Op-Ed: A president’s visit to Bangladesh and Indo-Bangladesh bonhomie
Bangladesh’s charismatic rise is an example for all the developing states across the world; its economic fortune has altered its past poverty-ridden and calamity-affected images
Indian President Kovind accorded a red carpet welcome, a 21-gun salute, and a Guard of Honour at the Dhaka airport on December 15, 2021 Twitter
Ayanangsha Maitra
Publish : 20 Jan 2022, 04:29 PMUpdate : 21 Jan 2022, 11:07 AM
As the winter settled and South Asia slowly started to taste the post-pandemic normalcy, Bangladesh was celebrating the golden jubilee of its independence from Pakistan in 1971 or the Victory Day on December 16.
On a special invitation, Indian President Ram Nath Kovind emplaned for a maiden three-day visit to Bangladesh from December 15-17.
President Kovind visited the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum, paid tribute to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding father of Bangladesh, attended the Victory Day parade and inaugurated the renovated Sri Ramna Kali Mandir of historical significance — which Pakistani troops had bulldozed during Operation Searchlight in 1971.
President Kovind had a tête-à-tête with his Bangladeshi counterpart President Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Shiekh Hasina and Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen, and discussed ways to further strengthen ties for the benefit of the two nations.
Before flying out to New Delhi, President Kovind announced gifting the Bangabandhu-Bapu Digital Exhibition to the Liberation War Museum in Dhaka, the first occupant of the Bangabandhu Chair at Delhi University, and extension of the Nutan India-Bangladesh Maitree Muktijoddha Sontan Scholarship Scheme for a five-year period.
India was in full festive mood to observe Bangladesh’s golden jubilee of liberation exuberantly. Indian diplomatic missions in several capitals of North America, Europe, North Africa, West Asia and South East Asia celebrated Maitri Divas to mark 50 years of Bangladesh and 50 years of bilateral ties with Bangladesh.
Bangladesh’s charismatic rise is an example for all the developing states across the world. Its economic fortune has altered its past poverty-ridden and calamity-affected images.
The state has seen a massive jump in HDI, per capita income, as well as GDP, and after all, is about to graduate from the Least Developed Countries (LDC) status.
Bangladesh’s GDP is estimated to be $409 billion, whereas per capita income has grown to $2,554. Bangladesh is moving towards a mission to elevate its social status to an upper middle-income country by 2031 and ultimately becoming a high-income country by 2041.
The state has enough potential to eradicate poverty by that time.
The prosperous and peaceful neighbour has always garnered India’s special attention and gained affection. On good days, and of course, during hard times. India extended support to Bangladesh, whenever Bangladesh required it, especially during natural calamities.
When Covid-19 was at its peak, Bangladesh signed a deal with the Serum Institute of India (SII) to procure 30 million doses of vaccine. Bangladesh received 3.2 million doses of the vaccine from India as part of its “Neighbourhood First” policy.
Later, under the agreement, Bangladesh received 7 million doses in two consignments until February 2021. But due to a massive outbreak of virus and huge domestic demands, India could not supply all vaccines as per the commitment.
Apart from the vaccine gifts, India gifted mobile medical oxygen plants, ambulances, and other essential items and support to Bangladesh during the pandemic. Bangladesh too, generously gifted India with several essential Covid-19 medical items.
During his visit, the Indian President appealed to the business communities to explore avenues to boost the economy of Bangladesh and the North Eastern Region of India.
Trade between the two did not deteriorate even during Covid-19. The bilateral trade between India and Bangladesh soared to $10.78 billion in 2021 from $9.46 billion in 2019, despite a catastrophe.
In FY20, India’s total exports to Bangladesh touched the $8.2 billion mark, whereas imports were worth $1.26 billion. Non-basmati rice and other agricultural items are being exported from India to Bangladesh in greater quantities due to a sharp fall in import duty in Bangladesh.
Diplomatic efforts from both sides have reduced several barriers and time to conduct business.
The transportation cost of export is now reduced as the goods in larger quantities are now being delivered by rail rather than by road.
Bangladesh is all set to begin talks on the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with India next year. The treaty will be rewarding for the entrepreneurs and reduce the trade deficit between the two neighbours.
