PM’S INDIA VISIT

No substantial gain for Dhaka: Ex-FS

Win-win situation: Veena Sikri

In terms of gains, nothing substantial appeared to be there for Dhaka to cheer about, former foreign secretary (FS) Touhid Hossain said about the outcomes of Saturday’s bilateral engagements between Bangladesh and India. However, he said that the declaration of the $4.5 billion line of credit (LOC) may be a gain for Bangladesh if that amount could be used in the proper interest of the country without any complying with any stringent condition like the first LOC declared by Manmohan Singh in September, 2011. On the other hand, former Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Veena Sikri described all the developments as positive and said that the situation is win-win for both Bangladesh and India.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh government officials concerned, who are not authorised to speak to media, said that their suspicion prior to the visit that the visit would turn into a mere ‘diplomatic obligation’ on part of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina proved right with no apparent achievement for Bangladesh.
The perception among the majority of the people of the country that Bangladesh always gets less than India still remains, they said.
“I don’t see any substantial gain or little gain for Bangladesh. We did not get what we wanted,” Touhid Hossain, who served as the foreign secretary from December, 2006 till July, 2009, told The Independent yesterday. “We did not get Teesta, which is a matter of our utmost interest…We did not get any clear declaration from the Indians regarding their unconditional cooperation in the construction of our Ganges Barrage,” he said.
Regarding the number of bilateral instruments signed yesterday, the former top diplomat of the country said, “Why do you look at quantity? You should focus on quality. It is no good to increase the number to show hype things up.” Then again, he said, “Indians are saying that 22 instruments were signed while our side is saying 36. Here is also confusion. I didn’t see the contents of the deals. All the deals should be made public to remove any confusion as people have a suspicious mindset regarding engagement with India.”
On the $4.5 billion LOC, Touhid, who also served at Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi as first secretary and Deputy High Commission in Kolkata as deputy high commissioner for about a decade, said, “It’s good if the money can be used in our interest. We have to also look at the conditions that are attached with the money. We had a hard time with the first LOC of $1 billion declared by Manmohan Singh in 2011 as stringent conditions were attached with the loan.”
About the memorandums of understanding (MoU) on defence cooperation and $500 million LOC, he said, “It was not all necessary given the sensitivity in dealing with India and other geopolitical factors.” “Overall, the prime minister’s visit was not as fruitful people expected,” he concluded.     
However, Veena Sikri, who served in Dhaka from December, 2003 till November, 2006 as the Indian High Commissioner, told The Independent, “Yesterday’s engagements were a win-win situation for both Bangladesh and India.” The visit is full of positives with intentions expressed from both sides to cooperate in so many sectors that matter to people of the two countries, she said.
Regarding Teesta water sharing agreement, Sikri said that at least there has been an assurance from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and both sides talked about the basin-wise management, which is more important. Expressing hope that the deal would be concluded, she pointed out that there should be a focus on the current flow of Teesta waters.
The former envoy described the presence of Mamata Banerjee at the Hyderabad Bhaban and possible attendance in yesterday’s (Sunday) dinner hosted by Indian President Pranab Mukherjee as positive, saying that she did not find anything negative in Mamata’s suggestion of taking waters from other rivers.
On the $ 4.5 billion LOC, she laid emphasis on the quick implementation of the projects with the loan. Asked if the MoUs on defence cooperation was necessary, Sikri quickly replied, “Indeed, it was necessary because security issues and defence cooperation are inter-related.”
“The relationship and cooperation between the two countries in various sectors have now become irreversible,” she said. Meanwhile, the government officials concerned did not sound that optimistic regarding the outcomes of the visit. They said that like always Bangladesh did not get what it wanted and India made ‘us happy with hospitality and sweet words’. When mentioned about the $4.5 billion LOC, a senior foreign ministry official said that it appears most of the projects to be implemented by the money appear to be related to transit India wants.
“It is more in the Indian interest. And, if we need money there are other places where we can get it from,” he said. Another official said, “When there were talks going on about the prime minister’s visit, my question was why the visit was necessary. I still have the question. We knew that Teesta would not be done and there would not be much for Bangladesh to gain.” “Prior to the visit, I said that the main objective of the visit was a diplomatic obligation as there has been no VVIP visit since 2010. And, that is what it was. We achieved virtually nothing,” the official lamented. “The prime minister left Dhaka on Friday with the perception among majority of the people that Bangladesh pays much more than it gets from its relationship with India. And, sadly, the perception will remain there when the prime minister will return home on Monday,” he concluded.

