India, Bangladesh & South Asia - News Reports on the recent visit to India of Sheikh Hasina

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On the visit of Bangladesh Prime Minister to India, Jan 10-13 Sheikh Hasina draws contours of South Asian development with India Cooperation is also for mutual benfit of two countries By: ASHOK B SHARMA on: Thu 14 of Jan, 2010 13:25 UTC http://www.news.anypursuit.com/tiki-read_article.php?articleId=1426 http://www.mynews.in/News/Sheikh_Hasina_draws_contours_of_South_Asian_development_with_India_N35302.html http://www.financialexpress.com/news/india-bdesh-draws-contours-of-development/567781/0 http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/India-Bdesh-draws-contours-of-development/567781/ India has found a friend in Sheikh Hasina, the prime minister of Bangladesh. She is regarded as a friend not only by the ruling Indian National Congress party, but also the wide spectrum of political parties in the country, including the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party that regard her as a sincere friend. In her recent 4-day visit to India beginning from January 10, a good number of agreements were signed to ensure betterment not only for the people of India and Bangladesh but also for South Asia. Terrorism has become problem in the region and Bangladesh has sought to

eliminate this by striking an agreement with India on combating international terrorism, organized crime and illicit drug trafficking. The other two agreements inked on similar lines are on transfer of sentenced persons and on mutual legal assistance on criminal matters. In a joint communiqué, Ms Hasina and the Indian Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh while recognizing the need to check cross-border crimes agreed that respective border guarding forces exercise restraint and also underscored the importance of regular meetings between the border guarding forces to curtail illegal cross-border activities and prevent loss of lives. These agreements, in the view of countering terrorism, may look weak in absence of an extradition treaty, but Ms Hasina clarified this in an informal chat with the media on January 13 that such an arrangement was being worked out between the two countries. “We are interested in countering terrorism

and we will use the instruments we have at present. Bangladesh will not be used for terrorist activities against India,†she assured. India got the assured support of Bangladesh for its candidature for a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) as and when the reforms in the global body take place. Bangladesh also expressed its support to India’s candidature for a non-permanent seat in the UNSC for the term 2011-2012 and in return India conveyed its support to Bangladesh’s candidature for a non-permanent seat in the UNSC for the term 2016-2017. To a query by a journalist from Bangladesh â€what have you achieved here for Bangladesh so that you can tell your people when you arrive there ?’ – she candidly replied : “I have achieved friendship, goodwill of India for Bangladesh.†The prime ministers of both the countries agreed to put in place a comprehensive framework of cooperation for

mutual development which would include cooperation in water resources, power, transportation and connectivity, tourism and education and to operationalise various areas of cooperation at the earliest. Cooperation in transport and connectivity will not only facilitate legal movement of the people but also boost trade in the region and enhance faster implementation of South Asia Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA). The development initiatives will boost the objectives of South Asia Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). Bangladesh has asked India to support its aspiration to host the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Secretariat in Dhaka, to which India agreed to give due consideration. BIMSTEC includes Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand and can serve as India’s access to East Asian region. Ms Hasina was emotionally charged when she received

the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development from the President of India, Pratibha Devisingh Patil on January 12. Recalling the historical and cultural links between the two countries and reciting verses of poems written by Rabindranath Tagore and Kazi Nazrul, she said that she would not only work for Sonar Bangla (Golden Bengal) but also for a lasting peace in South Asia. The award was instituted by the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust formed in the memory of the former prime minister of India who played a key role in liberating Bangladesh in 1971.

Ms Hasina paid tributes to Indira Gandhi and said “she was not only your leader, but also our mother. She gave us shelter in our days of trials and tribulations.†This was in reference to her 6-year exile in India alongwith her sister, Sheikh Rehana after the assassination of her father, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, her mother, her three brothers and all the inmates of the house on the fateful night of August 15, 1976 by some disgruntled army officers. These army officers did so in a bid to capture power. Ms Hasina and her sister could escape assassination as they were on a goodwill tour to West Germany. They could not return to Bangladesh and had to seek asylum in India. After the murder of Bangabandu who was then the elected head of the state, Bangladesh had periods of military rule and intermittent democracy. As one of the surviving daughter of Bangabandhu, Ms Hasina could successfully assume the leadership of the

