‘Capture of Indian insurgents will stabilise Bangladesh’

For India, Sheikh Hasina’s visit will be a chance to not only review but also enhance bilateral ties in mutually beneficial manner.

The political scenario in Bangladesh has started heating up. The opposition has threatened to make Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s path "thorny" should she fail to safeguard national interests while inking agreements with India during her upcoming visit. And for India, Hasina’s visit will be a chance not only to review but also to enhance bilateral ties in mutually beneficial manner. Hasina`s visit to New Delhi commences on January 10.

In an exclusive interview with Kamna Arora of Zeenews.com, an expert on Bangladesh, Smruti S Pattanaik, discusses the significance of Hasina’s visit to India and the deals she could ink with New Delhi. Smruti S Pattanaik is Research Fellow at the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, New Delhi. Kamna: What do you think is the agenda of Bangladesh leader Sheikh Hasina`s upcoming visit to India? Smruti: There are several agreements that could be signed related to trade, sharing of Teesta water, and on legal assistance on criminal matters. An agreement could also be inked to allow India to use Ashuganj port to transport heavy machineries for the power project in Tripura. India may allow transit facility to Bangladesh to trade with Nepal and Bhutan. Similarly, there could be power trade between the two countries within the range of 250MW to 1000MW for 17 hours everyday. India and Bangladesh have already identified border points where these transmission line will be established. Kamna: New Delhi and Dhaka entered a new phase of cooperation with the capture of Arabinda Rajkhowa, chairman of the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), in Bangladesh. Comment. Smruti: One had witnessed such cooperation after the military-backed caretaker government took over in January 2007 in Bangladesh. There were crackdowns on NSCN (National Socialist Council of Nagaland) bases. After Awami League came to power, this process got a boost. However, it needs to be kept in mind that such arrests and capture of Indian insurgents would contribute to Bangladesh’s own stability as these groups have links with armed groups and its security agencies. For example, investigation into the biggest arms haul in Chittagong in 2004 has revealed that the National Security Intelligence’s director and deputy director were involved along with ULFA in arms smuggling. There is a change in atmosphere and this is going to add to mutual security of India and Bangladesh. Kamna: India and Bangladesh will soon ink pacts on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, combating terrorism and transfer of prisoners. How will it help India? Smruti: Such pact will help in dealing with the legal aspect, as the two countries do not have an extradition treaty. This will help in the extradition of people like Anup Chetia. With mutual assistance on legal matters, the terrorists/militants would not be able to use territories of Indian and Bangladesh for taking refuge. The criminal elements had taken the advantage of the non-cooperation between the two sides in these matters in the past. The pact holds more significance as the two countries share more than 4,000 km of porous border. Kamna: How have ties between India and Bangladesh changed under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina? Smruti: There has been positive development on many issues that were considered controversial. This has contributed to a better political atmosphere where decisions on important issues can be taken. For example, already the Bangladesh Commerce Minister Col (Retd) Faruk Khan has said that India can be allowed to use Chittagong port by converting it into a major hub. Similarly, he also said that providing transit to India would benefit Bangladesh. This positive atmosphere coupled with the recent surrender of ULFA leaders has generated good will. Moreover, since Hasina is visiting India after completing one year in the office, it provides ample scope for the two countries to work together considering the fact that she has four more years to give concrete shape to some of the issues that the two countries agree to work together. Kamna: Bangladesh is now more active in curbing homegrown terrorism due to Taliban’s chaos in birthplace Pakistan. Comment. Smruti: Bangladesh’s crackdown on homegrown terrorism is necessitated by its own compulsion. Of course, what is happening in Pakistan now is an eye opener to anyone who thinks of using these radicals for political and strategic purposes. Bangladesh itself has witnessed several bomb blasts in which political parties, cultural organisations and secular symbols have been attacked. Bangladesh also witnessed bomb blasts in 63 districts out of 64 in 2005. For the first time in its history, suicide bomb blasts targeted the judiciary. These were some wake up calls. Though the caretaker government executed the Jamaatul Mujahideen leaders involved in bomb blasts and arrested many militants, yet the larger issue of religious fundamentalism is being dealt by Awami League after it came to power.