2010
INDIA
DESK
POLICY
PAPER
[Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed
visits India: Breaking new grounds?]
Pakistan Study Centre
University of the Punjab
Lahore, Pakistan
Policy Report
January 2010
Research Panel:



Professor Dr. Massarrat Abid,
Director
Professor Dr. Syed Farooq Hasnat
Ahmad Ejaz
Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed
visits India: Breaking new grounds?
Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina Wajed visited India for
the first time after her resounding election victory in December
2008. Her tour of India (January 10-13) was intended to provide a
new impetus to bilateral relations between the two countries.
2
The Indian government described
cooperation in infrastructure
the first official visit of Sheikh
building. Security was the
Hasina as ‘path-breaking and
prominent item on agenda of this
historic opportunity.’
visit. A number of issues, including
the maritime demar-cation, border
Pro-India Prime Minister Sheikh
issues, human insecurity in
Hasina was given a warm welcome
unsettled enclaves, disparity in
in New Delhi and conferred with
sharing information, transnational
Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace,
security threats and the issue of
Disarmament and Development for
militancy and terrorism were more
2009. At that moment, she
prominent.
presented her profound gratitude
to India and its people for their
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and
military support in 1971 civil war
her Indian counterpart Manmohan
after which her father Sheikh
Singh emphasized the need to
Mujibur Rahman1 became the first
cooperate actively on security
Prime Minister of Bangladesh.
matters, with a promise to resolve
Paying tribute to Indira Gandhi, the
these issues on priority basis.
late Prime Minister of India (who
They “reiterated the assurance that
was a chief architect for the
the territory of either would not be
creation of Bangladesh), Sheikh
allowed for activities inimical to the
Hasina said that Indira Gandhi
other and resolved not to allow
“was truly like our mother.”2
their respective territory to be used
Bangladeshi Prime Minister
for training, sanctuary and other
discussed with the Indian leaders a
operations by domestic or foreign
wide range of bilateral relations,
terrorist/militant and insurgent
focusing on security, terrorism,
organizations and their
border aspects, trade, and
operatives.”3
3
territory. The Nation Today further
The foremost achievement of this
added that cooperation in security
visit was the conclusion of five
and counter-terrorism efforts has
agreements signed between the
been “a cornerstone of bilateral
two countries, related to mutual
relationship” between the two
legal assistance in criminal
countries, since the present Awami
matters, transfer of sentenced
League-led government was
persons, fight against terror,
formed.5
organised crime and illegal drug
trafficking, and power cooperation
Besides the security issues, leaders
and cultural exchange program-
of both sides focused on other
mmes. The Nation Today, a leading
matters relating to borders, water
daily of Bangladesh, commented
sharing of common rivers, trade
that three agreements on Mutual
and communications. In this
Legal Assistance on Criminal
regard, the fundamental issues
Matters, Transfer of Sentenced
regarding land boundary and
Persons, and Combating
maritime boundary also came
International Terrorism, Organised
under discussion and both sides
Crime and Illicit Drug Trafficking
showed their willingness to resolve
have enhanced the “bilateral
the boundary issues, keeping in
security cooperation.”
view 1974 Land Boundary
4
between
the two neighbouring states. These
Agreement. They decided to
agreements, according to the
summon the Joint Boundary
newspaper would help India to get
Working Group to advance this
its reach to northeast insurgent
process.6
groups like the outlawed United
Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA)
and other terrorists who are
operating from the Bangladeshi
4
Sharing of Rivers
Indian and Bangladeshi officials of
Bangladesh agreed to permit India
agreed to resolve at the earliest,
“to use the Mongla and Chittagong
the long-standing issue of water
seaports for movement of goods to
sharing of common rivers. Sheikh
and from India through road and
Hasina Wajed urged the Indian
rail.”8 Both sides also agreed to
government for concluding the
declare the Ashuganj in
water –sharing treaties. She
Bangladesh and Silghat in India as
quoted the 30-year Ganges Water
“ports of call” to establish the
Treaty signed by India and
connectivity between the two
Bangladesh in 1996, and said that
countries.9
true spirit behind this treaty was to
ensure the sharing of the Ganges
It was decided that “the IWTT
waters, and more is required to
Protocol shall be amended through
reach mutual agreements on water
exchange of letters. A joint team
sharing of river Teesta and other
will assess the improvement of
common rivers.7 The two premiers
infrastructure and the cost for one-
directed their respective Water
time or longer term transportation
Resources Ministers to convene
of ODCs (Over Dimensional Cargo)
Ministerial-level meeting of the
from Ashuganj. India will make the
Joint Rivers Commission in the
necessary investment. Both
quarter of 2010. The joint
Governments agreed to expedite
communiqué shows that
implementation. Contractors from
both countries shall be eligible for
the work.”10
5
Communication and trade
Bangladeshi officials mulled over a
number of proposals for
One highlight of the India-
development of railway links –
Bangladesh cooperation has been
amongst them a project of railway
in communication sector, especially
linkage between Rohanpur and
in train travel. The resumption of
Singhabad. It was also considered
