By IANS,
Dhaka : A “congenial ambience” between Bangladesh and India would be of help when issues like Tipaimukh dam, trade and transit are taken up during the visit of Foreign Minister Dipu Moni to New Delhi in the coming week.
Political and diplomatic observers see a congenial ambience in place with an Awami League government in Dhaka and a Congress-led government in Delhi. Their historical ties could help smoothen the edges on contentious issues, The Daily Star said Sunday.
Moni is scheduled to meet her Indian counterpart S.M. Krishna Tuesday when Dhaka would like to be reassured about India’s plans to build a dam on the Barak river at Tipaimukh in Manipur state.
Delhi has assured that it would not do anything that could hurt Dhaka’s interests after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government faced angry protests from a section of environmentalists who were joined by main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).
India had received a team of lawmakers, water management experts and officials, but they could not visit the proposed dam’s site due to inclement weather. Another visit may be planned during the talks.
Trade also tops the talks’ agenda because the gap in India’s favour is widening to over $2,566 million.
Although India has announced duty free imports from Bangladesdh and accepts eight million apparels duty-free, Dhaka expects more concessions from Delhi.
Moni leaves here for New Delhi Monday. She was there in February when she met then external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee, who has since moved to the finance ministry.
On trade, United News of Bangladesh (UNB) news agency said: “If India removes the barriers, Bangladesh could step up its export to the landlocked seven northeastern states and close the trade imbalance.”
India is seeking more land-route connectivity through Bangladesh to boost trade in its seven northeastern states. But the BNP-led opposition calls any move to provide India access as “a sell out”.
On the issue of sharing of waters of the common rivers, there has not been any progress in distribution of waters of the seven rivers, including the Teesta. The matter is now whirling in different technical committees.
The land border keeps simmering with India’s Border Security Force (BSF) allegedly “shooting down” several Bangladeshi nationals, amid protests by the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR).
Dhaka calls them ‘killing’ while Delhi defends it saying they are smugglers and criminals, often armed, who travel during the dark and its personnel fire in self-defence.
On security, both Bangladesh and India agree to cooperate with each other through exchange of information to combat terrorism. Dhaka has repeatedly assured Delhi of not allowing any insurgent or terrorist group to use its territory.