If transit is given, BD will be used for terrorist activists: political experts say
BD to say no to Indian proposal for transit at Delhi Meet
Amena Khatun Urmee
Bangladesh will express its unwillingness to provide India with transit facilities during the bilateral meeting of Bangladesh-India to be held between foreign secretaries of the two countries in Delhi tomorrow (Thursday).
A highly-placed diplomatic source in the Foreign Ministry said, "We are ready to hold talk on various issues with any foreign country but we are categorically saying that Bangladesh will not agree with India's proposal if it goes against country's sovereignty and interest."
Referring to rules of foreign policy that no decision can be imposed on coercion, earlier Foreign Adviser said that Bangladesh can discuss any issue with India as a neighbouring country but no decision can be imposed on it. Bangladeshi counterparts will discuss about trade and other bilateral issues other than transit in the meeting with India.
Another source alleged that India is being benefited in many ways from Bangladesh including sharing of water and one-sided trade but despite all these facilities enjoyed by India it has started to put continuous pressure on the country for transit facilities. It added that India has been insisting on the country for transit for many years but Bangladesh is not responding to her demand.
According to political scientists, as the Caretaker Government is not an elected and democratic government, it has no right to take a serious decision like granting transit to any foreign country.
They said "Bangladesh is a democratic country and its people are the original owners and stakeholders of everything thereof and thus all important decisions have to be taken in consultation with common mass, civil society leaders and members of the defence services".
Foreign Ministry sources said that there is a committee which is working as to how communication between the two countries can be increased but this committee is identifying all possible ways except giving transit.
It may be pointed out that in July 2007 when Indian state minister for commerce Joyram Ramesh came to Dhaka he said India would like to promote Bangladesh by helping in the fields of trade and commerce and thus transit is necessary.
Diplomatic experts expressed their anxieties about transit issue saying that strategically India is strong because of its military and commercial might and it has many provinces where the insurgents are fighting for their independence through armed movements. If transit is given, Bangladesh may be used for military activities both by the Indian government and the insurgents. http://www.thebangladeshtoday.com/leading%20news.htm |
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