Expectations are high for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to India, and with good reason.
Some 33 agreements are likely to be signed during Hasina’s four-day visit, but will this usher in a new era of cooperation between India and Bangladesh, and resolve our long-standing issues?
So far, sadly the relationship has been a bit asymmetrical -- Bangladesh has consistently shown its resolve to maintain good relations with India, and has put India to ease regarding all of its security concerns, ensuring that Bangladesh territory would never be used to conduct aggressive acts towards India.
Our government has also met India’s transit requirements, granting it access to the Seven Sister states in the northeast through Bangladesh.
And yet, Bangladesh continues to suffer.
The Teesta water issue is yet to be resolved, depriving Bangladesh of its rightful share of river water.
It is because of this never-ending gridlock that Bangladesh has not been able to plan its agricultural projects properly.
This is a serious crisis for a riparian country where livelihoods are inextricably linked to rivers.
Other than Teesta, progress stands to be made in the fields of ICT, science and technology, satellite and aeronautical research, defense cooperation, and power and energy.
Good relations with India, then, are imperative to the future economic development of Bangladesh.
With 54 rivers in common, and our fates inextricably tied together, India and Bangladesh are indeed more than just neighbours -- and it is hoped that Hasina’s visit to New Delhi will be a significant step forward in this relationship.