Earlier this year, Indian Prime Minister Modi visited Bangladesh on an eventful maiden visit in March 2021 to commemorate the birth centenary of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding father of Bangladesh.
During the visit of Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla in August 2020, India and Bangladesh inked the second addendum to the Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade.
The two parties agreed to conduct the first trial run for trans-shipment of Indian cargo through Bangladesh under the Agreement on the use of Chittagong and Mongla ports.
No other state except Bangladesh has ever received a Line of Credit worth $10 billion from India. Bangladesh is immensely befitted by India’s High Impact Community Development Projects across Bangladesh in the areas of culture, disaster management, health and community welfare.
Bangladesh is all set to start importing defence equipment from India under the $500 million Line of Credit offered by India.
The two states have 50 bilateral institutional mechanisms in a wide range of areas including security, trade and commerce, power and energy, transport and connectivity, defence, rivers and maritime cooperation, and science and technology.
There’s a foreign ministry-level Joint Consultative Commission (JCC) that, from time to time, supervises the implementation of various initiatives.
India and Bangladesh have cemented their bonds and mitigated almost all the disputes on land and water borders. The two neighbours should stamp out everything that cripples the conduct of commerce.
Radicalism is a growing concern for both states. At a time when SAARC is inactive, the two South Asian states should find ways to engage the global community to stabilize Afghanistan and deliver humanitarian aid. In the post-pandemic era, Bangladesh and India need to invest more in their healthcare sectors and eradicate poverty.
A new visa application centre in Kolkata, in addition to a Bangladesh Deputy High Commission, is expected to bring more visitors to Bangladesh.
In 2019, just before the pandemic, India issued about 1.5 million visas to Bangladesh but comparatively very less Indian citizens travel to Bangladesh.
The two states must relax visa norms and encourage more citizens to visit each other’s state.
A string of issues ranging from ecology and environment to SDGs will remain the common goals for India and Bangladesh to achieve.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Modi had made significant impressions at COP26.
Besides bilateral forums, the two states must leverage their strengths to act at the multinational level in order to pursue mutual goals and maintain the image of the region.
The Indo-Pacific initiative will present a tremendous opportunity for both states. The more closely, comfortably and scrupulously India and Bangladesh will work, the more confidence and strength the mates will gain in their relations.
The author is a freelance journalist based in India and is associated with the Centre for Governance Studies, Dhaka
Op-Ed: A president’s visit to Bangladesh and Indo-Bangladesh bonhomie
Bangladesh’s charismatic rise is an example for all the developing states across the world; its economic fortune has altered its past poverty-ridden and calamity-affected images
As the winter settled and South Asia slowly started to taste the post-pandemic normalcy, Bangladesh was celebrating the golden jubilee of its independence from Pakistan in 1971 or the Victory Day on December 16.
On a special invitation, Indian President Ram Nath Kovind emplaned for a maiden three-day visit to Bangladesh from December 15-17.
President Kovind visited the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum, paid tribute to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding father of Bangladesh, attended the Victory Day parade and inaugurated the renovated Sri Ramna Kali Mandir of historical significance — which Pakistani troops had bulldozed during Operation Searchlight in 1971.
President Kovind had a tête-à-tête with his Bangladeshi counterpart President Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Shiekh Hasina and Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen, and discussed ways to further strengthen ties for the benefit of the two nations.
Before flying out to New Delhi, President Kovind announced gifting the Bangabandhu-Bapu Digital Exhibition to the Liberation War Museum in Dhaka, the first occupant of the Bangabandhu Chair at Delhi University, and extension of the Nutan India-Bangladesh Maitree Muktijoddha Sontan Scholarship Scheme for a five-year period.
India was in full festive mood to observe Bangladesh’s golden jubilee of liberation exuberantly. Indian diplomatic missions in several capitals of North America, Europe, North Africa, West Asia and South East Asia celebrated Maitri Divas to mark 50 years of Bangladesh and 50 years of bilateral ties with Bangladesh.
Bangladesh’s charismatic rise is an example for all the developing states across the world. Its economic fortune has altered its past poverty-ridden and calamity-affected images.
The state has seen a massive jump in HDI, per capita income, as well as GDP, and after all, is about to graduate from the Least Developed Countries (LDC) status.
