Dr. Forqan Uddin Ahmed :
On the golden jubilee of Bangladesh’s independence, the Prime Minister of India visited Dhaka on March 26 and paid homage to Bangabandhu’s tomb on the following day. On the same day, he also visited at Sridham, Orakandi village of Kashiani upazila, a holy place for Hindus belonging to the Matua community. He worshiped the Harichand-Guruchand Tagore temple at Tagore’s house, spoke to members in front of the temple and exchanged views with more than three hundred designated Matua leaders. His visit was a very important event.
This visit was presumed very important for both the countries. In recent times, India-Bangladesh relations are going through various rumors. The two countries have had a bit of an uncomfortable time with various statements on the NRC issue, Pakistan’s intense efforts to develop relations with Bangladesh and strategic relations with China. But both Bangladesh and India want friendly relations to reach new heights. That is why the foreign secretaries of the two countries discussed trade, power, energy, water resources and other multidimensional issues in their meeting on January 29. Whatever the reaction to the visit, Narendra Modi’s visited in elections time of West Bengal. His visit to Bangladesh during election time of West Bengal, the BJP candidates have the opportunity to utilize as an election campaign.
During this visit, it has been proposed to finalize the framework agreement on water sharing of six common rivers between India and Bangladesh. It was hoped that the most important announcement will be made regarding the distribution of water in six identical rivers. The distribution of water in these six rivers is very important to us. Because in the dry season upstream i.e. India withdraws water, the water in the Bangladesh part of the common rivers of the two countries decreases considerably. In the rainy season the situation is reversed. The rivers of Bangladesh have excess water. Then, as a result of the release of water from the upper reaches, floods occur in Bangladesh. In order to solve the problem, Modi’s visit to Bangladesh will play a significant role.
On the last day of the visit, the Prime Ministers of the two countries held a bilateral meeting. In the presence of the heads of government of the two countries, five memorandums of understanding were signed, including the removal of tariff barriers to trade, information-communication assistance and disaster management. In addition to the signing of the MoU, a number of virtual projects were inaugurated at the bilateral meeting. Including, Passenger Train Service between Dhaka and New Jalpaiguri, Bangladesh-India Independence Road. It also inaugurated the Indian-funded renovation work at Kutibari in Shilaidaha, Kushtia. After the visit, Modi said from his personal Twitter account: “The meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been fruitful. We have reviewed in detail all aspects of India-Bangladesh relations and discussed ways to deepen economic and cultural ties in the future.”
In the year of the golden jubilee of Bangladesh’s independence and the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the issue of Bangladesh-India relations is drawing everyone’s attention to the historical bond of friendship and solidarity. During the current tenure of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Shri Narendra Modi, the relations between Bangladesh and India have been setting shining examples one after another.
Under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina, daughter of Bangabandhu, Bangladesh is gradually emerging as an influential country in South and South-East Asia by launching Maitri Bridge over the Feni River. This connectivity is not only between Bangladesh and India. Connectivity between Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Nepal will increase. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Dhaka to celebrate the golden jubilee of independence will be meaningful and will get a momentum only when the two countries will rise above communalism. His participation in the Golden Jubilee celebrations of Bangladesh’s independence will surely pave the way for solving the problems. Undoubtedly, the message of development, peace and prosperity of Bangladesh and India has been reflected in this visit.
(Dr. Forqan is former Deputy Director General, Bangladesh Ansar & VDP).
