NARENDRA Modi showed his diplomatic acumen by inviting the leaders of the Saarc countries to his oath-taking ceremony as Indian prime minister on May 26, 2014. In five less than months, he visited Bhutan, Nepal, Japan and the United States. Modi is likely to visit Sri Lanka early next year but his plan to visit Bangladesh remains uncertain. This has given rise to many speculations.
Is he undermining the importance of a strong and friendly relationship with Bangladesh? The two countries have several bilateral issues to be resolved. The land boundary agreement involving the exchange of 111 enclaves in India and 51 in Bangladesh was signed in 1974. It is yet to be ratified by India. The Teesta water-sharing agreement could not be signed during the visit of the former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Dhaka two years ago due to the objection raised by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Other issues include transit facilities through both India and Bangladesh, sharing of water of about 50 cross-boundary rivers, border-killing of Bangladeshi citizens by BSF of India etc. Moreover, the two neighbours need to cooperate with each other to combat terrorism, an immediate threat and common enemy.
Modi is a matured statesman. He knows that just a courtesy visit with usual diplomatic rhetoric like “strengthening of historical and traditional ties between the two friendly neighbours” will not satisfy the people of Bangladesh. They have been listening to such jargon for years. Modi does not also want to repeat the mistakes of his predecessor, Manmohan Singh. He intends to do his home-work carefully and thoroughly in order to avoid any embarrassment at the last moment.
Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj and a BJP leader have given some important hints. Sushma told a media conference that the process to implement the land boundary agreement and work out the Teesta deal has started and will culminate in a positive outcome in not-too-distant future. “Modi wants both agreements through and over by March,” a top BJP leader said. “He will not go empty-handed. That is not his style. He will go with much more in his bag than what Bangladesh can expect,” the BJP leader added.
Bangladesh will be eagerly waiting to see what Modi carries in his bag when he comes to Dhaka. He surely realises not only the importance but also the urgency of resolution of the outstanding issues. Can we, therefore, expect Modi to visit Dhaka during the celebration of the next Independence Day of Bangladesh (March 26), a befitting occasion for him to resolve the remaining bilateral issues and win the hearts of 160 million neighbours?
Source: The Daily Star
