Some courageous moves are thus the needs of the hour to start a new era of friendship and cooperation between the two countries.
March 24, 2006 (Press Release) --
Bangladesh PM Begum Khaleda Zia has returned from a three-day visit to India. The major objective of the visit was broadening the base of cooperation in the economic field. She has raised major issues that so far affected relations between these two neighboring countries. One of the issues is related to bilateral trade, in which Bangladesh has been facing an uneven competition and has not succeeded to increase exports to India against huge imports made from the large neighbor. The other and most vital issue is the equitable sharing of water resources of common rivers for meeting the needs of the people. Yet another issue is related to transport system including railways for movement of goods and passengers.
Beyond these issues, relevant agencies of both the countries have, time and again, worked against illegal movement of goods across the border. They examined the accusations of the use of each other’s land by underground groups which operate from across the border. Even the trafficking of drugs including heroin and phensidyl from India and the spread of the use of such narcotic items by youngsters in Bangladesh have haunted the people. The people have, time and again, urged the two governments to adopt corrective measures with mutual understanding. The PM exchanged views with her counterpart in India and raised different issues that await resolution. The PM directed the members of her delegation, as well as the representatives of business community of Bangladesh, to discuss bilateral issues during the visit. The intent behind this was to resolve pending issues, create a favorable environment for reaching bilateral deals to broaden the base of understanding and cooperation.
The prevailing trade deficit that Bangladesh faces with India is simply huge. But bilateral deals between neighbors have become very important after the withdrawal of preferential treatment given to least developed countries by major economic powers. The business community of Bangladesh has to play their due role for increasing exports to India.
The peoples of the two countries cannot afford to continue to suffer due to historical mistrusts that they have inherited. Some courageous moves are thus the needs of the hour to start a new era of friendship and cooperation between the two countries.
The realities in the field of bilateral relations with India have long been sensitive. The flow of water to rivers in Bangladesh has turned quite frustrating. Indian authorities have built dams and barrages for diverting water from common rivers. The Joint Rivers Commission of Bangladesh and India is yet to achieve the goals of having durable agreements on sharing water of common rivers mostly originating in India. The two countries should share these rivers and benefit from those equitably. And durable agreements are urgently required for this.
Beyond these issues, relevant agencies of both the countries have, time and again, worked against illegal movement of goods across the border. They examined the accusations of the use of each other’s land by underground groups which operate from across the border. Even the trafficking of drugs including heroin and phensidyl from India and the spread of the use of such narcotic items by youngsters in Bangladesh have haunted the people. The people have, time and again, urged the two governments to adopt corrective measures with mutual understanding. The PM exchanged views with her counterpart in India and raised different issues that await resolution. The PM directed the members of her delegation, as well as the representatives of business community of Bangladesh, to discuss bilateral issues during the visit. The intent behind this was to resolve pending issues, create a favorable environment for reaching bilateral deals to broaden the base of understanding and cooperation.
The prevailing trade deficit that Bangladesh faces with India is simply huge. But bilateral deals between neighbors have become very important after the withdrawal of preferential treatment given to least developed countries by major economic powers. The business community of Bangladesh has to play their due role for increasing exports to India.
The peoples of the two countries cannot afford to continue to suffer due to historical mistrusts that they have inherited. Some courageous moves are thus the needs of the hour to start a new era of friendship and cooperation between the two countries.
The realities in the field of bilateral relations with India have long been sensitive. The flow of water to rivers in Bangladesh has turned quite frustrating. Indian authorities have built dams and barrages for diverting water from common rivers. The Joint Rivers Commission of Bangladesh and India is yet to achieve the goals of having durable agreements on sharing water of common rivers mostly originating in India. The two countries should share these rivers and benefit from those equitably. And durable agreements are urgently required for this.
Email
Print
SPAM