Awami League on her return to Bangladesh on May 17, 1981 and discharge her responsibility effectively as she did when she was a student leader. She suffered house arrest for her protest against the military rule. Following 1986 parliamentary elections, Awami League emerged as principal opposition party with Ms Hasina as the leader of the opposition. After many years in the opposition Awami League swung back to power in 1996 elections and this government of Ms Hasina was the first government in Bangladesh to complete a full term of five years. Awami League succumbed to a landslide defeat in 2001 parliamentary elections. In 2008 parliamentary elections, bounced back Ms Hasina to power with a supermajority of 230 seats out of 299. Ms Hasina assured to follow the principles of secular democracy. On being questioned about the presence of fundamentalist forces in her country, she said : “They will always be there. But majority of the people

are for peace and secularism.†At the diplomatic level, India has been comfortable with Ms Hasina as the leader of Bangladesh. Democracy is under trial in Bangladesh, a country which has experienced a series of military coups d’etat. It would be a tight rope walking for Ms Hasina, especially when she has become so close to India. She has clarified the situation saying “our relationship with India is that between two sovereign countries for mutual benefit and for the good of South Asia.†She also expressed her intention to work with India and other developing countries in addressing problems of food security, climate change and other global challenges. India and Bangladesh agreed to address the outstanding issues of land boundary and demarcate the maritime boundary between the two countries. Land boundary issues will be resolved in the spirit of the 1974 Land Boundary Agreement and the Joint Boundary Group will

take the process forward. Maritime boundary issue will be resolved under Annex VII of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The ministerial level meetings of the Joint Rivers Commission will discuss water sharing of rivers Teesta, Feni, Manu, Muhuri, Khowai, Gumti, Dharla and Dudhkumar. India assured that it would not take any steps on the Tipaimukh project that would adversely impact Bangladesh. Dredging of Ichhamati and river protection at Mahananda, Karatoa, Nagar, Kulik, Atrai, Dharla and Feni would be taken up. India would support Bangladesh to dredge rivers for flood control, navigation and access to ports and agreed to provide dredgers on urgent basis. Bangladesh has asked for nine dredgers. India has announced a line of credit of $ one billion for a range of projects, including railway infrastructure, supply of BG locomotives and passenger coaches, rehabilitation of Saidpur

workshop, procurement of buses including articulate buses and dredging projects. India has agreed to consider the request for assistance to construct road infrastructure in Dhaka. Bangladesh has asked India to construct a flyover across Tin Bigha Corridor for exclusive use by India as greed earlier. For facilitating trade, Ashuganj in Bangladesh and Silghat in India will be declared as “ports of call.†A joint team will assess the improvement of infrastructure and the cost for one-time or longer term transportation of over dimensional cargo from Ashuganj. India will make necessary investment. Bangladesh has agreed to allow the use of Monga and Chittagong sea ports for movement of goods to and from India through road and rail. Bangladesh would give access to these two ports also to Nepal and Bhutan. Trucks from Bhutan and Nepal will be allowed to enter about 200 meters into zero-point at Banglabandh-Phulbari land customs station – a

decision which would ensure South Asian connectivity on the eastern side. It was also agreed upon that Rohanpur-Singabad broad gauge railway link would be available for transit to Nepal. Bangladesh has planned to convert Radhikapur-Birol railway line into broad gauge for railway transit link to Bhutan. With a view to encourage imports from Bangladesh, both countries agreed to address removal of tariff and non-tariff barriers, port restrictions and facilitate movement of containerized cargo by rail and water. Bangladesh has asked for further reduction in India’s negative list for imports. India would support upgradation of Bangladesh Standard Testing Institute with a view to help Bangladesh meet quality norms in trade. Both the countries agreed to boost bilateral trade and investment on either side. Both the countries agreed to operationalise land customs stations at Sabroom-Ramgarh and Demagiri-Thegamukh and

strengthen the infrastructure of both new and existing land customs stations. It was agreed to set up border haats on pilot basis at select points, including that on Meghalaya border – which would ensure connectivity to the remote northeastern India. For facilitating the movement of the people of both the countries, it was agreed to start the Maitree Express between Kolkata and Dhaka. The construction of the proposed Akhaura-Agartala? railway link will be financed by grant from India. India has agreed to supply to Bangladesh 250 MW electricity from its grid. Bangladesh appreciated India for electrifying Dahagram-Angarpota area on the border. Both the countries emphasized the need to expedite inter-grid connectivity, joint power projects exchange of electricity, including that generated from renewable sources as per the MoU signed.

