The government is closely monitoring the election situation in India apparently amid tension brewing between the two neighbouring countries, says an official concerned.
“It’s too early to make any comment, but we are closely monitoring the polls situation in India,” said a senior official of the foreign ministry.
“The ministry has already started calculating on different scenarios that might emerge after the election. Whoever comes to power, the government will enter into talks with them and act accordingly,” he added.
The tension is apparently mounting as influential cabinet members of the government and the civil society are on record saying about the things which had not been heard in the last five years.
Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed told at least two TV channels in India and a daily in Bangladesh that if New Delhi pursued the issue of alleged illegal immigrants, it might have impact on the bilateral relationship.
Water Resources Minister Anisul Islam Mahmud said the government would take the regional water issue to the international forum if it failed to get an equal share of water of the common rivers through negotiations with India.
Prime Minister’s Economic Adviser Mashiur Rahman said the issue of illegal immigrants would be a very risky policy for India.
Another foreign ministry official said one should look at the US-India relationship after May 16 as it might have impact on Dhaka-New Delhi relationship.
Indian Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid in December last year said, “Washington is far away from Dhaka where New Delhi is right next to it and the US should take its position, considering the position of India.”
“While the US is at some distances from Bangladesh, we are right next to it. So, our understanding of the region and understanding of sentiments of the people in the region should be helpful in the positions they want to take,” he told an Indian newspaper.
The foreign ministry official said if Narendra Modi becomes the prime minister, it might opt to have good relationship with Washington and in that case, there might be a compromise in the Indian foreign policy as far as Bangladesh is concerned.
“Bangladesh enjoys the support of the Congress-led government throughout its tenure and there might be a deviation if another party comes to power,” he said.
This is the first time after 1975 both the Awami League and the Congress are in power.
Indian Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh visited Dhaka just before the January 5 election and discussed polls issue with political leadership in Bangladesh and had a one-on-one meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Just before the election, Sujatha in India also discussed the issue of Bangladesh’s polls with some ambassadors stationed in New Delhi.
Mashiur Rahman told the Dhaka Tribune that for the development of its north-eastern states, India needs help of Bangladesh.
He added: “The states have immense potentiality to produce hydropower, but it is very difficult for them to take the power to the mainland without Bangladesh’s help.” He said the states adjacent to Bangladesh might be affected if the strain between the two countries escalated.
