India-Bangladesh bilateral relationship
Source: Mithu Choudhury *
Guwahati, December 04 2012:
The unique border which and Bangladesh share provides opportunity for prosperous trade and business relationship.
One of major way India-Bangladesh bilateral relationship has to be through the convergence of economic and commercial interests, which would if not influence the direction of political relationship, at least compliment it.
India-Bangladesh bilateral trade has grown steadily over the few years.
In FY2011-12, the two way trade was over US$ 5.24 billion.
India exports to Bangladesh increased to US$ 4743.3 million (3.4% increase over the previous year), the main import item from India include cotton, vehicles & parts, cereals, animal feed/ food waste,
boil es iron & steel organic chemicals, mineral fuels /waxes/ bituminous items.
The main Bangladesh items of exports to India include Raw jute, jute goods, fish & oils etc.
A Mo U on border Haats and border trade on India-Bangladesh border was signed on 23 oct 2010 during the visit to India of Bangladesh Commerce Minister.
The border
Hatt in meghalaya at Kalaichar (India) Baliamari (Bangladesh) was inaugurated by both commerce minister on 23 july 2011 .
Mo U on cooperation in Power sector was between india and Bangladesh on jan '2010 .
NTPC and Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) signed JV Agreement on 29 jan' 2012 to build a 1320 MW coal-fifed
thermal Power plant at Khulna.
India's links with Bangladesh, like with her other South Asian neighbors, are civilization, cultural, social and economic.
India's 4,096 k m land border with Bangladesh is the longest that India has with any of its neighbors.
India shares not only a common history of struggle for freedom and liberation but also
enduring feeling of fraternal and familial ties with Bangladesh.
Addressing the press confernce at Guwahati, Mr.Tofail Ahmed most senior Awami league Leader and political secretary to Sheikh Mujibur Rahaman.
along with 11 Bangladsehi delegate team comeing from Dakha .
He also said The landmark visit of prime minister Sheikh Hasina to
January 2010 presented historic opportunity to build a new and forward looking relationship.
India agreed to facilitate transit for Bangladesh to Nepal and Bhutan and supply 250MW of power central grid after connectivity is established.
India prime minister Dr.Manmohan Singh, accompanied by the External Affairs Minister, the Chief minster
of Assam, Tripura, Mizoram and Meghalaya and other senior dignitaries, visited Bangladesh on September 6-7, 2011 .
The highlight of the visit was signing of among other agreements/ MOUs a framework agreements on cooperation for Development and the protocol to the land boundary agreements of 1974.Especial the use of Bangladesh territory by India Insurgents groups (IIG) and by terrorist of other nationalizations.
However, the Bangladesh leaderships at the highest level has assured
that its territory would not be allowed for use by any one to harm India.
The three Agreements signed in January,2010 on mutual legel assistance in criminal matter.
Also the process of extraditing jailed Ulfa Gen.
Secy.
Anup chetia has been started by the both government, and is believed to be released very soon.
The porous nature of the border has led to numerous tarns-border problems including infiltration smuggling, of arms drugs( phensedyl, narcoties,etc) contraband goods, illegal movement of persons and
crimes such as kidnapping for ransom cattle, lifting, extortion etc.
The sharing of Teesta River water however still remains an issue between India and Bangladesh.
The process of dialogue must continue as both India and Bangladesh are not far from having an agreement on the same.
In the economic sphere with geographical of Bangladesh to East and North East India coupled with sharing of common cultural heritages provides a lot of potential for trade and business.
* The sender of this news can be contacted at sivaassam(at)gmail(doT)com .
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