If transit is given, BD will be used for terrorist activists: political
experts say
BD to say no to Indian proposal for transit at Delhi Meet
Amena Khatun Urmee
Bangladesh will express its unwillingness to provide India with transit
facilities during the bilateral meeting of Bangladesh-India to be held
between foreign secretaries of the two countries in Delhi tomorrow
(Thursday).
A highly-placed diplomatic source in the Foreign Ministry said, "We are
ready to hold talk on various issues with any foreign country but we are
categorically saying that Bangladesh will not agree with India's proposal
if
it goes against country's sovereignty and interest."
Referring to rules of foreign policy that no decision can be imposed on
coercion, earlier Foreign Adviser said that Bangladesh can discuss any
issue
with India as a neighbouring country but no decision can be imposed on it.
Banglade**** counterparts will discuss about trade and other bilateral
issues
other than transit in the meeting with India.
Another source alleged that India is being benefited in many ways from
Bangladesh including sharing of water and one-sided trade but despite all
these facilities enjoyed by India it has started to put continuous
pressure
on the country for transit facilities. It added that India has been
insisting on the country for transit for many years but Bangladesh is not
responding to her demand.
According to political scientists, as the Caretaker Government is not an
elected and democratic government, it has no right to take a serious
decision like granting transit to any foreign country.
They said "Bangladesh is a democratic country and its people are the
original owners and stakeholders of everything thereof and thus all
im****tant decisions have to be taken in consultation with common mass,
civil
society leaders and members of the defence services".
Foreign Ministry sources said that there is a committee which is working
as
to how communication between the two countries can be increased but this
committee is identifying all possible ways except giving transit.
It may be pointed out that in July 2007 when Indian state minister for
commerce Joyram Ramesh came to Dhaka he said India would like to promote
Bangladesh by helping in the fields of trade and commerce and thus transit
is necessary.
Diplomatic experts expressed their anxieties about transit issue saying
that
strategically India is strong because of its military and commercial might
and it has many provinces where the insurgents are fighting for their
independence through armed movements. If transit is given, Bangladesh may
be
used for military activities both by the Indian government and the
insurgents.
