New Delhi, Sep 2 (IANS) India and Bangladesh ‘should overcome mutual suspicions’ and show a will to turn their ties into a strategic partnership, said a task force report unveiled here Friday.
The report comes ahead of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s two-day trip to Bangladesh Sep 6 during which he will be accompanied by chief ministers of five states.
A task force report titled ‘India and Bangladesh: Moving Towards Convergence’ brought out by Institute of Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA) highlighted the improving ties between the two neighbours.
The report said Manmohan Singh’s visit provides an opportunity to take India-Bangladesh relations to a higher trajectory and move towards a strategic partnership.
It recommended that the two countries should explore new areas of cooperation on climate change, science and technology, IT and communication, space, medicine and health, disaster management, food and energy security etc
While Bangladesh has taken steps to address India’s security concerns, India has shown sensitivity to Bangladeshi concerns and come out with a comprehensive assistance and cooperation package for it.
This has created the environment for transformation of India-Bangladesh ties, said the report authored by Arvind Gupta, Anand Kumar, Smruti Pattanaik, Sreeradha Datta and Ashok Behuria.
Stating that good relations between India and Bangladesh will have positive influence on the region, the report said that countries like Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar and Thailand will benefit from trade and transit connectivity between India and Bangladesh.
It said the positive momentum in bilateral relations generated during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit must be continued.
The legacy issues – demarcation of the land border, exchange of enclaves and adverse possessions, Teen Bigha corridor flyover, etc.- should be settled as a package, suggested the report.
It went on to say that Bangladesh would seek an agreement on river water sharing.
‘Both countries have nearly reached an agreement on sharing of the water of Teesta and four other rivers. Minor differences should not be allowed to come in the way and an agreement should be signed.’
It wanted that top priority should be accorded to connectivity.
‘Both countries should work to operationalise it as soon as possible.’
‘Increased connectivity will need to be supplemented by a liberal visa regime to facilitate tourism, student exchanges, cultural contacts etc. However, given security concerns, liberalisation will have to be undertaken gradually,’ the report added.
