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B’desh seeks India’s help for economic growth
Tariq A Karim Bangladesh High Commissioner to India
India that has graduated from a regional to global power must take some bold initiatives to make Bangladesh a dependable economic partner and a trusted neighbour. It will help both the nations to rediscover each other and solve all major problems facing them, says Tariq A Karim, Bangladesh High Commissioner to India. A career diplomat, Karim has been persuaded by Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to come out of retirement to take up this important and challenging assignment. Incidentally, it is his second term in India as a diplomat. The first one between 1984 and 1988 was as Deputy High Commissioner.
He has served in Iran, Pakistan, Germany, Thailand, UK and China, besides holding key positions in the Foreign Ministry at home. He sought voluntary retirement with five years service remaining to join academia where his doctoral thesis is pending for want of time. Bangladesh Prime Minister may visit India before the end of the year, says Tariq Karim, maintaining a lot of homework has to be done before her visit.
Sheikh Hasina has a vision and I share that vision, he says, claiming that she wants to “set right all that which has gone wrong in our bilateral relations”. “It is a rare alignment of stars that both India and Bangladesh have like-minded governments. It is happening for the first time since 1971 when there was Awami League government in Bangladesh and Congress government in India.”
The present Awami League regime that has come to power with a massive mandate has friendly feelings for India. Incidentally, in 38 years, Bangladesh had Awami League government only for eight years while for rest of the time the governments were in control of powers that were anti or hostile to India.
Says Karim: “ Period of such amiable star alignment is short. Eleven months of this positive period have already passed. Now we are left with 19 months before mid-term in which we have not only to improve people to people contact, eliminate hostilities, end scourge of terrorism by not allowing their territories being used for harbouring terrorists and resolve some of the long standing problems.”He says once the process of normalising and strengthening bilateral relations is set in motion, it will help Bangladesh to emerge as a stable economic nation. He refers to the 1985 statement of then Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi that India has to help Bangladesh develop into a prosperous economic nation that will accord it political stability. This will indirectly help India.
“Sheikh Hasina is conscious of the scourge of terrorism. Now Bangladesh is committed to fight alongside India this scourge. Neither of the nations should provide a sanctuary for the terrorists or divisive forces,” he said, quoting some recent developments, including handing over of two ULFA ultras to Indian authorities. He also referred to the joint communiqué issued after the recent visit of Bangladesh Foreign Minister to India, saying it has been the boldest, most forward looking document ever issued. It provides the road map or the skeletal frame about what the two nations can do and cooperate with each other to provide it flesh, colour and hue to make it real, besides addressing issues of concern of both India and Bangladesh.
Though anti-India lobby has been marginalised, as Opposition stands fragmented, it is time for consolidation and rediscovering of each other. “We should not provide any handle for this lobby to spring back. So it is important that when Sheikh Hasina comes to India, she should be pursued as a Bangladeshi leader who is coming with a basket laden with gifts. India can help Bangladesh in consolidating its democratic process.” He says there are some emotive issues, including water, environment, and boundary disputes and improving bilateral trade.
Talking about water issue, he says it is important for all nations, including India, Bangladesh and Nepal, to take collective steps to conserve whatever water resources they have. “Rivers cannot be divided politically and should not be done so.” Environmental degradation threat to Bangladesh is very big. A few degrees rise in the temperature would mean Bangladesh losing its 20 to 25 per cent territory in next 20 to 25 years. Some other 10 to 15 million people may be threatened with displacement because of creeping salinity.
There is a big trade deficit between India and Bangladesh. Only way India can help its neighbour is to announce zero duty tariff for all imports from Bangladesh. Even after this concession, balance of trade will still remain heavily tilted in favour of India. Besides, India can help in activating both arterial and venous systems of Bangladesh by helping it revive, renovate and upgrade its rivers network, rail road network and building enclaves and electrifying them to settle boundary disputes.Bangladesh, he says, has India on three sides while Bay of Bengal is on the fourth. “Problems are not insurmountable. They can be resolved and India has to play big brother and help Bangladesh come out of its present crunch.”
