India must deliver on promises to Bangladesh
That South Asia is at the core of its foreign policy paradigm has been made clear by the Narendra Modi Government literally since the day it was sworn into office. However, if the new regime is to realise the full potential of the sub-continent, it must start by setting the template of enhanced engagement and cooperation with Bangladesh. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's three-day tour of our eastern neighbour has been an important step in this direction. India-Bangladesh ties have been adrift in recent years as the political nerve centre in New Delhi was paralysed. But Ms Swaraj’s first standalone foreign trip has re-energised the bilateral. Proof of this lies in Ms Swaraj's successful meetings with Foreign Minister Abdul Hassan Mahmood Ali, Prime Minster Sheikh Hasina and President Abdul Hamid and the warm welcome she received from Opposition members Rowshan Ershad and Khaleda Zia. After Ms Zia's party boycotted the general election, Ms Ershad, as chief of the Jatiya Party, emerged as the leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly. New Delhi's efforts to maintain ties with all sections of the Bangladeshi establishment are welcome.
Overall, Ms Swaraj's trip was a goodwill visit that set the stage for high-profile prime ministerial exchanges on both sides of the border. The key step in this regard is the delivery of the Teesta deal and the land border agreement. Both were to be formalised during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's 2011 Bangladesh tour. However, the water sharing pact was left in the lurch after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee put her foot down in protest, and that too, on the eve of the trip. The land border agreement was signed but the UPA Government could not ratify it in Parliament as it failed to bring the Opposition on board. In contrast, there is enough reason to believe that the Modi-led regime is seeking to build consensus across the political spectrum. Notably, Ms Swaraj spoke to Chief Minister Banerjee before she left for Dhaka. Prior to that, Union Minister for Home Affairs Rajnath Singh had also met with Bangladeshi officials to sort out differences regarding the exchange of adversely-held conclaves. Hopefully, Prime Minister Modi will leverage his tremendous mandate to push through both deals in a manner that balances domestic concerns with foreign policy imperatives. let us not forget that the Government of Bangladesh has gone out of its way to crackdown on anti-India elements in its backyard which in turn has helped secure this country's eastern frontier. Perhaps, it will be helpful to view the Teesta deal and the land border agreement as mutually beneficial tools, instead of unilateral concessions from India.
There is also a case to be made for viewing the contentious matter of illegal immigration through a similar prism. If only parties could refrain from using the issue to score cheap political points, Delhi and Dhaka could try to work out a cross-border labour movement agreement. In short, instead of giving voter cards to illegal immigrants who sneak across the border in search of employment, a framework for work permits could be discussed. Streamlining labour movement will also help with other related issues such as the number of Bangladeshi civilians killed while illegally crossing the border. It will also soften the shrill rhetoric around the relaxation of visa norms for Bangladeshi travellers. A more liberal visa regime, in addition to better infrastructure at the border, will also boost bilateral trade and tourism.