Meet Bangladesh: A "Next 11" Emerging Economy and a U.S. Strategic Ally in South Asia

There are more than 500,000 Bangladeshi Americans now helping to cement our ties.

 

While Bangladesh is grappling with some of the great issues of our time, including food security, global health, and climate change, Bangladeshis have risen to face these challenges head-on, cementing their reputation as one of the most resilient and adaptable people on the planet, and a strong partner for the United States.Tonight’s focus on re-branding is important because many people have an outdated image of Bangladesh.(US Dept Of State )
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Remarks by Robert O. Blake, Jr.
Assistant Secretary, Bureau of South and Central Asian AffairsU.S. Bangladesh Advisory Council Congressional Reception (Rayburn Building)
Washington, DC
October 11, 2011



Minister Moni, Members of Congress and distinguished guests. It gives me great pleasure to be here tonight in support of one of the most important countries in my region of responsibility, Bangladesh.

Let me first thank Congressman Joe Crowley and the Members of the Bangladesh Caucus for their consistent support and personal engagement to strengthen relations between the United States and Bangladesh.

Let me also thank the U.S. Bangladesh Advisory Council for sponsoring tonight’s event, as well as the organizers of the Bangladesh Brand Forum for their tireless efforts to “rebrand” Bangladesh with a new image for 2011 and beyond. Finally, I’d also like to express a special welcome to Foreign Minister Moni who is back on the East Coast mere days after returning to Dhaka from a hectic schedule at the UN General Assembly.

As Assistant Secretary of State, I oversee U.S. relations with thirteen diverse nations of South and Central Asia, ranging from the steppes of Kazakhstan to the tropical islands of the Maldives. As a Muslim-majority democracy with a population of 160 million energetic people and a growing economy that has brought millions out of poverty in recent years, Bangladesh is clearly a nation with a bright future.

While Bangladesh is grappling with some of the great issues of our time, including food security, global health, and climate change, Bangladeshis have risen to face these challenges head-on, cementing their reputation as one of the most resilient and adaptable people on the planet, and a strong partner for the United States.

Tonight’s focus on re-branding is important because many people have an outdated image of Bangladesh. Yet today Bangladesh is a secular democracy with a vibrant civil society, strong pride in its national culture, and a history of religious and ethnic tolerance.

•Bangladesh has posted an economic growth rate of five to six percent each year for the past two decades, even during the worst years of the global recession.
•Bangladesh has transformed from a country plagued by famine to one that is largely self-sufficient in food production, despite rapid population growth.
•Successive governments in Bangladesh have made women’s empowerment a national priority, resulting in steep drops in maternal and infant mortality, and more girls attending and graduating from school.
•The United Nations recognized Bangladesh’s steady progress towards reaching the Millennium Development Goals with an award in September 2010.
•Globally, Bangladesh is the largest troop contributor to UN peacekeeping forces, with 10,000 blue-helmets on the ground serving in some of the world’s most dangerous places.
Many of these successes could not have been achieved without the presence of Bangladesh’s vibrant civil society. Some Bangladeshi NGOs have gone global, including BRAC, the world’s largest NGO, and the Nobel Peace Prize-winning Grameen Bank.

These two organizations have revolutionized the idea of microfinance, helping millions of people, especially poor women, to start up businesses and contribute to their family’s income.

Bangladesh’s global brand is closely linked to the openness of its democratic space. In addition to its vibrant civil society, Bangladesh can also be proud of its free and open media, with over 300 newspapers and hundreds, if not thousands, of television radio and web outlets. Institutions such as these are fundamental to democracy and respect for human rights. The media must continue to be strengthened and given space to develop.

All of us here understand the important place that a free press and an active civil society occupy in any democratic society. To shore up the country’s democratic credentials, the Government of Bangladesh needs to ensure that media outlets and NGOs feel safe to speak their mind and help in each of their unique ways to move the country forward in order to reach its vast potential.

We also hope that the Government will do everything possible to ensure that the effectiveness and integrity of Grameen Bank are preserved as a new leadership is chosen, so that this Nobel Prize-winning organization can fulfill its commitments to its over eight million borrowers.

All parties share responsibility to ensure that the same high standards that existed in 2008 can be sustained in the period leading up to the next elections in 2013. I look forward to a “Bangladesh Brand Election” that is seen as a model by emerging democracies around the world.

As befits a country in the “Next 11,” Bangladesh is increasingly seen as a destination for U.S. investment and a new market for U.S. products. Trade with the United States has almost tripled since 2008, and a number of prominent U.S. companies, including Chevron and Conoco-Phillips, have an active presence in Bangladesh and are helping to support its vital energy sector.

