Dec 27, 2011

Indo Bangladesh military relations are assuming greater traction. General Md Abdul Mubeen, Bangladesh Army Chief visited from 28 Nov to 02 Dec 11. The high level visits of both Army Chiefs in 2008, 2010 & 2011 has boosted Military to military relations which encompasses exchange of high and medium level visits, availing of training courses in each other’s training institutions, witnessing of designated exercises by military observers from both sides, exchange of War Veterans, UNPKO, sharing experience in disaster management, sports and adventure activities. During the visit, General Mubeen interacted with Defence Minister, NSA, Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee, Service Chiefs, Defence Secretary and other members of Indian Armed Forces hierarchy. In addition, he has visited Agra, Jaipur, Kolkata, important training establishments and field formations.

Military to military cooperation with Bangladesh has greatly enhanced with the staff talks and visits forming an important part of defence diplomacy between the two countries. The proximity of the two armies is a significant development for regional security as for some time there were differences particularly related to influence of China over Bangladesh Army.  The Bangladesh Army Chief General Mubeen has on the other hand also made a statement indicating that ties with China were not strategic thereby indicating that there was a rethink and dependence on Beijing so obvious through supply of arms has come down. Though even now Bangladesh Army has opted for the Chinese MBT 2000 ostensibly in an open contract and there will remain a degree of bias towards China though that cannot be taken as an anti India one and to that extent India’s defence diplomacy has achieved some success. India has Army to Army staff talks with a few countries, which include the US, the UK, Israel, France, Japan, Australia, Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore.

In an attempt to improve relations with Bangladesh, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been invited by Calcutta University to address convocation which is now being scheduled as per her convenience. This should provide a forum for the two ladies, Hasina and Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee to meet. Some critical Indo Bangladesh issues such as the Teesta River water sharing has been held up between India and Bangladesh due to resistance by the local government led by Ms Banerjee. This was a major embarrassment to Dr Singh on his visit to Dhaka. Banerjee is also not supportive of contacts to Dhaka through New Delhi and was thus absent when Sheikh Haseena visited the Teen Beegha corridor though she was provided information of her arrival. Sheikh Haseena and Mamata Banerjee should therefore be able to meet during the Calcutta University convocation, establish rapport and overcome hurdles on Teesta water agreement

            Differences are also emerging over the Tipaimukh dam being constructed by India in Manipur. While the Indian government had undertaken extensive efforts to provide information including moving some of the MPs of the Bangla ruling party as well as opposition and specialists to the site of the Tipaimukh hydro-electric project in Manipur state, it is apparent that this has not achieved the desired aim of overcoming fears of environmental damage and deprivation of water to Bangladesh a lower riparian state. 

The opposition leader Khaleda Zia had written to the Indian Dr Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who in turn has assured Khaleda Zia that his country would not take any steps on the Tipaimukh project that would impact adversely on Bangladesh. India informed the team that the Tipaimukh project would be a hydroelectric project with provisions to control floods and that it would not involve any diversion of water for irrigation. The assurance provided by Dr Man Mohan Singh personally to the Bangladesh opposition leader should in some ways put her opposition to the Tipaimukh project in Indian Manipur to rest. This may also assist the ruling party with the Awami League under pressure as the opposition BNP has raised the heat on this issue and was taking the same to the streets. However there are widespread concerns in Bangladesh from the environmental lobbies, the political spectrum as well as local bodies who are worried about the Tipaimukh’s downstream impact. Therefore it would bode well for the Indian side to provide adequate information and access to these skeptics to the project site as well as the details. More over there is likely to be long term impact of this project and agitations may continue therefore a high degree of confidence building on both sides would reduce resistance.

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