Editorial
Welcoming Manmohan
We are shocked but still hopeful
Notwithstanding the shock over the news that there will be no Teesta water-sharing accord, Bangladesh is ready to extend a warm welcome to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's much-awaited visit to Dhaka. This is the first such summit to be held in Dhaka since the Mujib-Indira meet in 1974 and that way it raised great hopes for a definitive value addition to the bilateral ties on a stronger foundation.
We would, however, like to say that the non-signing of the much-vaunted Teesta accord casts a shadow on the trip that was looked upon as a great opportunity to take the bilateral relationship on to a new trajectory.
Even so, we would like to believe that in the backdrop of our disappointment over Teesta some significant developments will occur in terms of economic cooperation and investment, balancing bilateral trade, settling boundary demarcation issues and stoppage of border killings.
Also of importance is sustained political will for improvement of ties including the nurturing of people to people contact between the neighbours. Many points can be taken up to this end, including less stringent regulations on movement between citizens of the two nations.
With the Teesta agenda consigned to the backburner, we hope that the outcome of the visit in other areas will be proportionate to the interest generated and expectations created by the long-drawn-out preparations preceding the trip.
Implementation of any past and future pledges by the countries' leaders may also mean having to put those political decisions over and above the bureaucratic tangle which often hinders and delays the implementation process. A follow-up mechanism will also be necessary in ensuring that whatever commitments are made during the visit are followed through.
The first step towards building on the Indo-Bangladesh relationship was taken by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina through her Delhi visit 20 months ago. She created an ambience for intensifying cooperation by addressing the security concerns of India. Much as the latest development could bring under shadow a comprehensive vision of a forward movement, it is the same factor that should oblige India to deliver in different other areas. We are shocked but still hopeful of a successful outcome of the visit.
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