Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Bangladesh with the Chief Ministers of five bordering states will mark a significant shift in focus which has been so far solely on Pakistan with a resultant impact on India’s South Asian policy. It will lead to a new era of mutual interdependence. At the same time, it will have favourable repercussions on India’s relations with Pakistan. So far, New Delhi’s perceptions about Bangladesh were confined to illegal immigration and terrorism. That narrowed the sphere of mutual cooperation. The situation had changed in the last two years with Sheikh Hasina as Bangladesh’s Prime Minister. The Awami League government has turned the heat on anti-India forces in Bangladesh and Indian separatists groups like the ULFA. This has been a positive step and the time has come to open a new chapter in bilateral relations.
Manmohan Singh and his team will have to forge firm ties with Bangladesh. India should be willing to walk the extra mile. Opposition parties in Bangladesh also deserve an objective look from New Delhi. India has recently opened a $ 1 billion line of credit with Bangladesh which should signify a good beginning. High level diplomatic talks have been held between the two countries as a prelude to Prime Minister Singh’s visit. A slew of agreements have been signed and accord is in sight on the sharing of waters and exchange of territorial enclaves. Transit should figure prominently in the coming talks. India has agreed to grant transit facilities to Bangladesh for trade with Bhutan and Nepal. Transit access is on the way to Northeastern India via Bangladesh. Facilitating movement of goods and people will contribute to the growth of the regional economy and result in trade integration as well as information inflows. The negative import list should be pruned and quota restrictions particularly on the import of Bangladeshi garments should be relaxed. Singh’s visit has immense possibilities.