Strengthening India-Bangladesh ties

The fateful days of 1971 made the Bengalis know both their friends and their enemies. The inhuman torture of hyenas in West Pakistan left the Bengalis without shelter, clothing and food. The Pakistani invasion force was engaged in a killing game like a narcissist. On that day, India stood as a friend by the side of those homeless, clothed, hungry people. India provided food, clothing, shelter and protection to more than one crore refugees that day. India provided training and weapons to the freedom fighters that day. Not only that, the Indian army participated in the war on behalf of the Bengalis, ignoring all obstacles and all-round cooperation in the war. Because of which the Bengalis won in just nine months, and independent Bangladesh was built.

When the people of the two countries were about to reach a special height in a wonderful interaction of their history-geography-culture, a group of people brutally killed the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family on August 15, 1975 and thereby seized power. defeated power. As soon as they came to power, they started opposing India and fomenting communal agitations. Through which all kinds of misdeeds begin and destroy the friendly relations found in the blood of the seventies. Then all the values, traditions and rights of the Bengali nation were destroyed by the steamroller of military rule and military-backed government for a long time.

Bangabandhu’s daughter Sheikh Hasina came to power after struggling against the evil forces for 21 years. After coming to power, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina started trying to restore the relationship between the two countries and extended the hand of friendship. One of the results of which was the historic Ganga water sharing agreement between Bangladesh and India in 1996. At that time significant progress was also made in the security of Bangladesh and India. The Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Agreement in 1997 would have been impossible without India’s support. During this period, the relationship between the two countries continued to advance through economic development and new communication. But that is not possible for long.

The conspiracy started again. As a result, hostile relations between the two countries began to develop. This relationship is not just a relationship between two countries or peoples, but a relationship between two souls born from the same philosophy, history, culture and sacrifice. This relationship stems from the difficult days of our liberation and freedom struggle. This relationship is based on mutual trust, understanding and respect. This relationship is a relationship that is built on the mixed blood of martyrs of two countries. This relationship is an eternal relationship, as Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman said in Kolkata in February 1972, ‘India-Bangladesh friendship will remain forever. No force in the world can tear it apart.

The two Prime Ministers also inaugurated the ‘Bapu-Bangabandhu Digital Exhibition’ on Mahatma Gandhi and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. At that time, Indian Prime Minister Modi said, “Mahatma and Bangabandhu are the inspiration of our youth.” International experts believe that the Indian government’s respect for Bangabandhu will go a long way in India-Bangladesh relations.

Today’s Bangladesh is a changed Bangladesh. And all this has been possible through the strong and competent leadership of Bangabandhu’s daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Today’s Bangladesh is a bright example on the world map. Today’s Bangladesh is a developing middle-income country. After the formation of the Modi government in India and the Sheikh Hasina government in Bangladesh, good relations between the two countries have increased. Due to which security, electricity, trade, investment, demarcation, connectivity, cooperation, infrastructure development, environment, education, culture, maritime economy, health, taxation, defense etc. are improving in both countries. Apart from this, there are numerous bilateral strategic institutional arrangements between Bangladesh and India such as joint working groups.

All those documents and processes are playing a significant role in making the cooperation between the two countries more concrete and fruitful. Bangladesh-India friendship shines bright in this long 50-year relationship test. Today, India and Bangladesh are termed as ‘Golden Age’ or ‘Golden Chapter’ by both the countries. It shows the depth of friendship and strong bond between the two countries. It is true that a faithful friend is always there for another friend and they share all their joys and sorrows.

Not to mention here that Bangladesh has always considered India as a true friend and has given importance to India’s problems even within its limited capacity. The people of Bangladesh also always want to see the India of 1971, which ignored its thousands of problems and stood by Bangladesh and its people.

We have seen many proofs of this before and in view of that we hope that the two leaders will create a beautiful and prosperous future for the people of the two countries through sincere and fair discussions on other issues related to the interests of the two countries, such as Teesta water distribution or support to Bangladesh in the repatriation of Rohingya. The foundation of mutual trust and cooperation between the leaders and people of these two friendly countries will ensure the peace, prosperity and security of the two countries. India as a big country should come forward, listen to its tested friend Bangladesh with an open mind of cooperation. No issue between two friendly countries can be desirable to remain unresolved.

Some notable examples of progress in India-Bangladesh relations.

Transport of fuel from Assam to Tripura using Bangladesh route. On 4 September 2016, Indian Oil Corporation started transporting fuel from the northeastern state of Assam to Tripura by road through Bangladesh. IANS quoted an official in Agartala as saying that the move was taken due to problems in the transportation of petrol and diesel on traditional Indian mountain routes. For this reason, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed between the Roads and Public Ways Department of Bangladesh and the Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) in Dhaka on August 18 of the same year. According to the agreement, Indian fuel oil truck-lorries will travel to Tripura using Bangladesh roads till September 30. However, in this case, India will have to pay the prescribed fee for the cost of using and maintaining the road.

The Agartala official said, “If the passports of the IOCL officials and truckers are received by Tuesday, the transportation of petroleum products from Assam to Tripura via Bangladesh will start from September 7.”

An official of IOCL told the news agency that the Indian tankers will depart from Bangaigaon in North Assam and enter Kailashpur in North Tripura via the Dauki border in Meghalaya-Tamabil in Sylhet-Chatlapur in Moulvibazar in about four hours. After supplying fuel to Tripura, the empty vehicles will return to India via Chatlapur check post in Bangladesh on the same route.

The official said that this new route through Bangladesh will save both cost and time in transporting energy, “It takes more than 10 hours to take these essential products to Tripura after crossing more than 400 kilometers of hilly roads. Moreover, the condition of the national highway through Meghalaya and South Assam is also very bad.”

In 2016, the Assam-Tripura highway (NH-44) was damaged due to heavy rains and hilly landslides, disrupting the connectivity between Tripura and other parts of India. As a result, there is a severe shortage of fuel oil along with essential commodities in the state of Tripura.

At that time, a statement from the Indian High Commission in Dhaka said, Bangladesh has agreed to this cooperation at the request of the Indian government to transport fuel oil and LPG to Tripura using the road from Assam to Tripura for humanitarian reasons. Bangladesh has responded to this proposal considering the existing friendly relations between Bangladesh and India, Bangladesh’s historical ties with the people of Tripura and above all the humanitarian situation.

The writer is a researcher. She can be contacted at [email protected]