INDIAN Prime Minister, during his recent Dhaka visit, was full of appreciation and looked ecstatic about India-Bangladesh relations, particularly about what Bangladesh had done for security of her most vulnerable region in the northern hill states and against terrorism, border along the countries seem to be heating up once again. This time it is Indian cow that find what they call illegal entry into Bangladesh that has ignited RSS excitement. So India has deployed 30 thousand troops to stop this.
As a matter of fact, Bangladesh has given India most favoured nation treatment – almost blank cheque in all matters whenever she asked for any privilege including transit. But the hard fact on the ground is that this gesture is not being reciprocated. Indians have a keen eye on our ports for their use. They have double crossing of border facility mostly for their remote transit passengers. They are eyeing on our off-shore gas and oil prospecting. India has made point to have Hilsa from Bangladesh at a lesser price. But so far Indian onion is concerned, its price has been doubled in arbitrary manner. Latest move on the card is the 3-nation gas pipeline which will facilitate Indian access to Myanmar gas field off Cox’s Bazar with major Indian interests.
If the matter is taken in the SAFTA spirit, they should be allowing us a win-win deal, not one in ‘heads I win and tails you lose’ manner. Long since, Bangladesh has been very close to India’s heart. The Gujral doctrine enshrined it, much before the Modi government came in power. But beginning from CHT peace treaty to the latest Border Deal — all seemed not to give Bangladesh any peace. The desertification process and salinity are continuing as usual. Peace seems to be illusive in the Bangladeshi hills with unrest still fuming. On the other hand, India now is making forays into neighbouring Myanmar border complacently hitting at her rebels as Bangladesh assisted her in keeping peace in the region.
So Bangladesh deserved to get something concrete, not abstract, in exchange from such a valued friend. According to press report, 20 lakh cattle heads used to reach Bangladesh annually from India. Now it has come down to only 20,000 leading closure of Bangladesh meat processing industries and many tanneries. It is not that India does not export beef. It does but it seems taboo is at work only in case of Bangladesh, So there is nothing we can perceive as plausible reasons for which only Bangladesh should be marked out. Why not it is the same case with other countries too?
Bangladesh by all consideration deserves a fair deal. India is in a most advantageous position in the matter of trade balance with Bangladesh. This issue of cattle business along the borders should have been discussed and negotiated. Still we hope the dispute should be decided through discussion and negotiation.
