Indians Help Bangladeshis, And Themselves
India's relations with neighbouring Bangladesh has not been on the best of terms – to say the least – even though India contributed immensely to the creation of the Bangladesh nation in 1971 when Indian troops intervened in the conflict on the side of the eastern wing as against the western wing of Pakistan.
After the assassination of the founding father of Bangladesh, Sheik Mujibur Rahman, relations deteriorated between the preponderantly Muslim Bangladesh and India. But religion alone was not the cause. The problems of a 2500 mile frontier, sharing the waters of massive rivers such as the Ganges, border disputes, Indian arrogance (as Bangaladeshis say), cross border terrorism all contributed to the ire between the two states in the years that followed.
India and the Seven Dwarfs
Bangladesh has not been an exception. Of the seven dwarfs that are around the Indian giant only Maldives, far away in the Indian Ocean and Bhutan set amidst the Himalayan range having no geopolitical ambitions and seeking joy and happiness are exceptions.
According to reports, New Delhi is trying to break through this ring of surrounding hostility though its neighbours are by no means economically or militarily able to rival the giant save perhaps, Pakistan.
On July 25, Sonia Gandhi, leader of the Congress and the person wielding power in New Delhi broke with tradition by visiting Bangladesh. Sonia Gandhi does not usually undertake such assignments and this visit was of particular significance.
There is special relevance in the involvement of Sonia Gandhi because it was Indira Gandhi, the then prime minister and Sonia's mother-in- law, that directed policy at that time and sent in Indian troops to intervene against the beleaguered Pakistanis. And the incumbent Bangladesh Prime Minister, Sheik Hassina is the daughter of Sheik Mujibur who was handed the reins of power by Indira Gandhi.
Indian projects in BD
India is now working on massive development projects, with its newly acquired wealth, to Bangaldesh. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is to visit the capital Dacca next month to sign agreements on massive development projects like sharing waters of rivers flowing down from the Himalayas, power generation in Bangladesh and sending it across to power stricken India, resolving border disputes and promoting trade between the two countries.
Not all altruism
This Indian munificence, it appears, is not all for the love of the Bangladeshis. A USD$ 10 Billion project is for the establishment of transit routes across Bangladesh to reach India's remote isolated north eastern states extending up to the Chinese border, says The Economist. The journal notes: 'On the face of it the $10 billion project will develop areas cut off from India's booming economy. The Asian Development Bank and others see Bangladeshi gains from better roads, ports, railways and much needed trade.' India has handed over half of a USD$ 1 Billion for the project.
But this project is much more than 'development' according to military analysts who suspect that it is intended to create an
'Indian corridor' which would pave the way for Indian army supplies to cross over low lying Bangladesh, rather than going via dreadful mountain roads vulnerable to guerilla attacks, says.
The rebellions in Nagaland and Manipur in the remote North East corner of India are about the oldest of Indian rebellions, Nagaland wanting to breakaway since Indian independence.
The Indian army might try supplying its expanding divisions parked high on the borders with China in Arunchal Pradesh—the disputed territory which China calls Southern Tibet, the journal notes.
Ambitions of those big and small
Big powers have geostrategic plans. Some aspiring to be big powers too have such plans.
Perhaps India's desire to build ports, rail tracks and airports in the north and east of Sri Lanka are motivated by the same desires as China which is building 'development projects' in the South. Small powers reap the disasters and benefits.
http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2011/08/07/indians-help-bangladeshis-and-themselves/__._,_.___
