Why in news?
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.
Source: The Hindu
