PM's India trip evokes mixed reactions Business leaders and researchers came up with a mixed bag of reactions over Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina''s Delhi trip as some of them saw greater gain for India than that for Bangladesh while some found positive achievements through the major accords between the two neighbors, reports UNB. Some of them said the decisions on some business issues would create ground for continuing discussion to address more issues in the future. They felt the urgency of implementation of the decisions which they believe will open up new avenues of opportunities. They observed that the issues which are mostly important for India received due importance while Bangladesh'' s important and burning issues were sidelined at the bilateral summit talks and resultant deals. Former president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Abdul Awal Mintoo said the settlement of maritime boundary, water sharing of different rivers, including the Teesta, and also the Tipaimukh Dam were the most important issues for Bangladesh as these are key to resolving all the problems the country has been facing and would continue to face in future if not resolved. "But achievement on the key issues is very negligible, which frustrates the nation," Mintoo, who is associated with the opposition BNP, told UNB.
"Those issues which are not important for Bangladesh but very important for neighbouring India, like deal on terrorism and use of Bangladesh'' s two seaports, received superb importance," said the former FBCCI chief.
"They (India) fulfilled their targets, but we couldn''t". The business leader, however, said the country''s business community always seeks a neighborly and friendly relationship with India. "If the burning problems like tariff and non-tariff barriers to business are addressed after the PM''s visit, then the visit will be treated as a successful one for Bangladesh."
Mintoo also opined that the issues like use of Chittagong and Mongla seaports should have come in a package deal as security matters are involved. "Otherwise, we may not have a protection-- security issues are involved there." Echoing his critical voice, eminent economist and former chairman of Economics Department of Dhaka University Prof Abu Ahmed said the gains from the PM''s just-concluded tour went mostly in favour of India as the neighbouring country has been able to realize commitment and deals on its own issues like terrorism, use of seaports.
"But there was no written agreement or commitment made during the visit on those issues which are a question of our existence, like river-water sharing, Tipaimukh Dam, maritime boundary," he said.
The Economics professor also observed that allowing the two seaports before carrying out any economic study is an unwise move which may invite further complications instead of any benefit for the nations. "Many questions like royalty of port use, its financial benefit and taxation still remained unanswered."
About the Indian zero-tariff offer to allow 40 new Bangladeshi goods in the Indian market, he said this is not new. Similar commitment was made in the past. "But those were not implemented because of the reluctance of the Indian bureaucracy, " he noted, adding: this time the same thing may happen.
On the US$ 1 billion credit line, he said this money is to be spent on developing infrastructure to facilitate Indian side. According to Abu Ahmed, India has been successful in getting its own interest served while Bangladesh "failed" to realize its own demands.
Executive Director of the Centre for Policy Dialogue Prof Mustafizur Rahman saw the achievements made in the PM''s visit with a positive outlook. He said this visit has done the spadework for further progress on many outstanding issues between the two neighbours.
"From economic point of view, I see some important decisions made regarding trade and business on which basis new ground will be opened in the future," he said, adding that the offer for zero-rated access of 40 new items to the Indian market is a major achievement.
"But all depends on the implementation of the decisions. If the decisions are implemented, our exports will increase to India," said the executive of the policy think-tank, casting his sights forward.
Prof Mustafiz also saw the offer of one-billion- dollar loan as a positive thing. But he thought the interest on the loan should be soft and the terms easy.
About the offer of the port use, the CPD chief executive said this use should be on regional basis--and Nepal and Bhutan should get the access to the ports.
If the ports are used by the neighbouring country, it will bring a good scope for Bangladesh to extend its export business to the northeast India.
He, however, admitted that the issues like maritime boundary, water sharing, including that of the Teesta, and Tipaimukh dam got lesser importance than those of Indian issues.
"Were there any agreement on these issues, that would have been better for Bangladesh," he said.
The policy analyst also disagreed with the view on terrorism issue, saying that terrorism is not a mare issue for India, it is similarly important for Bangladesh.
|