The United States has also been proud of the role Bangladesh has played in promoting greater connectivity and cooperation between the countries of South Asia. Bangladesh was the original proponent for the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), which brings the eight countries of South Asia, including India and Pakistan, together in the same room. Recent bilateral visits by the Prime Ministers of India and Bangladesh to Dhaka and New Delhi have resulted in a series of landmark agreements on border demarcation and cross-border cooperation – with agreements on water-sharing and transit expected in the near future.

Bangladeshis also play a prominent role in Afghan reconstruction through BRAC, which has a huge presence in Afghanistan, promoting health, education, and microfinance. BRAC currently operates more than 2,000 schools in Afghanistan, and has made loans to more than 100,000 Afghan households.

The United States and Bangladesh have had a strong bilateral relationship for the past forty years, ever since the late Senator Edward Kennedy visited Bangladeshi refugees in camps in West Bengal in 1971 during the Liberation War.

Bangladesh continues to be one of our largest recipients of development assistance in Asia as we seek to help our friend and partner reach its goal of becoming a lower middle-income country by 2021. Since 1971, the U.S. Government has provided over $5 billion in development assistance. Bangladeshis now have better access to health care, electricity, increased agricultural productivity and better nutrition.

Bangladesh continues to face specific problems stemming from climate change, population growth, poor health indicators, and food insecurity. The U.S. Government partners with the Government of Bangladesh to address these challenges and, as a result, Bangladesh is a focus country for the President’s Global Health Initiative, Feed the Future Initiative, and the Global Climate Change Initiative.

The U.S. and Bangladesh have steadily increased cooperation to combat terrorism, cooperation that is vitally important for the security of our two countries and for the region.

Bangladesh’s significant diaspora community, like those from other South Asian countries, has also made substantial contributions to the country’s developments. There are more than 500,000 Bangladeshi Americans now helping to cement our ties. I note with pride that with the election to Congress of Hansen Clarke from Michigan’s 13th District, we have the first Member of Congress with deep Bangladeshi roots.

There are many other Bangladeshi Americans making their mark in politics, business, academics, and other fields. Bangladeshi Americans also play an important role in supporting Bangladesh’s development. Members of the Bangladeshi community in the United States send home over $1.5 billion a year.

In conclusion, let me again thank the organizers and the sponsors of the Bangladesh Brand Forum. My deputy in charge of South Asia, Dr. Alyssa Ayres, represented the U.S. State Department at the previous “Meet Bangladesh” event in London last year and I am pleased that this year you were able to bring the Forum both to the U.S. capital of Washington, DC, and to New York City, the unofficial capital of the Bangladeshi-American community – although that might better be described as Queens!

I thank you all for coming tonight and, for those of you visiting us from overseas, I wish you a pleasant stay in the United States.

Source : News BD

‘Corridor’ Threats To Sovereignty

Speakers at a seminar today viewed that country’s security and sovereignty will be under threat if the government move for giving ‘corridor’ to India in the name of transit facility is implemented.

BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir alleged that some intellectuals had earlier viewed that in this age of globalization, giving transit facility should be good for the country for global connectivity. But good sense has dawned upon them. The same intellectuals are now opposing the government move saying transit facility to India will be harmful for Bangladesh.

The seminar titled ‘Corridor in the name of transit and present perspective’ held at Institute of Engineers was organized by Bangladesh Sammilito Peshajibi Parishad. Mahmudur Rahman presided.

Fakhrul ridiculed the statement of PM’s adviser Dr Moshiur Rahman who said that tolls could not be collected from the Indian vehicles carrying goods to the eastern states in the absence of trained officials. India is already carrying goods from the west to its eastern states over Bangladesh, what the government say, on trial basis.

He said the nation was unlucky that the people have voted to power a political party which is compromising the national interest to its alien masters.

“We are gravely concerned about the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the country,” he added.

He noted with regret that the government has bartered away the national interest. It has given corridor to India without getting the due share of the Teesta waters.” If we do not get water, for whose interest we will give transit facility?” questioned the BNP leader.

Fakhrul said in the past students community, especial the Dhaka University, played a pivotal role in raising national issues. But, he lamented, none of the student groups protested the brutal killing of Falani by BSF on the border, whose body was hanging on the barbed wire fence raised by India along the border.

Dr Mahbub Ullah of Dhaka University said India does not want to change our map. They want to make this country caged for which barbed wire fence was raised all along the border.

India is afraid of its disintegration, the bell of which was rung by independence movement in the eastern states and Kashmir, intensified by rising Maoist insurgency in 20 out of 28 states of India.

