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Indo-Bangla relations

27 June 2006, 18:00 PM
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
By Brig Gen AHM Abdul Momen (Retd), DOHS, Mohakhali, Dhaka
27 June 2006, 18:00 PM
The news item on Sheikh Hasina's meeting with the Indian Prime Minister Mr. Manmohan Singh as reported in The Daily Star on 23rd June, 2006 drew my attention. Mr. Saber Hossain Chowdhury, the political secretary to Hasina, said, "We appeal to the BNP that India be not made an issue in the general election in Bangladesh and Dhaka should conduct its ties with New Delhi based on its national interests." Did he try to appease the Indians? Rather, it would have been most appropriate if Mr. Saber stated that it would be appreciated if the Indians implement all the agreements so far agreed upon and signed by both the countries within the time frame and in toto. But, unfortunately, this has not happened.

Just to remind him, immediately after the signing of Indira-Mujib Treaty in 1974, Bangladesh handed over the Berubari enclave to India even without waiting for the ratification, but after a lapse of 32 years India is still reluctant to handover Angorpotha and Dahagram on one pretext or the other, in spite of the fact that the Bangladeshis in the enclave are undergoing immense hardship.

Presently, the news of BSF killing of Bangladeshi nationals appears in our newspapers daily. One would like to observe here that there is no reaction of political parties on this issue. The day one BSF soldier was killed, came the reaction of the Indian High Commissioner and very rightly at that. Of course, the foreign ministry spokesperson then denied the contention of the Indian High Commission by giving details of actual happenings.

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I would like to refresh the mind of Mr. Saber by drawing his attention to the outstanding issues between the two neighbours. The list is enormous as you know.