Diplomatic Correspondent :
Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said in Dhaka yesterday that the only long-term solution to the situation in Rakhine is rapid socio-economic and infrastructure development that would have a positive impact on all the communities living in the state.
India, for its part, she said has committed to provide financial and technical assistance for identified projects to be undertaken in Rakhine State in conjunction with the local authorities. What she wanted to say was that development of the State would make easier the return of the Rohingyas.
She did not call for immediate return of the refugees although Bangladesh made the plea for sustained efforts by the Indian government to bring pressure on Myanmar government to that end.
Briefing the media at Hotel Pan Pacific Sonargaon Sushma Swaraj even did not utter the word – ‘Rohingya’ and said her country want safe return of the ‘displaced’ persons to mean the Rohingyas who fled to Bangladesh following persecution of Myanmar military in the Rakhine State. The word Rohingya is officially forbidden in Myanmar.
The exodus continues as the Indian Foreign Minister is on a 24-hour visit to Dhaka to take part in the meeting of India-Bangladesh Joint Consultative meeting and hold discussion with senior officials and government leaders on bilateral issues.
But to Bangladesh the Rohingya issue is the single largest critical issue and people here wanted to hear from her India’s clear stance on the situation. People in Bangladesh were not interested to hear what assistance India is giving to Myanmar for developments of Rakhine State, they had expected to hear what India is doing
and would do to stop the persecution and ethnic cleansing. Her comments left the issue unanswered for people to feel totally frustrated. It is unbelievable India would not do anything immediately to stop the killing and torching of Rohingya villages.
She only said “India is deeply concerned at the spate of violence in Rakhine State of Myanmar. We have urged that the situation be handled with restraint, keeping in mind the welfare of the population. It is clear that normalcy will only be restored with the return of the displaced persons to Rakhine State,” she said.
She also said her country supports the recommendations of Rakhine Advisory Commission, headed by former UNSG Kofi Annan. “We have also supported the implementation of the recommendations contained in the Kofi Annan led Special Advisory Commission report,” Sushma said.
Expressing gratitude to the Bangladesh government she said, this is my second visit to Bangladesh at the invitation of Bangladeshi counterpart Mahmood Ali.
“India has longstanding development partner of Bangladesh. We would like to work to eliminate terrorism and violent activities. “We are in zero tolerance in this regard,” she said.
Sushma said India attaches the “utmost importance” to its relations with Bangladesh.
“Our relations are based on fraternal ties and are reflective of an all-encompassing partnership based on sovereignty, equality, trust and understanding that goes far beyond a strategic partnership,” she said.
“India has always stepped in to assist Bangladesh in times of need,” she said recalling the 1971 war of independence when the Indian army shed blood with Bangladeshis to liberate the country.
They vowed to continue to fight “this scourge together and along with other like-minded countries.”
“We are both determined to protect our societies from the threat of ideologies of hate, violence and terror by adopting a zero tolerance policy and a comprehensive approach in fighting violent extremism and terrorism at all levels,” she said.
She said after the Rakhine State crisis, they had launched ‘Operation Insaniyat’ in September to support the government’s “commendable effort” to provide shelter to those displaced people.
“We have urged that the situation be handled with restraint, keeping in mind the welfare of the population,” she said.
Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali urged India “to contribute towards exerting sustained pressure on Myanmar to find a peaceful solution to the crisis including sustainable return of all Rohingyas to their homeland.”
Foreign Minister Ali also thanked India for the support and said they are “happy to be reassured that India would continue to support the humanitarian assistance”.
“India is our most important, trusted and friendly neighbour,” he said, adding that the relation now stands on a “historic new height” due to initiatives taken across sectors.
Mahmood Ali said the two neighbours were cooperating in many ways to enhance connectivity through road, rail and waterways.
“We proposed some new regional connectivity initiatives,” he said.
Those include: Dhaka-Chennai-Colombo air connectivity, Chittagong-Kolkata-Colombo shipping connectivity, Panchagarh-Shiliguri rail link, internet connectivity with Bhutan through Indian territory, trade route connecting Nakugaon Land Port [Bangladesh] to Gayleyphung [Bhutan] via Dalu [India].
He said during the meeting they also agreed that BBIN Motor Vehicle Agreement will be implemented between Bangladesh, India and Nepal [BIN] through exchange of letters keeping provision for Bhutan to join later.
Bhutan earlier expressed its inability to continue with the BBIN now due to its domestic compulsion.
The Foreign Minister said they agreed that MoU for trilateral hydropower cooperation among Bangladesh, India and Bhutan would be signed soon.
“India also agreed to facilitate import of electricity to Bangladesh from hydro projects in Nepal,” he said.
In additional to the current import of 660 MW, India agreed to supply 340 MW more electricity from Tripura through Comilla grid, he said.
“We have also discussed new proposals for supply of electricity from West Bengal and India’s north-east.”
Both ministers also witnessed the signing of three bilateral documents which include capacity building in SMEs, Sale-Purchase Agreement between Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation and Numaligarh Refinery of India.
Ali also handed over the instrument of ratification for the framework agreement on international solar power alliance that Bangladesh ratified in Aug this year.
