A 'watershed moment' for our bilateral ties

As Bangladesh prepares to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his maiden State visit to Bangladesh, I recall the words of President John F Kennedy at the Canadian Parliament: "Geography has made us neighbours; history has made us friends; economics has made us partners; and necessity has made us allies." This holds so true for Bangladesh-India ties as well!

Modi's visit comes at a watershed moment in our bilateral relations. Sixty-eight years after partition of 1947, and forty-one years after the conclusion of the Indira-Mujib Border Accord of 1974, the Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) between the two countries was finally unanimously adopted and cleared for ratification by both Houses of the Indian Parliament a couple of weeks ago. 

Narendra Modi has demonstrated how a long-standing complex bilateral issue can be resolved unanimously through consultation, compassion, and consensus-building. Consequently, there was not a single vote cast against Bangladesh in either House. Indian Parliamentarians not only enthusiastically supported the resolution, but also made very generous comments about Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's relentless efforts to eradicate the scourge of terrorism from our neighbourhood and beyond. The successful conclusion of the LBA also signals fulfillment of the vision of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who had initiated the process.

Coincidentally, the longstanding maritime boundaries between the two countries were also resolved last July through UN arbitration. Good borders make for good neighbours, as disputed boundaries very often create tension,. With the LBA, that chapter is now over. 

Through Agreement, the two countries have resolved three complex and sensitive issues. These are: 1) the exchange of 162 enclaves between the two countries; 2) exchange of adverse possessions of each other's territories; and 3) demarcation of 6.5 kilometers of boundary. Fifty-four thousand people who were living in isolation in those enclaves have exercised their right to determine their choice of nationality, and they will get the opportunity to live like free citizens in their own country.

Premier Modi has rightly pointed out in an interview that "we had settled the long pending land boundary issue with Bangladesh by taking all parties into confidence" and if this "massive achievement" had happened "elsewhere in the world, it would have been cited as an example as big as the fall of the Berlin Wall". The finalisation of the LBA augurs well for the two countries, and one sees a resurgence of the "spirit of 1971" which had guided the countries to fight jointly for the independence of Bangladesh. The emotional bond stemming from the steadfast support and invaluable contribution of the Government and the people of India at that critical juncture of her nationhood remains a dominant factor in Bangladesh's political, cultural and social wave.

Prime Minister Modi's visit at this defining moment should be fully utilised to resolve other outstanding bilateral issues, and to establish and consolidate cooperation in all spheres for the benefit of the two countries whose destinies are inextricably linked. It is heartening to note that both countries increasingly recognise their shared prosperity. India is a fast emerging global power, and Bangladesh should take full advantage of the high growth of the Indian economy to further her own economic development. On the other hand, a strong and stable Bangladesh provides the best security guarantee for India. Furthermore, economically and commercially, the two countries are becoming increasingly interlinked and interdependent.

At the same time, as close neighbours, Bangladesh and India should take note of each other's sensitivities and vulnerabilities, and demonstrate greater political will to establish mutually cooperative ties. A stable, strong and friendly neighbourhood is a necessity for any country, big or small, and especially in our region where several armed terrorist groups are eager to exploit differences between the two countries to further their own objectives. It is precisely the security issue that had bedeviled Indo-Bangladesh ties in the past, but Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, on assumption of power in 2009, has firmly controlled the situation and did not allow any terrorist activities, or any terrorist group, to use Bangladesh soil to launch any attack against India or any neighbouring country. 

It is natural to have bilateral problems with one's neighbours, more so for India and Bangladesh which share huge land and maritime boundaries, and use common rivers, railway and road networks. They also exchange goods and services, worth $6 billion, and often share natural disasters and pandemic diseases. Bangladesh and India can neither change their common history and heritage nor their geography. The only way to resolve the outstanding issues between them is through dialogue with an open mind. "Burden of history" should not make them captives of their prejudices and prevent them from looking at their long-term interest and security. 

The Summit-level visit by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to Delhi in 2010 and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Dhaka in 2011 laid down the basis for the resolution of the long-standing bilateral disputes and, at the same time, opened up new opportunities for strengthening and expanding bilateral cooperation. India's granting of $1 Billion loan for infrastructural development, and granting of duty-free access to Bangladesh exports to India, also ushered in a new era of cooperation in the economic arena. 

Last year, Sheikh Hasina assumed office of Prime Minister for a consecutive second term. The year also witnessed the landslide victory of BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in India, and Narendra Modi took over as the Prime Minister of India. Since then Prime Minister Modi has taken several steps to further strengthen the existing cooperation between the two countries. 

Prime Minister Modi views our cooperative ties as a catalyst for regional and sub-regional integration, progress and stability. Modi and Hasina had two rounds of very successful meetings in New York and Kathmandu on the sidelines of the UNGA and the SAARC Summits last year. 

Bangladesh also figures prominently in Prime Minister Modi's 'Look and Act East' policy and both countries are working on strengthening sub-regional cooperation between Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and North-East India through intensified connectivity within the sub-region as well as with the South East Asian countries and beyond under the aegis of BBIN, BIMSTEC, and ASEAN. Bangladesh enjoys a unique strategic location as a land bridge between South and South East Asia, and her coasts offer great opportunities for the development of ports and greater rail, road and river connectivity for the benefit of the entire region. Bangladesh also has huge skilled and semi-skilled workforce for the development of joint venture projects. 

One should not expect that we will be able to resolve all bilateral issues like water sharing of Teesta and other common rivers in one meeting but we should begin a comprehensive dialogue about the joint management of our rivers which are the lifeblood of our economy. 

Bangladesh should enhance economic integration with the fast growing Indian economy through greater connectivity and greater energy cooperation. Trade and investment questions should be jointly considered to establish more balanced and stable trade and economic ties. People of the two countries should be given the opportunity to interact and travel to each other's country more freely. New bus, train and air services should be started, visa regimes should be relaxed, and more consular missions should be opened on both sides of the border to facilitate the process. The killings on our border should be brought down to zero level through a compassionate border management. The opportunities before Bangladesh and India are vast and unlimited, and both the countries should move and grow together for the common benefit of their people, with a spirit of cooperation and understanding. 

The author is the High Commissioner of Bangladesh to India, and the views expressed here are his personal views and does not necessarily reflect the official views.