Bangladesh’s GDP is estimated to be $409 billion, whereas per capita income has grown to $2,554. Bangladesh is moving towards a mission to elevate its social status to an upper middle-income country by 2031 and ultimately becoming a high-income country by 2041.
The state has enough potential to eradicate poverty by that time.
The prosperous and peaceful neighbour has always garnered India’s special attention and gained affection. On good days, and of course, during hard times. India extended support to Bangladesh, whenever Bangladesh required it, especially during natural calamities.
When Covid-19 was at its peak, Bangladesh signed a deal with the Serum Institute of India (SII) to procure 30 million doses of vaccine. Bangladesh received 3.2 million doses of the vaccine from India as part of its “Neighbourhood First” policy.
Later, under the agreement, Bangladesh received 7 million doses in two consignments until February 2021. But due to a massive outbreak of virus and huge domestic demands, India could not supply all vaccines as per the commitment.
Apart from the vaccine gifts, India gifted mobile medical oxygen plants, ambulances, and other essential items and support to Bangladesh during the pandemic. Bangladesh too, generously gifted India with several essential Covid-19 medical items.
During his visit, the Indian President appealed to the business communities to explore avenues to boost the economy of Bangladesh and the North Eastern Region of India.
Trade between the two did not deteriorate even during Covid-19. The bilateral trade between India and Bangladesh soared to $10.78 billion in 2021 from $9.46 billion in 2019, despite a catastrophe.
In FY20, India’s total exports to Bangladesh touched the $8.2 billion mark, whereas imports were worth $1.26 billion. Non-basmati rice and other agricultural items are being exported from India to Bangladesh in greater quantities due to a sharp fall in import duty in Bangladesh.
Diplomatic efforts from both sides have reduced several barriers and time to conduct business.
The transportation cost of export is now reduced as the goods in larger quantities are now being delivered by rail rather than by road.
Bangladesh is all set to begin talks on the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with India next year. The treaty will be rewarding for the entrepreneurs and reduce the trade deficit between the two neighbours.
Earlier this year, Indian Prime Minister Modi visited Bangladesh on an eventful maiden visit in March 2021 to commemorate the birth centenary of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding father of Bangladesh.
During the visit of Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla in August 2020, India and Bangladesh inked the second addendum to the Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade.
The two parties agreed to conduct the first trial run for trans-shipment of Indian cargo through Bangladesh under the Agreement on the use of Chittagong and Mongla ports.
No other state except Bangladesh has ever received a Line of Credit worth $10 billion from India. Bangladesh is immensely befitted by India’s High Impact Community Development Projects across Bangladesh in the areas of culture, disaster management, health and community welfare.
Bangladesh is all set to start importing defence equipment from India under the $500 million Line of Credit offered by India.
The two states have 50 bilateral institutional mechanisms in a wide range of areas including security, trade and commerce, power and energy, transport and connectivity, defence, rivers and maritime cooperation, and science and technology.
There’s a foreign ministry-level Joint Consultative Commission (JCC) that, from time to time, supervises the implementation of various initiatives.
India and Bangladesh have cemented their bonds and mitigated almost all the disputes on land and water borders. The two neighbours should stamp out everything that cripples the conduct of commerce.
Radicalism is a growing concern for both states. At a time when SAARC is inactive, the two South Asian states should find ways to engage the global community to stabilize Afghanistan and deliver humanitarian aid. In the post-pandemic era, Bangladesh and India need to invest more in their healthcare sectors and eradicate poverty.
A new visa application centre in Kolkata, in addition to a Bangladesh Deputy High Commission, is expected to bring more visitors to Bangladesh.
In 2019, just before the pandemic, India issued about 1.5 million visas to Bangladesh but comparatively very less Indian citizens travel to Bangladesh.
The two states must relax visa norms and encourage more citizens to visit each other’s state.
A string of issues ranging from ecology and environment to SDGs will remain the common goals for India and Bangladesh to achieve.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Modi had made significant impressions at COP26.
Besides bilateral forums, the two states must leverage their strengths to act at the multinational level in order to pursue mutual goals and maintain the image of the region.
The Indo-Pacific initiative will present a tremendous opportunity for both states. The more closely, comfortably and scrupulously India and Bangladesh will work, the more confidence and strength the mates will gain in their relations.
The author is a freelance journalist based in India and is associated with the Centre for Governance Studies, Dhaka
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