The tentative cost estimate for inter-grid connectivity is assessed at about Rs 869.21 crore, out of which Bangladesh’s share is Rs 708.88 crore and that for India is Rs 160.33 crore. Bangladesh has requested Power Grid Corporation of India (PGCIL) to act as a consultant on a nomination basis to assist in project execution since the work related to HVDC is being done for the first time in Bangladesh. Keeping in the view the long historical and cultural links between the two countries a MoU on cultural exchange was signed. It was agreed that both the countries would jointly celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of the Nobel Laureate and poet Rabindranath Tagore in 2011. India would offer 300 scholarships to Bangladeshi students for five years for their study in India.

India and Bangladesh have come closer to work for mutual benefit and for the good of South Asia. Ms Hasina on her part has already drawn the contours. It all depends upon how long the democratic and secular forces prevail in Bangladesh.# ------------- On the visit of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina India, Bangladesh write a new chapter for cooperation It may have far reaching impact on South Asian region By: ASHOK B SHARMA on: Tue 12 of Jan, 2010 15:46 UTC http://www.news.anypursuit.com/tiki-read_article.php?articleId=1412 http://www.mynews.in/News/India,_Bangladesh_write_new_chapter_on_cooperation_N35075.html New Delhi, Jan 12: India and Bangladesh have decided to write a new chapter on bilateral cooperation which would have a far reaching impact on South Asia. India has announced a $ one billion line of credit to Bangladesh for developing its infrastructure which includes construction of railway bridges, setting up of railway coach factories, upgradation of Sahigpur coach factory and dredging. India has also extended a special grant for Akhaura-Agartala? rail link. India would also supply 250 MW power to Bangladesh as part of the MoU signed yesterday for cooperation in power sector. Both the countries signed three accords namely Agreement on Mutual

Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters, Agreement on Transfer of Sentenced Persons and Agreement on Combating International Terrorism, Organised Crime and Illicit Drug Trafficking. As part of the MoU signed for cultural exchange, both the countries will jointly celebrate 150 birth anniversary of the famous poet, Rabindranath Tagore in 2011. India has decided to increase the number of scholarships to Bangladeshi students pursuing their study in India from 150 to 300. The visiting prime minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, while addressing the Indian industry on Tuesday said : “Recently for the benefit of our peoples, living in remote areas on either side along the border, we have agreed to open border haats. Decision has also been taken, at the request of India, to open new trade routes through Tegamukh-Demagiri? and Sabroom-Ramgarh? border points. As for connectivity, several possibilities are being examined taking into account their

bilateral and regional dimensions.†The opening of new border haats would facilitate land route trade between the two countries. She said that Bangladesh had officially agreed to be part of the Asian Highway Network. “ For regional trade and people to people connectivity we have proposed movement of passenger and cargo vehicles to Nepal and Bhutan, from and to Bangladesh. We are also discussing rail and road links with eastern India, similar to that on the western side, for greater benefits of the people of the eastern region,†she said. It has been agreed upon by both the countries that Ashuganj in Bangladesh and Shilghat in West Bengal will be used as “ports of call.†Mangla and Chittagonj ports will be used for connectivity from Rohanpur in Rajsahi and Singabad in India. For sharing of the water of river Teesta and joint ministerial committee would be set up. The Bangladesh Prime Minister

appreciated the electrification work done by India in Dahagram and Anrapota areas on the India-Bangladesh border. Ms Hasina called for removing bottlenecks in bilateral trade and to put in place an appropriate settlement mechanism. She said that Bangladesh would certainly appreciate India’s favourable response to further duty free access to Bangladeshi commodities to Indian market, removal of non-tariff barriers and improvement of trade infrastructure. Apart from boosting bilateral trade, she invited Indian investment in Bangladesh and also urged Bangladeshi business community to take advantage of the new opportunities in India. Ms Hasina was emotionally charged when she received the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development from the President of India, Pratibha Devisingh Patil. Recalling the historical and cultural links between the two countries and reciting verses of poems written by Rabindranath Tagore and Kazi

