Congress (I) Victory and Relations with Bangladesh
25 May, 2009 · 2878
Harun ur Rashid is hopeful of better bilateral ties given both countries have now voted for more stable governments
Indian Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, is only the second Indian leader to win re-election after serving a full five-year term. Even though the election was fought primarily on domestic issues, the result has enormous implications for South Asia.
India is strategically located in South Asia and surrounded by unstable states. India stands as a beacon of democratic stability and its rising economic power and political stability is likely to shift the geographic distribution of global power in Asia and force a restructuring of Western-dominated international bodies including the UN.
India has maintained good relations with the US and Russia. The civilian nuclear deal with the US has been a landmark event. Meanwhile, India also buys weapons from Russia and is reportedly constructing a 37,500-tonne aircraft carrier that will fly MiG-29 fighters, joining with navies of big powers in possessing such capabilities. It also plans to lease two nuclear submarines from Russia. India has consolidated its economic relations with China and considers the relationships with the US and Russia as partnerships to achieve a dominant role in the region and globally.
Given the above background, India needs to exercise the kind of regional and international leadership expected of a rising power. First, India needs to resolve outstanding issues with its neighbours so that peace and progress prevail in South Asia.
The chemistry between India’s Congress (I) and Bangladesh’s Awami League is apparent. They are the oldest parties in each country and the earlier generation of leaders in both parties fought for independence of the countries while the next generation of leaders of both parties have good relations with each other. Both parties stand on a non-communal agenda. People in both countries rejected the politics of religion in the latest elections and both parties have a firm commitment to multiparty democracy.
It is reported that 33 per cent of total voters were first-time voters (18 years) in Bangladesh while in India 60 per cent of voters are under 35 years. The young voters of both countries want stability and good governance. In both India and Bangladesh there is likely to be stable governments for five years and both governments should be able to take decisions in the interest of their people. This is an opportune moment for both countries to seize this healthy political environment to have meaningful dialogues to resolve many bilateral issues that have been stumbling blocks in consolidating friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries. However, Bangladesh cannot force India to resolve bilateral issues. India has to come forward with a helpful negotiating stance to find a common ground on the basis of justice and fairness.
The democratic government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is well poised to have meaningful and constructive relations with the new elected Congress (I)-led government. Sheikh Hasina’s landslide victory in the December 2008 elections demonstrates that people have voted for “bread and butter” issues and rejected the ideology of Islamic-based parties. It is highly desirable that India should pursue the "Gujral doctrine" (that is of bilateral relations not based on strict reciprocity) in its relations with Bangladesh to create an environment of trust and confidence so that the perception of India as being an arrogant "big brother" disappears. The outstanding issues with Bangladesh need to be resolved through meaningful dialogue. In the past, India sought to negotiate a single issue on a bilateral basis, without appreciating that it was connected with other issues as well and therefore did not admit to an easy solution.
India’s strategy needs to change from addressing issues piecemeal or sector-wise to an integrated approach of dealing with all bilateral issues. Furthermore India needs to view the issues of energy, water resources, transit, trade and global warming through the prism of regional cooperation. Bangladesh wants to establish mutually beneficial relations with India and if India is able to create a suitable environment by resolving prickly bilateral issues, it will be much easier for the Sheikh Hasina government to carry the people with it in developing a range of political and economic relationships with India.
Both countries need to make efforts in the political, bureaucratic, intellectual, educational, cultural and media spheres to highlight the positive features of the bilateral relationship. Often, however, some media in both countries highlight only negative images of each other. Given the right spirit and desire to live together in a cooperative spirit, there is no reason why relations between the two countries cannot but be friendly.
India is strategically located in South Asia and surrounded by unstable states. India stands as a beacon of democratic stability and its rising economic power and political stability is likely to shift the geographic distribution of global power in Asia and force a restructuring of Western-dominated international bodies including the UN.
India has maintained good relations with the US and Russia. The civilian nuclear deal with the US has been a landmark event. Meanwhile, India also buys weapons from Russia and is reportedly constructing a 37,500-tonne aircraft carrier that will fly MiG-29 fighters, joining with navies of big powers in possessing such capabilities. It also plans to lease two nuclear submarines from Russia. India has consolidated its economic relations with China and considers the relationships with the US and Russia as partnerships to achieve a dominant role in the region and globally.
Given the above background, India needs to exercise the kind of regional and international leadership expected of a rising power. First, India needs to resolve outstanding issues with its neighbours so that peace and progress prevail in South Asia.
The chemistry between India’s Congress (I) and Bangladesh’s Awami League is apparent. They are the oldest parties in each country and the earlier generation of leaders in both parties fought for independence of the countries while the next generation of leaders of both parties have good relations with each other. Both parties stand on a non-communal agenda. People in both countries rejected the politics of religion in the latest elections and both parties have a firm commitment to multiparty democracy.
It is reported that 33 per cent of total voters were first-time voters (18 years) in Bangladesh while in India 60 per cent of voters are under 35 years. The young voters of both countries want stability and good governance. In both India and Bangladesh there is likely to be stable governments for five years and both governments should be able to take decisions in the interest of their people. This is an opportune moment for both countries to seize this healthy political environment to have meaningful dialogues to resolve many bilateral issues that have been stumbling blocks in consolidating friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries. However, Bangladesh cannot force India to resolve bilateral issues. India has to come forward with a helpful negotiating stance to find a common ground on the basis of justice and fairness.
The democratic government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is well poised to have meaningful and constructive relations with the new elected Congress (I)-led government. Sheikh Hasina’s landslide victory in the December 2008 elections demonstrates that people have voted for “bread and butter” issues and rejected the ideology of Islamic-based parties. It is highly desirable that India should pursue the "Gujral doctrine" (that is of bilateral relations not based on strict reciprocity) in its relations with Bangladesh to create an environment of trust and confidence so that the perception of India as being an arrogant "big brother" disappears. The outstanding issues with Bangladesh need to be resolved through meaningful dialogue. In the past, India sought to negotiate a single issue on a bilateral basis, without appreciating that it was connected with other issues as well and therefore did not admit to an easy solution.
India’s strategy needs to change from addressing issues piecemeal or sector-wise to an integrated approach of dealing with all bilateral issues. Furthermore India needs to view the issues of energy, water resources, transit, trade and global warming through the prism of regional cooperation. Bangladesh wants to establish mutually beneficial relations with India and if India is able to create a suitable environment by resolving prickly bilateral issues, it will be much easier for the Sheikh Hasina government to carry the people with it in developing a range of political and economic relationships with India.
Both countries need to make efforts in the political, bureaucratic, intellectual, educational, cultural and media spheres to highlight the positive features of the bilateral relationship. Often, however, some media in both countries highlight only negative images of each other. Given the right spirit and desire to live together in a cooperative spirit, there is no reason why relations between the two countries cannot but be friendly.
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