PMS INDIA VISIT

No substantial gain for Dhaka: Ex-FS

Win-win situation: Veena Sikri

In terms of gains, nothing substantial appeared to be there for Dhaka to cheer about, former foreign secretary (FS) Touhid Hossain said about the outcomes of Saturdays bilateral engagements between Bangladesh and India. However, he said that the declaration of the $4.5 billion line of credit (LOC) may be a gain for Bangladesh if that amount could be used in the proper interest of the country without any complying with any stringent condition like the first LOC declared by Manmohan Singh in September, 2011. On the other hand, former Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Veena Sikri described all the developments as positive and said that the situation is win-win for both Bangladesh and India. Meanwhile, Bangladesh government officials concerned, who are not authorised to speak to media, said that their suspicion prior to the visit that the visit would turn into a mere diplomatic obligation on part of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina proved right with no apparent achievement for Bangladesh. The perception among the majority of the people of the country that Bangladesh always gets less than India still remains, they said. I dont see any substantial gain or little gain for Bangladesh. We did not get what we wanted, Touhid Hossain, who served as the foreign secretary from December, 2006 till July, 2009, told The Independent yesterday. We did not get Teesta, which is a matter of our utmost interestWe did not get any clear declaration from the Indians regarding their unconditional cooperation in the construction of our Ganges Barrage, he said. Regarding the number of bilateral instruments signed yesterday, the former top diplomat of the country said, Why do you look at quantity? You should focus on quality. It is no good to increase the number to show hype things up. Then again, he said, Indians are saying that 22 instruments were signed while our side is saying 36. Here is also confusion. I didnt see the contents of the deals. All the deals should be made public to remove any confusion as people have a suspicious mindset regarding engagement with India. On the $4.5 billion LOC, Touhid, who also served at Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi as first secretary and Deputy High Commission in Kolkata as deputy high commissioner for about a decade, said, Its good if the money can be used in our interest. We have to also look at the conditions that are attached with the money. We had a hard time with the first LOC of $1 billion declared by Manmohan Singh in 2011 as stringent conditions were attached with the loan. About the memorandums of understanding (MoU) on defence cooperation and $500 million LOC, he said, It was not all necessary given the sensitivity in dealing with India and other geopolitical factors. Overall, the prime ministers visit was not as fruitful people expected, he concluded. However, Veena Sikri, who served in Dhaka from December, 2003 till November, 2006 as the Indian High Commissioner, told The Independent, Yesterdays engagements were a win-win situation for both Bangladesh and India. The visit is full of positives with intentions expressed from both sides to cooperate in so many sectors that matter to people of the two countries, she said. Regarding Teesta water sharing agreement, Sikri said that at least there has been an assurance from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and both sides talked about the basin-wise management, which is more important. Expressing hope that the deal would be concluded, she pointed out that there should be a focus on the current flow of Teesta waters. The former envoy described the presence of Mamata Banerjee at the Hyderabad Bhaban and possible attendance in yesterdays (Sunday) dinner hosted by Indian President Pranab Mukherjee as positive, saying that she did not find anything negative in Mamatas suggestion of taking waters from other rivers. On the $ 4.5 billion LOC, she laid emphasis on the quick implementation of the projects with the loan. Asked if the MoUs on defence cooperation was necessary, Sikri quickly replied, Indeed, it was necessary because security issues and defence cooperation are inter-related. The relationship and cooperation between the two countries in various sectors have now become irreversible, she said. Meanwhile, the government officials concerned did not sound that optimistic regarding the outcomes of the visit. They said that like always Bangladesh did not get what it wanted and India made us happy with hospitality and sweet words. When mentioned about the $4.5 billion LOC, a senior foreign ministry official said that it appears most of the projects to be implemented by the money appear to be related to transit India wants. It is more in the Indian interest. And, if we need money there are other places where we can get it from, he said. Another official said, When there were talks going on about the prime ministers visit, my question was why the visit was necessary. I still have the question. We knew that Teesta would not be done and there would not be much for Bangladesh to gain. Prior to the visit, I said that the main objective of the visit was a diplomatic obligation as there has been no VVIP visit since 2010. And, that is what it was. We achieved virtually nothing, the official lamented. The prime minister left Dhaka on Friday with the perception among majority of the people that Bangladesh pays much more than it gets from its relationship with India. And, sadly, the perception will remain there when the prime minister will return home on Monday, he concluded.