Nazrul, she said that she would not only work for Sonar Bangla (Golden Bengal) but also for a lasting peace in South Asia. The award was instituted by the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust formed in the memory of the former prime minister of India who played a key role in liberating Bangladesh in 1971. Ms Hasina paid tributes to Indira Gandhi and said “she was not only your leader, but also our mother. She gave us shelter in our days of trials and tribulations.†The chairperson of the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust, Sonia Gandhi and Indian Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh and the President of India, Pratibha Devisingh Patil highlighted Indira Gandhi’s role in liberating Bangladesh and her work and vision in the interests of developing countries.# ----------

On visit of Bangladesh primier Sheikh Hasina India, Bangladesh sign three agreementson counter terrorism, organised crime and drug trafficking India aims at reviving physical and emotional links By: ASHOK B SHARMA on: Mon 11 of Jan, 2010 15:48 UTC http://www.news.anypursuit.com/tiki-read_article.php?articleId=1407 http://www.mynews.in/News/India,_Bangladesh_sign_three_pacts_on_counter_terrorism,_organised_crime_and_drug_trafficking_N35003.html New Delhi, Jan

11: India and Bangladesh on Monday signed three agreements to fight terror, organised crime and drug trafficking and a pact on sharing power. The accords signed are Agreement on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters, Agreement on Transfer of Sentenced Persons and Agreement on Combating International Terrorism, Organised Crime and Illicit Drug Trafficking. The two countries also signed a MoU on cooperation in the power sector. On the visit of the Bangladesh Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, the Indian ministry for external affairs has that the visit promises to be a path-breaking one and would give both the countries a historic opportunity to build a new and forward looking relationship. India is committed to working with Bangladesh to build “on our historical and traditionally close links and open vistas in our bilateral relations.†Mrs Hasina is slated to be conferred the

prestigious Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development for 2009 on January 12 at the Rashtrapati Bhavan (Presidential Palace). The award in the name of the former Indian Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi is significant for Bangladesh as that country was liberated in 1971 by the efforts of Mrs Gandhi. The Bangladesh liberation campaign was then led by Mrs Hasina’s father late Sheikh Mujibur Rehman. Mrs Hasina is also slated to address a business event organized by the apex Indian industry chambers on January 12. She will be visiting Ajmer on January 13 and leave for Dhaka on the same day. According to Indian external affairs ministry India remains committed to provide substantial assistance to Bangladesh to become a major partner in its economic development. India is addressing an entire range of developmental issues of direct interest to Bangladesh including railway infrastructure, transportation, dredging,

power grid interconnectivity, human resources development and investment and trade. Bangladesh has welcomed India’s decision to provide it transit facilities to Nepal and Bhutan. # ------------ INDIA : Nation remembers Indira Gandhi 'India is not a soft state' Bank nationalisation turned out to be prophetic and visionary By: ASHOK B SHARMA* on: Sat 31 of Oct., 2009 13:52 UTC http://www.news.anypursuit.com/tiki-read_article.php?articleId=880 http://www.financialexpress.com/news/indira-gandhi-proved-india-is-not-a-soft-state/535653/0 http://www.mynews.in/News/Nation_remembers_Indira_Gandhi_for_proving_India_is_not_a_soft_state_N28990.html New Delhi, Oct 31 : Nation today remembers the former Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi on the day of her martyrdom on October 31, 1984. The determined lady who was once considered as one of the world’s powerful leader was the only prime minister of the country who proved that India was not a soft state through her actions In the war with Pakistan in 1971 leading to the creation of Bangladesh, annexation of Sikkim in 1975 and suppression of separatist movement in the country. Another most important reason for which Indira Gandhi needs to be

remembered is her bold decision to nationalize leading banks in the country about 40 years ago on July 14, 1969. This proved to be wise and visionary, particularly, today as it insulated the country’s banking sector from the direct impact of global financial crisis. These nationalised worked under robust oversight and regulations while deepening financial access and markets. After nationalisation of banks a number of unemployed youth received loans for entrepreneurship.

It is hard to believe today after 25 years of her death that India could once rebuff political pressure and military threat from the world’s most powerful country – the United States of America. The then US President, Richard Nixon disliked Indira Gandhi and referred to her as a “witch†and a “clever fox†in his private conversation with the Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger, which was later made public. In 1971 the Pakistani army heavily cracked down on the civilian population of erstwhile East Pakistan and as a result over 10 million refugees fled to India. The Pakistan military action was in disregard to the election verdict which caused the emergence of Awami League as the single largest party.