The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Nation
Tariq A Karim Bangladesh High Commissioner to India
India that has graduated from a regional to global power must take some bold initiatives to make Bangladesh a dependable economic partner and a trusted neighbour. It will help both the nations to rediscover each other and solve all major problems facing them, says Tariq A Karim, Bangladesh High Commissioner to India. A career diplomat, Karim has been persuaded by Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to come out of retirement to take up this important and challenging assignment. Incidentally, it is his second term in India as a diplomat. The first one between 1984 and 1988 was as Deputy High Commissioner.
He has served in Iran, Pakistan, Germany, Thailand, UK and China, besides holding key positions in the Foreign Ministry at home. He sought voluntary retirement with five years service remaining to join academia where his doctoral thesis is pending for want of time. Bangladesh Prime Minister may visit India before the end of the year, says Tariq Karim, maintaining a lot of homework has to be done before her visit.
Sheikh Hasina has a vision and I share that vision, he says, claiming that she wants to “set right all that which has gone wrong in our bilateral relations”. “It is a rare alignment of stars that both India and Bangladesh have like-minded governments. It is happening for the first time since 1971 when there was Awami League government in Bangladesh and Congress government in India.”
The present Awami League regime that has come to power with a massive mandate has friendly feelings for India. Incidentally, in 38 years, Bangladesh had Awami League government only for eight years while for rest of the time the governments were in control of powers that were anti or hostile to India.
Says Karim: “ Period of such amiable star alignment is short. Eleven months of this positive period have already passed. Now we are left with 19 months before mid-term in which we have not only to improve people to people contact, eliminate hostilities, end scourge of terrorism by not allowing their territories being used for harbouring terrorists and resolve some of the long standing problems.”He says once the process of normalising and strengthening bilateral relations is set in motion, it will help Bangladesh to emerge as a stable economic nation. He refers to the 1985 statement of then Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi that India has to help Bangladesh develop into a prosperous economic nation that will accord it political stability. This will indirectly help India.
“Sheikh Hasina is conscious of the scourge of terrorism. Now Bangladesh is committed to fight alongside India this scourge. Neither of the nations should provide a sanctuary for the terrorists or divisive forces,” he said, quoting some recent developments, including handing over of two ULFA ultras to Indian authorities. He also referred to the joint communiqué issued after the recent visit of Bangladesh Foreign Minister to India, saying it has been the boldest, most forward looking document ever issued. It provides the road map or the skeletal frame about what the two nations can do and cooperate with each other to provide it flesh, colour and hue to make it real, besides addressing issues of concern of both India and Bangladesh.
Though anti-India lobby has been marginalised, as Opposition stands fragmented, it is time for consolidation and rediscovering of each other. “We should not provide any handle for this lobby to spring back. So it is important that when Sheikh Hasina comes to India, she should be pursued as a Bangladeshi leader who is coming with a basket laden with gifts. India can help Bangladesh in consolidating its democratic process.” He says there are some emotive issues, including water, environment, and boundary disputes and improving bilateral trade.
Talking about water issue, he says it is important for all nations, including India, Bangladesh and Nepal, to take collective steps to conserve whatever water resources they have. “Rivers cannot be divided politically and should not be done so.” Environmental degradation threat to Bangladesh is very big. A few degrees rise in the temperature would mean Bangladesh losing its 20 to 25 per cent territory in next 20 to 25 years. Some other 10 to 15 million people may be threatened with displacement because of creeping salinity.
There is a big trade deficit between India and Bangladesh. Only way India can help its neighbour is to announce zero duty tariff for all imports from Bangladesh. Even after this concession, balance of trade will still remain heavily tilted in favour of India. Besides, India can help in activating both arterial and venous systems of Bangladesh by helping it revive, renovate and upgrade its rivers network, rail road network and building enclaves and electrifying them to settle boundary disputes.Bangladesh, he says, has India on three sides while Bay of Bengal is on the fourth. “Problems are not insurmountable. They can be resolved and India has to play big brother and help Bangladesh come out of its present crunch.”
The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Nation