Bangladesh Kalyan Party chairman Major General (retd) Syed Mohamamd Ibrahim informed seminar that several thousand Indian national infiltrated into Bangladesh without passport. Many of them are acting as spies.

He viewed with concern that India wants the Bangladesh corridor to transport troops and arms from the west to the eastern states where people have been fighting for independence from India. They would also use the corridor to reach Arunachal Pradesh, a disputed area claimed by China. The corridor facility to transport troops and arms would cause annoyance to Bangladesh’s tested friend China.

Ibrahim said India intended to curve out its naval route through Bangladesh ultimately to have military bases threatening our national security and sovereignty.

Mahmudur Rahman informed that Bangladesh Sammilito Peshajibi Parishad will go for a long march to Akhaura port protesting transit facility to India after Eid-ul Azha.

AL Feels The Heat Of Failures

A hallmark of the behaviour of the leaders of the present Awami League government from the day it came to power this time up to last week, i.e., during the last 32 months, has been the exhibition of too much self-confidence which crossed the line of politeness many a time to become arrogance. Almost on every matter they wished to go it alone.  

During this period Awami League quite often sneered or jeered at any suggestion of consensus or united action with the opposition and the civil society. As for the first among the two BNP and its associates were treated as pariah by them. About the civil society Awami League acted in a manner as if it owned them. But such self-assuredness is a virtue as long as one possessing it could do one's own work. Otherwise it becomes a folly which has a self-destructive button embedded in it. Is Awami League seeing this uncomfortable truth?

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced last Sunday that productivity would be a national movement from now and so would be development. She, however, added that the government would need cooperation of all in this regard. The same day Home Minister Sahara Khatun to her dismay heard businessmen telling her point blank that police extorted bribe from them (sometimes they asked for bakhshish). They further said that they and their work force often faced insecurity and policemen were not available on time to help them. This had happened at a meeting organised by the FBCCI with the Home Minister. One businessman wept as he said that in the posh Banani area of the capital drugs were sold freely and the children of the families living in the neighbourhood were becoming addicts. He asked the Home Minister to activate law enforcers against the drug dealers and to save the young people. Some of the businessmen said that most of the drugs were smuggled in from India.

Sahara Khatun was somewhat timid this time round than her usual belligerent self. She said that the government was trying to improve the law and order situation and that the improvement achieved is greater than any time in the past but to guarantee the government's full success cooperation from all others was also needed.

Foriegn Minister Dr.Dipu Moni too has not been her exuberant self since her return from New York. The debacles suffered by Bangladesh during Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh's visit are clearly haunting her. Reports from New York say that the Bangladesh team to UN experienced isolation or at least marginalisation this time. And now word comes from Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith that World Bank is looking into complaints of corruption about the Padma Bridge project sent by sources in Bangladesh. He disclosed this in an interview with the New York-based weekly newspaper Thikana. He also said to it that the World Bank and IMF did not appear to be as warm as before and therefore work would have to be done back at home in Bangladesh.

At the same time roads, railway, power supply and other infrastructure are in poor shape. Not much money has been allocated by the government to repair and improve infrastructure all over the country and not just the capital. Price of all essential commodities are continuously going up. Cost of living has already reached to unbearable level for the common people. Discontent is showing.

The reason why Awami League wants the next election of the Jatiya Sangsad to be held with itself remaining in power is to make sure that the voting results are shown to have gone in its favour, one suspects. Awami League's previous track records (1973 and the Tangail by-election at valiant freedom-fighter Kader Siddiky's area) are bad. The main opposition party BNP is simply unable to trust Awami League to behave well in the next election of parliament. And Awami League, having unleashed a rein of greed and violence, and having failed to handle development work, is unable to trust the public to support it.

BY : Ataus Samad.

Indian Use Of Ashuganj Threatens BD's Export Hopes In 7-Sisters

Bangladeshi companies' competitive advantage in the seven Indian states are under threat after the government allowed Indian traders to use Ashuganj as a transshipment hub for moving merchandise to the land-locked northeast.

Exporters have aired their concern on Saturday, saying the Kolkata-Ashuganj shipping link is detrimental to their business interest as the Indian firms practically pay nothing to move the goods through Bangladesh.

Indian firms have commercially started using the Kolkata-Ashuganj shipping link since last month after the government said the existing clauses of the Indo-Bangla water transit protocol supports the transshipment.

Local exporters said they have long enjoyed a price edge over their Indian rivals in the seven states --- also known as Seven Sisters --- due to Bangladesh's proximity to the area and the fact that major Indian firms are based at least a thousand miles away.

