Indo-Bangladesh Relations: Moving Forward
*Saumitra Mohan

Indo-Bangladesh bilateral relations have been through many ups and downs in recent times even though one expected the same to be ensconced in better understanding and appreciation of each other’s problems and expectation. The expectations were predicated on the positive and proactive role played by India in Bangladesh’s liberation. Though, it also helped India by reducing the need to fight Pakistan on two fronts because of the latter’s ability to mount a pincer attack on India from two sides.

This, however, turned out to be pious wishes merely because of the ensuing political games in Bangladesh. Whatever may be the reason, the fact remains that the present state of Indo-Bangladesh relations actually belies the expectations of the initial euphoria immediately in the aftermath of Bangladesh’s liberation.

Now, with a supposedly pro-India liberal government in the saddle, expectations of an improvement in the bilateral ties have naturally soared again. The visit of the Bangladeshi brass to thank India for its neutrality during the recent revolt is another example of a simulated bonhomie. Different issues including bilateral economic ties, illegal infiltration from Bangladesh, sheltering anti-India forces in its territories and disputes relating to border demarcation are among the contentious issues still dogging the bilateral ties.

However, a development, noticed recently as worth recalling and deserving some close attention for the very implications and ramifications the same entail for the Indo-Bangladesh relations. An Islamist Arsenal-cum-Madarsa, masquerading as a British charity organization, has been unearthed in Bangladesh’s Bhola town. It only confirms the level of fundamentalist penetration in that country, more so when we have a supposedly tolerant, liberal and pro-India dispensation. Such a discovery contains very ominous portents for India’s internal security management as this may only be a tip of the proverbial ice-berg.

The very fact that the constituent articles seized from the said religious Seminary included a speedboat gives tell-tale indications of ominous intentions of the operatives there. Had the same not been discovered, many more destructive and disruptive activities must have been in store for India. It also reminds us of the Karachi to Mumbai voyage of another group of militants finally eventuating in the terrorist incursions of Mumbai on 26th November last year. It is quite obvious that the said Seminary as much as the arsenal, arguably covering the dispensation of the military-backed interim administration, were built over time, with clandestine support from the anti-India forces in that country.

Such a development also raises important questions about the role of the UK-based charity organization in this bizarre and senseless export of terror. The involvement becomes still more suspect as the arrested financier of what has functioned under the label of a Madarsa-cum-Orphanage is based in London. What is surprising is the fact that notwithstanding all the hot air regarding curbing terrorist and cognate incendiary activities and infrastructures in the West, one could still find such agencies operating with impunity right under the nose of the British government.

One can very well argue that Faisal, the said Bangladeshi tycoon, fits into Britain’s ethnic profiling of terror, a perception formulated after London’s 7/7 (2006), something which has been rightly resented in the sub-continent for the racist overtones of the same. Still, the unearthing of such activities by the people from the sub-continent, particularly from Pakistan and Bangladesh, does compel one to do a rethink over this ethicizing of terror. The Seminary, with its lucrative offshore connections along with incoming resources and expertise, used the same to run a training centre for the terrorists with evil designs against this country.

It is really quite tragic that even after 38 years of its independence, Bangladesh still stands in unsplendid isolation in terms of geography. Myanmar, the only other country aside from India with whom it shares a land border, has lately reinforced its troops to fence a portion of 270-km border which is just a fraction of India’s over 4000 kilemetre-long frontier with Bangladesh. But given the recent noises emanating from Bangladesh soil, it is increasingly being favoured as a strong-hold for different militant organizations including as a proxy for Pakistan’s Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) to carry out disruptive activities against neighbouring countries. It is in view of this development that the Mynmarese authorities have pulled out all stops to complete the task of border fencing.

This is in sharp contrast to the Border Security Force’s (BSF) partial border fencing because of strong reservations and protestations from across the border. Unlike the Western flank, India is yet to install the state-of-the-art anti-infiltration obstacle system, fitted with sophisticated alarm gadgets to check illegal infiltration by militants and economic migrants into this country. In absence of the same, guarding and securing our borders would remain quite a tall order as it is just not possible for our security men to guard every point of the difficult terrain along the 4000-kilemetre long Indo-Bangla borders.

We not only need to complete the border fencing immediately notwithstanding objections from our eastern neighbour, we also need to resolve the long-festering problem of the 225 enclaves, in each-others’ adverse possession, still subsisting within the borders of both the countries. The latter would make our borders more manageable and secure. It would significantly reduce, if not totally eliminate the infiltration from across the borders into this country.

It is believed that more than one crore Bangladeshis have entered this country illegally over the years, something which Bangladesh Government stoutly refuses to accept. The Hasina administration, if earnestly committed to its agenda, should not only open multi-level dialogue with India to resolve all the outstanding issues with this country, but ought to make honest effort to discourage illegal emigration into this country. It should also take the British government into confidence to get to the bottom of the sinister operations behind the façade of religious instructions as unearthed recently. The same should be done in right earnest with all seriousness it deserves if Bangladesh really wishes to come out of the trap-door of under-development to promise a better future to its populace. A happy and prosperous neighbour is always a better bet for India’s security.