Manmohan visit to Bangladesh and story of a nightmare
By Swadesh Roy
It was the night of 5th September. It was only about ten hours left
for the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to reach Bangladesh for
an official visit. That visit was a high- hope and long expected
visit. Every concerned people of India and Bangladesh were thinking
that it will be a historical visit and two countries will start a new
era of their relation.
At the last moment it was proven that, everything in the world cannot
be happened routinely and something happened which was painful. It
was at noon of 5th September when Bangladesh came to know that the
chief Minister of Indian sate Paschim Banga (West Bengal) Ms Mamata
Banerjee was not coming to Bangladesh as a delegate member of Manmohan
Singh's visit. Even the water resource minister of India was not
coming.
Having got this news, Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina
called an emergency meeting with her senior cabinet colleagues and
advisors. Two of her advisers, Mr. Mashiur Rahaman and Mr. Gahor
Rizvee were involved in that negotiation process with India. Besides,
foreign Ministry was also involved. All of them were worried to hear
this news that, chief minister of west Bengal and water resource
minister of central government are not coming with the delegations.
Absence from this visit of those two Ministers made it clear that
Teesta (a common river of India and Bangladesh) river water sharing
treaty was uncertain. It is true that, if Bangladesh and India wants
to start a new relationship, they have to reach a solution in Teesta
river water sharing and so the absence of these two ministers in the
delegation puts the fate of this long awaited treaty uncertain. Chief
Minister of West Bengal is highly connected to this treaty, because
according to Indian constitution the central government cannot sign to
any treaty with other country without the concerned state. Since
Teesta river water is a concerned matter of West Bengal as well, the
absence of Mamata made it clear that water of Teesta river sharing
treaty will not be signed.
From the meeting of Sheikh Hasina, foreign Minister of Bangladesh
contacted her counter part of India and she confirmed that India will
sign Teesta river water sharing treaty at the time of Manmohan visit.
Getting this confirmation, Prime Minister of Bangladesh ended her
meeting and went to take rest. It was then 10 PM of 5th September.
After the meeting was over, most of the ministers left the residence
of Prime Minister of Bangladesh and Prime Minister went to her prayer.
However, two concerned advisers did not leave the residence of the
Prime Minister and some senior ministers were also at that residence.
In the meantime, those two advisers came to know that, ultimately
Teesta river water sharing treaty will not be signed in this visit
time of Manmohan. So they fell in confusion as to what they would do.
Considering both sides and since it was an important matter, the two
advisors of the Bangladesh Prime Minister felt it necessary to inform
the Prime Minister immediately. On the other hand they were thinking
that as night was growing old and it is more than 11.30 pm, this news
would hamper the sleep of the Prime Minister; so it is better to
inform it in the morning. At that time the senior most minister of the
cabinet Mr. Abul Mal Abdul Muhith, finance minister of Bangladesh came
there. Then two advisers rushed to him and informed him the latest
situation.
Hearing this news, finance minister said 'you have to inform it
immediately to the Prime minister.' According to the advice of the
finance minister, adviser of the Prime Minister Mashiur Rahaman rang
to the Prime Minister but she did not receive his call; then another
adviser called her but she did not receive it again. Then the two
advisers requested to the finance minister that as he is the senior
most, so his call will be received by Prime Minister. Finance minister
did try but Prime Minister did not receive his call as well and all of
them.
Just as they were felling totally hopeless, Prime Minister herself
came to this area for a walk and seeing them she was astonished. She
asked why they were waiting and also told them that she was in the
prayer while they were calling. After finishing prayer, she has seen
the missed call but she thought that, they were calling from their
home and would ring back tomorrow, because it was already midnight.
Then two advisers asked to the finance minister, 'you tell her why we
are waiting here.' Finance minister told her the matter in detail.
Hearing this, Prime Minister became tensed as well and called up her
foreign minister to rush to her immediately. It was midnight, road was
traffic free. Foreign minister came within a few minutes. Prime
Minister told her, "India will not sign Teesta River sharing treaty so
we will not sign the transit agreement. You stop the process of that
agreement".
The night was over and Prime Minister of India visited Bangladesh but
that visit will not be called in future a historical visit. It was
expected to be a historical visit but ultimately it became a common
visit. It left the remark that, what was done by Bangladesh was not
returned by India. As an example, Indian Government has now been able
to make a treaty with the United Liberation front of Asom (ULFA) and
initiate the much awaited peace process in the North Eastern Region.
But is it not true that, it has been possible only for Bangladesh and
the leadership of Sheikh Hasina? After all, Bangladesh handed over the
entire insurgents (who are the leader of ULFA) to India and only so
India is able to do it.
Swadesh Roy is the Executive editor of Daily Janakantha, Dhaka,
Bangladesh. He can be reached at swadeshroy@gmail.com
http://www.timesofassam.com/headlines/manmohan-visit-to-bangladesh-and-story-of-a-nightmare/
------------------------------------
[Disclaimer: ALOCHONA Management is not liable for information contained in this message. The author takes full responsibility.]
To unsubscribe/subscribe, send request to alochona-owner@egroups.comYahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/alochona/
<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional
<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/alochona/join
(Yahoo! ID required)
<*> To change settings via email:
alochona-digest@yahoogroups.com
alochona-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
alochona-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/