But thanks to the latest move, Indian companies can now grab the initiative as the Ashuganj transshipment facility makes their exports almost cost free," said Jahangir Alam, owner of a leading cement maker.

"In addition, most of the Indian firms have a strong marketing network in the northeast. They can now exploit the advantages at the cost of our fortune," he added.

At present, local manufacturers mainly export cement, plastic products, fish, beverage, juice, biscuits and batteries to the north-east region, home to more than 40 million people.

There are also potentials for exporting mild steel rod, ship scraps, woven bags, bricks and sea fishes to this part of India, which is just 50 kilometres away from Ashuganj and about 100 kiloemtres from Chittagong Port. .

Alam, whose Crown cement is popular in the sparsely populated region, has sought a review of the government decision, saying "Bangladeshi business interest must be protected" in any future Indo-Bangla deal.

"We'll be adversely affected if the shipping link continues in its present form. All we need is a level playing field. If they keep on using Ashuganj without paying any levies, there is no way we can compete with them," he said.

A narrow hilly strip links mainland India with the isolated, landlocked region, which shares less than two per cent of its border with the rest of the country, and the remainder with Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar and China.

Companies based in Kolkata and other parts of West Bengal used to dominate the northeast market although they have to ship the products on road or rail through an insurgency-prone strip.

Indian firms' ascendancy faced the first major challenge early last decade when the increasingly expanding Bangladeshi firms started exporting their goods to the area through a raft of land-ports.

Pran Group, a food and beverage major, leads the Bangladeshi presence in the Seven Sisters, but company executives said the transshipment could deal a big blow to their dominance in the region.

"We can't compete against the Indian firms if they are allowed to use Bangladeshi waterways and the Ashuganj river port without paying any tolls," Md Kamruzzaman, executive director of Pran, told the FE:

The official suggested India should reciprocate the "transshipment goodwill" by removing all its non-tariff and para-tariff barriers on the Bangladeshi exports.

According to the Bangladesh Tariff Commission, Bangladeshi exports to India face at least 15 non-tariff barriers, which make the products costly in the Indian market.

M Rahman chairman of Ratanpur Steel Mills said local firms plan to grab a pie of the lucrative northeastern steel market will remain a distant dream due to the government's latest diplomatic overture to India.

"There are a lot of giant steel manufacturers in Kolkata. Why will the northeastern states import from us when the Kolkata products will be cheaper than Bangladesh due to its availability of raw materials," he said.

Ziaul Hoque Shovon, a director of Shovon Group, said almost every Indian group enjoys an "economy of scale" over its Bangladeshi rival thanks to their population size. India is home to 1.2 billion people.

"Because of their size, these companies can manufacture goods at a faster pace than us. They did not have the shipment advantage. But making Ashuganj a port of call just changed that arithmetic," he said.

Shovon Group wanted to ship several million pieces of woven cement bags to Kolkata-based Calcom cement but the move fell through due to 'security reason'.

Bangladesh and India signed an inland water protocol in 1972 but the deal was seldom used and did not include Ashuganj as a transshipment port.

But Dhaka and New Delhi amended the Protocol in May 2010, which included Ashuganj as the fifth port of call in Bangladesh and Shilghat as a port of call in Indian state of Assam.

The amendment allowed India to carry goods to Ashuganj port by ferry from Kolkata. The goods then take a land-route to India's north-east via Akhaura land-port.

Bangladesh imports goods over US$4.6 billion while export its merchandise worth nearly $600 million. The trade gap is highly tilted in favour of the neighbouring country ever since the independence of Bangladesh. 

BY : Jasim Uddin Haroon.

Bangladesh-India Relation- 100 Points to Ponder

Introduction

Bangladesh has been subjected to deception, deprivation and subjugation by neighbor India through the later’s unfriendly treatment, actions, policies and sugar-coated pledges expressed in different treaties/agreements which never materialized. The recent treaty signed between Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Indian Prime Minister Monmohon Singh titled ‘Framework Agreement for Co-operation’ has tied Bangladesh in an infinite bondage and created scopes for Indian access into every sector of Bangladesh including corridor through Bangladesh territory.

In order to resolve the various issues that Bangladesh facing with India; it is essential for us to ponder on the points mentioned under following subheads:

a.    How Awami Govt has surrendered our national interests to India.

b.    India’s hostile behavior towards Bangladesh.

c.    Advantages and benefits that India enjoys for Bangladesh such as strategic advantages, economic and cultural domination.

d.    Strategic disadvantages faced by India.

e.    Recommendations.

