Bangladeshi PM has planned to visit India in early April 2017.
What are the agreements that are expected to be signed?
Bangladeshi PM’s visit will further build on the boost the relations received from signing the historic Land Boundary Agreement in 2015.
Speculation is, a defence partnership agreement, Teesta water-sharing agreement, the Ganga water barrage project, and other energy & connectivity projects will be announced during PMs Indian visit.
Any of these will go a long way in cementing ties between both the neighbours.
What are issues involved?
Some of the said agreements involve the Centre-State relations.
Ex: water-sharing is a highly emotive subject. Also, the movement on Teesta water-sharing has been held up because of West Bengal’s reservations.
So, to address them, the Central government needs to reach out to West Bengal Chief Minister.
Similarly Bihar Chief Minister is against the Farakka Barrage project.
Also, the Bangladeshi PM faces an election in 2018. Her opposition accusing her of being soft on India.
It means, she cannot return home empty-handed on the water question.
Other major issue is, while the border issue has been resolved, border firing has not ceased.
Bangladeshi PM also faces an uphill task of addressing India’s mistrust over Chinese investment in Bangladesh ($38 billion pledged in infrastructure cooperation and joint ventures).
What is the way forward?
Recently, India has decided to allow its border roads in Mizoram and Tripura to be used by Bangladeshi forces since they are constructing border outposts in the terrain areas.
The decision shows how far the two countries have come to bridge their trust deficit.
So, the time is now ripe for India and Bangladesh to consolidate the gains on key issues.
