Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Pankaj Saran has said India will evaluate the building of a deep-sea port by China at Sonadia through its security lens.
“New Delhi will support and welcome any infrastructure development project in Bangladesh, but if we do see a conflict between the aims which I have described to you and our security aims and our national strategic objectives, then of course there will be that line to cross,” he said in an interview with Ekattor television on Friday.
The Indian envoy said building the deep-sea port at Sonadia would be okay to New Delhi if it could contribute to regional prosperity.
Bangladesh had invited all interested countries to develop a deep-sea port at Sonadia and China, the United Arab Emirates and the Netherlands expressed their desire to build it.
During the visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to China last week, Dhaka and Beijing discussed the issue and agreed to continue the negotiations.
About the January 5 elections, Pankaj Saran said that was a constitutional requirement. “I do not see that issue will be revisited today because today the agenda is different.”
About the recent arms haul in Habiganj, he said there are people trying to disturb peace and instigate instability in both countries. “I do not think that either country benefits from allowing such forces or such people to succeed.”
Security of Bangladesh and India are closely interlinked and that there is no other option except for the two countries to work together to combat terrorism, he added.
Pankaj said Indian President Pranab Mukherjee in parliament last week spelled out new BJP government’s priorities.
“We have clearly got a priority for development of an integrated and interconnected South Asia, a South Asia which is prosperous and stable. And the government is committed to building upon these relationships.”
He said there would be lot of interests in Bangladesh as to what next and urged to judge the new government by its actions.
The Indian envoy acknowledged that a lot of discussion on water issue was actually taking place outside the framework of the Joint Rivers Commission.
“It was felt that if you can get your work done through other forums, let’s try that approach,” he said.
He, however, said in the last meeting of the Joint Rivers Commission, both agreed to begin work on discussing the sharing of water on six rivers in addition to Teesta and Feni.
“Time will definitely come in near future when we will have to come back to the negotiating table and discuss the question of water sharing with Bangladesh,” he said.