Bangladesh Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia is on an official tour to India. During her trip, a number of important bilateral issues will be tabled for discussion.
March 19, 2006 (Press Release) --
Bangladesh Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia is now in India on a three-days visit. India is the biggest and most powerful neighboring country of Bangladesh. The visit is significant in many respects.
Besides, it is taking place also at a time when the difficulties experienced by Bangladesh in relation to its most powerful neighbor have reached a new high. The water flow in the Bangladesh section of the Ganges river reached the lowest ever recorded level during the last part of February, which is badly affecting this country’s agriculture and gravely harming its ecology and economy. Besides, India is going ahead – unilaterally, as always – in building the Tipaimukh Dam notwithstanding earlier pledges to the contrary in its negotiations with Bangladesh about the project. It is hoped that only contacts at the highest level between the two countries could lead to some favorable developments for Bangladesh in relation to the water sharing of common rivers between the two countries. Bangladesh Prime Minister will have impressed the Indian government about the very pressing need of doing something very urgently to augment the flow of the Ganges inside Bangladesh and work towards a settlement of water sharing of other common rivers. Given the growing recognition of the mutuality of interests between the two countries, such an advocacy may be better received in Delhi now than in the past.
The greater part of the success of the visit could be in the realm of trade and economic cooperation.
The two sides are expected to sign several accords involving bilateral trade and investment with the aim of promoting and protecting the same. Bangladesh in recent times has shown increasing hospitality to Indian direct investment and investment in the form of joint ventures. The Prime Minister’s entourage includes a large business delegation and it is likely that members of the business delegation would have first hand exchange of views with their Indian counterparts about further promoting trade and investment. Any results from this exercise can be concretized later through follow-up talks.
The bilateral issues of security will also be important in the agenda of discussions during the visit. The talks can be expected to clear up wrong perceptions and lead to a shared strategy and cooperation between the two countries in meeting the challenges arising from security issues.
Besides, it is taking place also at a time when the difficulties experienced by Bangladesh in relation to its most powerful neighbor have reached a new high. The water flow in the Bangladesh section of the Ganges river reached the lowest ever recorded level during the last part of February, which is badly affecting this country’s agriculture and gravely harming its ecology and economy. Besides, India is going ahead – unilaterally, as always – in building the Tipaimukh Dam notwithstanding earlier pledges to the contrary in its negotiations with Bangladesh about the project. It is hoped that only contacts at the highest level between the two countries could lead to some favorable developments for Bangladesh in relation to the water sharing of common rivers between the two countries. Bangladesh Prime Minister will have impressed the Indian government about the very pressing need of doing something very urgently to augment the flow of the Ganges inside Bangladesh and work towards a settlement of water sharing of other common rivers. Given the growing recognition of the mutuality of interests between the two countries, such an advocacy may be better received in Delhi now than in the past.
The greater part of the success of the visit could be in the realm of trade and economic cooperation.
The two sides are expected to sign several accords involving bilateral trade and investment with the aim of promoting and protecting the same. Bangladesh in recent times has shown increasing hospitality to Indian direct investment and investment in the form of joint ventures. The Prime Minister’s entourage includes a large business delegation and it is likely that members of the business delegation would have first hand exchange of views with their Indian counterparts about further promoting trade and investment. Any results from this exercise can be concretized later through follow-up talks.
The bilateral issues of security will also be important in the agenda of discussions during the visit. The talks can be expected to clear up wrong perceptions and lead to a shared strategy and cooperation between the two countries in meeting the challenges arising from security issues.
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