Editorial
Bangladesh-India Secretary level meeting
Peaceful border requires more than mere expression of intent
The secretary level meeting between Bangladesh and India this time was held in the backdrop of border killings due to BSF firing, the most recent being that of a 15 year old girl on 7th January. The recently concluded meeting of the home secretaries had evinced keen interest among the media and political observers, in Bangladesh particularly, because of the deaths.
Regrettably, the otherwise peaceful nature of the Bangladesh-India border has been blemished by very unfortunate, and we feel avoidable, deaths of Bangladeshis at the hands of the BSF, as a result of firing as well as torture. We are happy to note the expression of commitment to bring down the killings to zero, as well as regret from the Indian side for the recent death, at the meeting. One hopes that this is not just another pledge of the many that Bangladesh has received from India in the last several years. We would like to see the articulation of intent transformed into action on ground, in keeping with earlier assurance of 'gun freeze' in the border for one year.
It merits repetition that the Bangladesh-India border is not like any other border, and for very compelling reasons requires sensitivity in its management, a sensitivity which has been belied by the trigger happy attitude of the BSF. Unfortunately, border killings have to some extent overshadowed the otherwise harmonious relationship between the two countries.
Needless to say, Bangladesh-India relationship, after being in the doldrums for more than five years prior to 2009, has been revitalised after the Grand Alliance government's assumption of office in January 2009. The relationship has taken a new trajectory, and the credit must be given to Sheikh Hasina's government for this. There is a change of mindset about India in Bangladesh, an attitude that has sponsored a proactive action on matters related to India, on the part of the Bangladesh leadership.
In that positive mind frame, Bangladesh has acted timely to address the security concerns of India. Its counter-extremist actions, which have a bearing on India's security too, is worth the mention. One would have liked to have seen Bangladesh's security concern addressed in equal measure, particularly border killings.
If for India the border is a cause for concern, by the same token are the killings a highly sensitive matter for Bangladesh. So much so, that for every mile of progress made in respect of bilateral relationship in other sectors, we regress two miles with every death of Bangladeshis in the hands of the BSF.
As for other issues related to the border we are happy to note that the two countries have expressed the hope of reaching consensus on solving all the outstanding ones in a couple of months. That is indeed great news given that some of the major border issues have resisted resolution for a very long time. We are confident that those can be resolved if there is political will which, we have witnessed in the recent past, Bangladesh has never been lacking .
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