train service in March 2008
to ease “transit traffic from
between Dhaka and Kolkata after
Bangladesh to Nepal through
42 years had started a new phase,
India.” Another railway route
in Indo-Bangladesh communication
connecting India-Bangladesh-
cooperation. This has benefited the
Myanmar also came under
common person. A large number of
discussion.
12
people from both sides,
approximately 600,000
Historically speaking, both the
Bangladeshis and 100,000 Indians
countries have indulged in various
visit each other’s country, every
aspects of trade activities. For
year.
example, on March 28, 1972, they
had signed their first trade
Both the Prime Minters also agreed
agreement. A revised Trade
to take more measures for
Agreement was further inked in
recommencement of road and rail
2006. In addition, there are about
links between the two countries,
a dozen MoUs for facilitating trade
disconnected at the time of division
and economic linkages. India-
of the subcontinent in 1947 or
Bangladesh economic ties have
following the 1965 Indo-Pakistan
grown by 145 per cent in the last
war when Bangladesh was eastern
five years from about $1 billion in
part of Pakistan.11 Indian leading
2001-02 to $2.55 billion in 2006-
business newspaper, Business
07. India mooted the idea of a
Standard, reported that Indian and
bilateral Free Trade Agreement
6
(FTA) in 2002, and a draft proposal
easy travel of business community
was sent to Bangladesh, though
from the two countries. In
Dhaka has not taken a final
response, the Indian side agreed
decision on that.
for the promotion of trade between
13
The balance of
trade is in India’s favour. According
the two countries and assured the
to some figures the deficit runs
Bangladeshi officials that they
around to a substantial amount of
would welcome Bangladeshi
$6bn. A well respected Indian
products in the Indian markets,
columnist and a former diplomat,
with tariff-free treatment.
15
Kuldip Nayar is of the view that
commerce does remain a “sore
point with Bangladesh”. He further
points out: “True, New Delhi has
removed tariffs on all except 47
items. But the earnings from them
may not be more than $10m to
$15m. Had India allowed zero-tariff
access to whatever is
manufactured in Bangladesh it
would have been a gesture which
Opposing Views
could have dented even the hard
opposition lobby”.14
Although Bangladeshi official
sources termed the Prime Minister
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina called
Sheikh Hasina Wajed’s visit to
for the promotion of two-way
India a landmark development and
trade, and insisted for launching of
a win-win story, the Bangladeshi
an institutional mechanisms,
opposition termed it as a “sell
removal of obstacles, instigating
out”16 by pro-India Hasina. Sheikh
trade facilitation measures, like
Hasina herself called the visit as
7
“extremely fruitful.”17 She added:
Secretary General Khandaker
“Commendable progress was made
Delwar Hossain said: “We don’t
on long-pending issues, particularly
see any gain from the prime
on land boundary. Then, of course,
minister’s visit to India.”20 While
the agreements signed and
the former Foreign Minister of
decisions taken were very
Bangladesh Morshed Khan said
significant achievements. They
that Bangladesh got nothing but
would surely have favorable
‘assurances’ from India.21
impacts on the lives of our
BNP severely criticized Sheikh
peoples."18 Similarly on another
Hasina’s government’s decision for
occasion, Sheikh Hasina said that I
providing Mongla and Chittagong
returned home from India “with
seaport facilities to India as well as
friendship and cooperation …I think
agreements on power sector and
Bangladesh will be benefited more
transfer of sentenced prisoners to
through this visit."19
India.22 BNP Chairperson and
former Prime Minister, Khaleda Zia
Among the varied reactions
out rightly rejected joint
regarding Prime Minister Sheikh
communiqué issued on the Prime
Hasina's trip to New Delhi, some of
Minister Sheikh Hasina's India visit.
them see it as a gain for India,
She said that Sheikh Hasina has
while some find it as a cheering
gone "against the country's
triumph for Bangladesh, through
interests" during her tour of India.
the major accords between the two
Khaleda Zia called upon every
neighbors.
section of Bangladeshi nation to
stand against all “anti-nation
Bangladesh main political
agreements” with India.23
opposition party- Bangladesh
Nationalist Party (BNP) -termed
Abdul Awal Mintoo, member and
this visit as a ‘total failure.’ BNP
former chief of Federation of
8
Bangladesh Chambers of
decisions made regarding trade
Commerce and Industry (FBCCI),
and business on which basis new
said: "If the burning problems like
ground will be opened in the
tariff and non-tariff barriers to
future." …"But all depends on the
business are addressed, then the
implementation of the decisions. If
visit will be treated as a successful
the decisions are implemented, our
one for Bangladesh."
exports will increase to India."
24
26
The New York Times called the visit
Amongst the Bangladesh think
of Sheik Hasina as “beyond the
tanks, an eminent economist and
ceremonial”. It commented: “India
former chairman of Economics
has for so long been obsessed with
Department of Dhaka University,
the security of its north-western
Professor Abu Ahmed said that
frontier and relations with Pakistan
benefits of Sheikh Hasina’s visit
that issues on its eastern borders
mostly go in favour of India. He
have been neglected. But various
said that “India has been
events are forcing New Delhi to
successful in getting its own
focus on some interrelated security
interest served while Bangladesh
challenges in the east and
‘failed’ to realize its own
northeast. So the four-day state
demands.”25 Executive Director of
visit to India by Prime Minister
the Centre for Policy Dialogue Prof