The Pakistan military dictatorship under Agha Muhammad Yahya Khan and the then political leaders of West Pakistan apprehended the shifting of political capital from Islamabad to Dhaka or separation of its eastern wing, despite assurances the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to resolve the issue within the framework of Pakistan. The military repression in erstwhile East Pakistan and the flight of refugees brought India into a war with Pakistan. The US mooted a resolution in the United Nations Security Council warning India going to war with Pakistan. Indira Gandhi signed a treaty of friendship and cooperation with the Soviet Union in August 1971 and the Soviet Union vetoed US proposal in the UN. Indira Gandhi also took measures to build up diplomatic pressures across the world drawing attention to genocide and rape by Pakistan forces in its eastern wing and the plight of refugees. She explained to the world leaders that they were

unnecessarily “defending the prestige of one man in Pakistan who is not an elected representative and who is a military dictator.†The US sent its Seventh Fleet in the Indian Ocean during the India-Pakistan? war of 1971 as a warning to India. But undauntedly Indian army fought and on December 16, 1971 Pakistani army surrendered before Indian forces and Mukti Bahini of Bangladesh at Race Course in Dhaka. Thus was the birth of Bangladesh. Bangabandhu at a reception hailed Indira Gandhi saying “you are not only the leader of Bangladesh alone, you are the leader of all mankind.â€

Pakistan joined by US and China tried to prevail upon the world leaders in not recognising Bangladesh. But this did not last long. Series of recognition began with Myanmar being the first country to establish diplomatic relations with its immediate neighbour. However, the Shimla Agreement between Indian Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi and the Pakistan President Zulfiq Ali Bhutto of July 2, 1972 saw a little softening of India’s position. Some criticised the agreement for not making the Line of Control in Kashmir as a permanent border between the two countries as an attempt to resolve the issue once and for all. Others criticised the failure to pressurise Pakistan in handing over its occupied part of Jammu & Kashmir in exchange for 93,000 prisoners of war. India’s victory in 1971 war with Pakistan brought back Indira Gandhi’s party, Indian National Congress to power in West Bengal defeating the Left-dominated

United Front led by the former chief minister, Ajoy Mukherjee. Sidhartha Shankar Ray became the Congress chief minister of the state in March 19, 1972. Indira Gandhi not only created a new history with the creation of Bangladesh and annexation of Sikkim but also new political geography. After India’s Independence in August 1947, a popular vote in Sikkim rejected the proposal of its joining the Indian Union, and Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru agreed to a special protectorate status for Sikkim. Sikkim came under the suzerainty of India, which controlled its external affairs, defence, diplomacy and communications, but Sikkim otherwise retained autonomy. A state council was established in 1955 to allow for constitutional government under the Chogyal. The monarch became unpopular with the people and in 1975, the Kazi (Prime Minister) appealed to the Indian Parliament for a change in Sikkim's status so that it could become a

state of India. In April, the Indian Army took over the city of Gangtok and disarmed the Palace Guards. A referendum was held in which 97.5% of the voting people (59% of the people entitled to vote) voted to join the Indian Union. A few weeks later, on May 16, 1975, Sikkim officially became the 22nd state of the Indian Union and the monarchy was abolished. China which is still unhappy with Sikkim’s annexation to India could not dare to interfere in the regime of Indira Gandhi. A national nuclear programme was initiated by Indira Gandhi in 1967 in response to the nuclear threat from China India successfully conducted an underground nuclear test – “Smiling Buddha- in Pokhran in Rajasthan. Indira Gandhi was also the initiator of India’s IT Revolution. A Cabinet note was prepared to this effected just before her assasination. Her successor Rajiv Gandhi thereafter took up the initiative.The Green

Revolution initiated in 1960s saw bearing its fruit in Indira Gandhi’s regime. However, there is a black spot in Indira Gandhi’s political career. She was responsible for sabotaging democracy the State of Emergency in the country in 1975-77. She reaped the consequences of emergency in her electoral defeat in 1977 which brought the first non-Congress government headed headed by Morarji Deasiof Janata Party to power. Her forced sterilisation programme also ran into controversy. She is also accused of fostering Sikh extremism in the initial phase and ultimately being harsh in dealing with them in the later phase. This led to her assassination by her Sikh bodyguards – Satwant Singh and Beant Singh – in October 31, 1984.#

(•The author was a volunteer in the refugee camp along India-Bangladesh border and also covered the war as a journalist.) -

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