INTERVIEWWith fond memories...

"Sheikh Hasina has firmly and unhesitatingly acted against Indian insurgent groups [which] has immeasurably strengthened the hands of the Government of India in dealing with these groups," says former high commissioner Veena Sikri.

bdnews24.com
Published : 6 Sept 2011, 02:48 AM
Updated : 6 Sept 2011, 02:48 AM
Veena Sikri got along famously with Sheikh Hasina Wajed and Khaleda Zia as India's High Commissioner in Dhaka from 2003 to 2006. The formidable 1971 batch of Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer retired in 2008 but is a keen observer of the goings-on in Bangladesh and its relations with leading powers as a professor at Delhi's Jamia Millia Islamia University where she heads the Bangladesh Studies Programme at the Academy of International Studies.
S. N. M. Abdi, a bdnews24.com Contributing Editor in India, spoke at length to Sikri on a wide range of subjects ahead of Prime Minster Manmohan Singh's visit to Bangladesh. Excerpts:
Q: What are the images Bangladesh conjures up for you?
A: Bangladesh immediately reminds me of a very friendly people who want to be friends with India and Indians. Bangladeshis exude warmth and goodwill.
Q: What's your advice to Manmohan Singh and Shiekh Hasina ahead of Dr Singh's landmark visit to Bangladesh?
A: I wish both the best of luck. The visit is extremely well prepared for. The planning will be reflected in the agreements and MoUs waiting to be unveiled. Dr Singh's visit and Sheikh Hasina's trip to India in January 2010 are actually comparable with the exchange of visits in the 1970s when Indira Gandhi was in Dhaka in March 1972 and Sheikh Mujib visited Delhi in May 1974. As in the 1970s, expectations are running high in both the countries.
Q: Bangladesh feels that it has done a lot for India and got nothing or very little in return.
A: I don't think so. Many decisions taken during Hasina's 2010 visit are in the process of being implemented and the results will be announced during Dr Singh's visit. So let's judge the issue after Dr Singh's visit.
Q: What do you think India should do to dispel its Big Brother image? Privately, Dhaka often calls India's attitude imperious because Delhi insists that it is always right on all issues.
A: Nobody can say that he is right on all issues. I think there can be a difference of opinion which can be resolved only through dialogue and on the basis of friendship, trust and understanding. In the last two years there has been a tremendous amount of dialogue and we will see the results after Dr Singh's visit.
Q: Our PM and home minister have publicly thanked Bangladesh for its cooperation in security-related matters particularly a sea change in Dhaka's attitude to north-east separatists and export of terror to India by ISI from Bangladeshi soil. Can you please throw some light on what India is doing in return to address Bangladesh's security concerns?
A: Dialogue on security issues has been very productive. Sheikh Hasina has firmly and unhesitatingly acted against Indian insurgent groups who were hitherto operating almost with impunity from the soil of Bangladesh. This has immeasurably strengthened the hands of the Government of India in dealing with these groups.
Some Bangladeshi criminal elements are hiding in India and Dhaka wants us to deport them. And we are taking their concerns very seriously.
Q: Bangladeshi experts fear that a land transit corridor would spell the doom of Bangladeshi consumer items in India's north-east. How do you think Delhi should compensate Dhaka for the loss of revenue caused by the Bangla Corridor India so desperately wants?
A: Bangladeshi goods and commodities will always be very competitive in the north-east. Any transit or connectivity should focus on Indian investments in Bangladesh for manufacturing items to sell in the north-east. Indian goods on their own will never be competitive in the north-east.
Connectivity will result in Indian investors manufacturing consumer goods, intermediary items for the construction industry and educational products in joint ventures inside Bangladesh. The transit corridor will also help Bangladeshi goods to reach the north-east and other parts of India.
Q: Why is it so expensive, difficult and time-consuming for Bangladeshis to get an Indian visa? Why do Bangladeshis have to pay more for an Indian visa than what Indians pay for a Bangladeshi visa?
A: Procedures for visas need to be streamlined. The demand for Indian visas is very high -- about half a million annually. But nonetheless procedures must be streamlined so that individual visa seekers don't face difficulties.
Indian government had to introduce computerisation and outsourcing of visas which have increased the cost of visas enormously.
Q: But that's India's problem. How come India is charging them more than they charge Indians? It's supposed to be reciprocal.
A: In principle yes. Our Foreign Ministry should rope in the Finance Ministry to resolve it.
Q: What do you think India should do to rationalise the glaring bilateral trade inequality? There is a gap of $2.5 billion despite Bangladesh's fervent pleas to throw open India's markets to them.
A: This is an important item on Dr Singh's agenda. I am sure there will be major announcements on that front. The picture will become more positive when Indian investors manufacture in Bangladesh and export the produce to the north-east and other parts of India as Bangladeshi goods. Investments will create jobs in Bangladesh and contribute to the growth of the economy.
Q: Bangladesh is perennially power-starved. Can India help solve a neighbour's chronic electricity shortage problem?
A: During Dr Singh's visit there will be major announcements on power grid connectivity and export of electricity from India to Bangladesh.
Q: Why do you think India has so far failed to tap Bangladesh's natural gas reserves?
A: Gas has been a subject of discussion between us for a long time but talks have been inconclusive. Bangladesh is still trying to organise its gas sector and we look forward to positive results.
Q: Ahead of the signing of Teesta water-sharing agreement during Dr Singh's visit, how would you respond to Bangladeshi accusations that India has reduced the Ganges water-sharing pact to a farce? Where does the problem lie in our water-related dispute?
A: We are looking forward to agreements on Teesta and Feni Rivers. The pacts will be a big step forward. The Ganges water treaty is working very well. It's jointly monitored by India and Bangladesh and there have been no complaints from the Bangladeshi side. The two sides actually jointly measure the flow of water during the dry season every 10 days. It's all very transparent.
Q: Why do you think there is a certain keenness in Dhaka to cultivate China?
A: Over the years Beijing has worked on developing a pro-China lobby in Bangladesh. However, the friendship between the peoples of India and Bangladesh is unique and will always stand the test of time.
Q: Can you sum up India's concerns about closer Dhaka-Islamabad ties?
A: We are developing our own friendly ties with Bangladesh. Our only concern, whether it's China or Pakistan, is that there should be no anti-Indian activities from Bangladeshi soil.
Q: How serious is the issue of illegal migration from Bangladesh to India and its implications for India's security?
A: It's an issue on which both countries should hold discussions. Without discussion and dialogue there can be misunderstandings on this issue.
Q: As a career diplomat, how would you describe Bangladesh's handling of Dr Singh's comment that 25 percent of Bangladeshis are anti-Indian and in the clutches of ISI?
A: It's behind us. Bangladesh reacted very maturely. We should not be discussing it now.