Mustafizur Rahman, taking a
positive look on visit, commented
Bangladeshi Prime Minister
discussed with the Indian leaders a
wide range of bilateral relations,
focusing on security, terrorism,
border aspects, trade, and
cooperation in infrastructure
building.
that “this visit has done the
spadework for further progress on
many outstanding issues between
the two neighbours.”
He added: "From economic point of
view, I see some important

9
Sheikh Hasina Wajid of Bangladesh
authoritarianism.” He further
has an importance far beyond the
assesses that, “at times, the
ceremonial….While geography
Bangladeshi prime minister
alone makes Bangladesh highly
appears too impatient, too
dependent on its giant neighbor,
impressionable and too impetuous.
India is beginning to appreciate
She has only herself to fear, not
that bullying Bangladesh makes
the hapless opposition”.28 Under
other problems worse.”27
these fears the recent concessions
of Bangladesh to India becomes
On the other, Kuldip Nayar remains
uncertain and hurdles could come
pessimistic about the political
underway, in laying the foundation
stability of Bangladesh as he fears
for any long-term relationship
that, “Sheikh Hasina’s style of
between the two countries.
governance has a touch of
10
Highlights of Sheikh Hasina’s visit

Prime Ministers agreed to consider strengthening
diplomatic and consular presence in each other’s
countries.

The Prime Ministers expressed that the discussions on
the sharing of the Teesta waters between India and
Bangladesh should be concluded expeditiously.

Both Prime Ministers agreed on the need to amicably
demarcate the maritime boundary between India and
Bangladesh.

Both countries agreed to address removal of tariff and
non-tariff barriers and port restrictions and facilitate
movement of containerized cargo by rail and water.

The Prime Minister of Bangladesh invited India to
construct a flyover across Tin Bigha Corridor for exclusive
Indian use, as agreed earlier.

Border haats shall be established on a pilot basis at
selected areas, including on the Meghalaya border.

Government of India would offer Bangladesh 300
scholarships annually for a period of five years for study
and training in Universities and training institutions in
India, covering a wide range of disciplines as may be
required by scholars and persons in government
employment. The number may be increased through
mutual consultation.
11
NOTES
1
The Nation Today, January 12, 2010.
2
The Hindu, Delhi, January 13,2010
‘Full text of the joint communiqué,’ The Daily Star, Dhaka, February 1, 2010.
The Nation Today, Dhaka, January 14,2010
3
4
5
Ibid
6
The Bangladesh News, Dhaka, JANUARY 12, 2010, The Bangladesh Today, January 13, 2010.
http://www.thebangladeshtoday.com/archive/January%2010/13-1-2010.htm
7
Ibid, January 12, 2010.
8
‘Full text of the joint communiqué,’ The Daily Star, February 1, 2010.
9
Ibid.
10
Ibid.
11
Ibid.
12
Business Standard, January 26,2010, http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/mamata-hasinatalkimproving-rail-links/382455/
13
http://www.worldbank.org.bd/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/SOUTHASIAEXT/BANGLADES
HEXTN/0,,contentMDK:21149955~pagePK:141137~piPK:141127~theSitePK:295760,00.html
14
15
Kuldip Nayar, “New chapter for India & BD” Dawn, February 5, 2010.
The Nation Today, Dhaka, January 12, 2010.
16
The Bangladesh Today, January 18,2010,
http://www.thebangladeshtoday.com/archive/January%2010/18-1-2010.htm
17
The Nation Today, January 12, 2010.
18
Ibid.
19
20
Ibid; January 14, 2010.
http://www.indiatalkies.com/2010/01/hasinas-india-visit-total-failure-bangladesh-opposition.html
12
21
The News Today, Dhaka, January 13, 2010.
22
The New Nation, Dhaka, January 13, 2010,
http://www.ittefaq.com/issues/2010/01/13/news0032.htm The Nation Today, January 14, 2010.
23
The Bangladesh Today, January 18,2010,
http://www.thebangladeshtoday.com/archive/January%2010/18-1-2010.htm
24
The Nation Today, January 14, 2010.
25
Ibid.
26
Ibid.
27
The New York Times, January 11,2010, http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/12/opinion/12ihtedbowring.html?hp&ex=&ei=&partner=
28
Kuldip Nayar, op. cit.
13
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14