We believe that
engaging in hard and unrelenting negotiations on our part will very likely lead to a successful outcome because India would stand to gain hugely in all respects even after agreeing to pay transit charges as per our expectation
For doing hard bargaining over transit
For some years, various sides to the issue of giving transit by Bangladesh to its neighbouring country, India, to facilitate the latters trade have been hotly discussed, speculated and debated. This exercise has led to a consensus of sorts in Bangladesh that transit facility can be extended to India provided the same does not turn into a one way street and that a win-win situation evolves for both countries.
As it is, Bangladesh has already allowed transit in recent years for Indian vehicles and river crafts as part of an irregular arrangement to transport its various cargoes to its nearly landlocked north eastern states that saved a great deal of time and transportation costs for the Indians. Now, the process is on to reach a final deal between the two countries to reach a regular accord on transit and related issues. So far, the irregular transit facilities extended to India have been completely free of costs, i.e. remembering the great bonds of friendship that exist between India and Bangladesh and in recognition of Bangladeshs debt of gratitude to India for its assistance to Bangladeshs liberation war, no fees, charges and tariff s were imposed on these goods transported through Bangladesh. But understandably, this concession cannot continue indefinitely. For Bangladesh also to get its due from allowing transit in a regular or sustainable manner the various transit charges or fees will have to be mutually fixed and collected from Indian users of our roads, railway and river routes.
According to media reports , a meeting to this end between Indian and Bangladesh authorities was held in Dhaka recently. A follow up meeting on this is scheduled for holding at Delhi on 3 November. The reports stated that the various user fees for transit offered by India are far lower than the expected or what these ought to be. If this is the case, then there is every need on our part to bargain hard and ensure that India agrees to pay appropriate amounts.
We believe that engaging in hard and unrelenting negotiations on our part will very likely lead to a successful outcome because India would stand to gain hugely in all respects even after agreeing to pay transit charges
as per our expectation. Only it will require tenacity, patience and an unyielding stance by our negotiators. Our government must realise that its political fortunes or popularity will not be enhanced in the least by being seen as giving in to Indian pressure and persuasion that would most unfairly bind Bangladesh to a transit agreement showing very little returns for Bangladesh from it.
Besides, it must be incorporated in the deal a clause that would deny transit facility to military hardware from India across Bangladesh because allowing of this could invite anti-Indian insurgents to retaliate against Bangladesh.
