why we put emphasis on the issue,” Moni told media persons soon after her return to Dhaka. There was exhilaration in the media of Dhaka too which hailed the visit as “a breakthrough”. “We thank the Indian side for agreeing to facilitate Bangladesh’s transit to Nepal and Bhutan. However, it has to be recalled that such an agreement was reached earlier but could not be implemented,” one editorial in Daily Star said. But the paper complained that little had been done to reduce the trade imbalance that weighed heavily in India’s favour. It also welcomed the agreement on the sharing of Teesta river.

Hasina’s Visit Soon

In New Delhi, The foreign minister paid a courtesy call to the Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, who mentioned India’s highest regard to its relations with Bangladesh. Dr. Singh hoped that a new chapter of Bangladesh-India relations would be written with the forthcoming visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to India soon.

Dipu Moni also called on Indian Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, the Parliamentary Affairs and Water Resources Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal. The joint statement (JS) mentioned that the two sides reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral relations. In regard to specifics, the sharing of the Teesta waters was discussed and the Foreign Ministries were mandated to move negotiations forward on this issue.

Ashuganj, Chittagong Ports

Bangladesh agreed to discuss making Ashuganj a port of call under Article 23 of the Inland Water Trade and Transit Agreement and agreed to let India use this port for a power plant in Tripura. India agreed to facilitate Bangladesh - Nepal and Bangladesh -Bhutan connectivity.

Both sides agreed on containerized movement of cargo by train and ship. On other trade related matters, the two sides reviewed the existing situation and agreed to strengthen the existing institutional mechanisms to enhance trade. Bangladesh agreed to discuss the use of Chittagong port by India.

On the power front, India agreed to provide immediately 100 MW of electricity and to discuss the feasibility of power grid inter connectivity from India to Bangladesh. On border demarcation, both sides expressed intent to resolve unresolved issues. A couple of important decisions were made on border trade.

On security, the two sides reiterated their earlier stand not to allow each other’s territory to be used by terrorists and to strengthen cooperation on terrorism. The two sides agreed to conclude three agreements on mutual assistance on criminal matters; transfer of sentenced persons; and combating international terrorism, organized crime and drug trafficking.

Forward Momentum

Bangladesh-India relations have not had the surge in momentum despite high expectations from the victory of the Awami League and the return of the Congress in to power. The Tipaimukh controversy added a new element of discord.

Tipaimukh Hydroelectric Dam Project is near the confluence of the Barak and Tuivai rivers in Manipur. The project has become a rallying point for the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) to stoke anti-India sentiments.

Bangladesh’s decision to allow India use its Ashjuganj port to facilitate building the Palatana power project in Tripura and allow India to use the same port as a port of call under the IWTTA is a good sign. The most significant aspect was India’s nod to facilitate Bangladesh-Nepal and Bangladesh-Bhutan connectivity. Bangladesh too reciprocated with its Chittagong port. India’s offer for credit line in the railways sector was also hailed as another positive step.

India’s Gestures

India on its part, wanted Bangladesh to jointly combat terrorism and extradite anti-India insurgents like United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) chief Anup Chetia who are alleged to be in Bangladesh. During then external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee’s visit to Dhaka in February 2009, India took significant unilateral initiatives like providing duty-free access to eight million pieces of ready made garments, lifting a ban on FDI in Bangladesh and duty-free access to several items from Bangladesh.

India also signed a bilateral trade treaty and another one on the protection of investments. Put together, these initiatives have set the stage for a new positive period of trust and cooperation between the two neighbours; land transit nod being the latest in that series.