How Awami Govt has surrendered our national interests to India

1.    Signing of 7 Points Treaty by Tajuddin Ahmed in 1971 which denied sovereign rights to Bangladesh.

2.    Allowing India to emerge as sole victor on 16 December 1971 denying our 9 month’s struggle against the West Pakistani occupation forces.

3.    Allowing India to loot armaments worth billion dollars left by Pakistani Forces.

4.    Signing of trade agreement in 1972 by Sheikh Mujib allowing transit through roads, rails and river routes.

5.    Handing over our Berubary enclave without ensuring exchange of 3 bigha corridor by India.

6.    Signing of 25 year treaty by Sheikh Mujib which is known as slavery treaty that denied our rights of maintaining defence force and pursuing independent diplomacy.

7.    Allowing Indian Army to operate inside independent Bangladesh territory at CHT area who conducted repression on tribal people for about a year since 16^th December 1971.

8.    Allowing India by Sheikh Mujib to open Farakka Barrage and never to close it which has caused desertification, salinity and rising of river beds due to sediments.

9.    Allowing India to train and motivate ZRB (Zatiyo Rakkhi Bahini) who allegedly killed more than 34000 opposition political activists during Mujib regime.

10.  Signing of Gangees Water Sharing Treaty by Sheikh Hasina in 1996 without any arbitration and guarantee clause; as a result, India never gave BD due share of water.

11.  Surrendering country’s 1/10th portion CHT to India-trained separatist group called JSS through a so called peace treaty which denied govt’s sovereignty and our fundamental citizenship rights on CHT.

12.  Signing of 50 Points MOU by Sheikh Hasina in January 2010 and secretly giving transit/corridor to India along with many other undisclosed promises.

13. Signing of ‘Framework Agreement for Co-operation’ on 6^th September 2011 by Sheikh Hasina which created scope for Indian access into every sector of Bangladesh and gave corridor to India through Bangladesh territory which is against our security, sovereignty and economic interests.

India’s hostile behavior towards Bangladesh

14.  India has not returned 3 Bhigha Corridor to us in exchange of Berubary enclave which was handed over to India as per Mujib-Indira treaty signed in 1972.

15.  India sheltered armed group of Kaderia Bahini who conducted armed activities along the border area after 1975.

16.  India allowed her territory to be used by separatist Shadhin Bangabhumi Andolon group led by Chittoronjon Sutar and Kalipodo Boiddo which demands a separate land for Bangladeshi Hindus in South-Western part of Bangladesh.

17.  India allowed her territory against Bangladesh by sheltering, inspiring and training CHT’s JSS armed terrorists named Shantibahini who killed more than 35000 people in CHT. Even, since signing of CHT Treaty on 2 December 1997, JSS armed wing has killed more than 700 and kidnapped more than 1300 CHT people.

18.  India has never given us due share of water as per the Ganges Treaty signed by Sk Hasina.

19.  Releasing deposited water at Farakka point through all the gates causing flood and inundation in Bangladesh every year.

20.  Trade imbalance by imposing trade barriers for Bangladeshi products. Presently trade gap is more than 3 billion US dollar per year.

21.  India erected barbed-wire fence around Bangladesh turning Bangladesh into world’s largest sell.

22.  Killing of our citizens at border area by BSF; As per the statistics given by right group ‘Adhikar’, between 1^st January 2000 and 31^st August 2011, Indian BSF killed 998 Bangladeshi citizen;  injured 996; arrested 226; kidnapped 957; missing 107 personnel and raped 14 Bangladeshi women.

23. India smuggling drugs such as Phencydil and illegal arms into Bangladesh.

24.  Sheltering Bangladeshi criminals in Kolkata.

25. Conducting anti-Bangladeshi propaganda.

26.  Indian forces raided our Roumary and Padua BOP.

27.  India influencing our journalists by inviting Bangladeshi editors to India and brainwashing them in favour of India’s demands such as corridor.

28.  Interfering with our political affairs by giving bagsful of money and advices as stated by the Economist magazine.

29.  India captured our Talpotti Island in the Bay of Bengal.

30.  Putting claim on 2/3^rd portion of our maritime boundary.

31. Putting pressure for Asian Highway route to be selected as per India’s desire i.e. India-Bangladesh-India-Myanmar.

32.  India ensured corridor from Sheikh Hasina in order to transport her goods, Armed Forces and military hardware through Bangladesh territory.

33.  India constructed barrage on 52 out of 54 international rivers that entered into Bangladesh through India; thus controlling and diverting international river water depriving Bangladesh as a lower riparian country.

34.  Undertook project for constructing Tipaimukh Barrage which will cause catastrophic impact on Bangladesh especially greater Sylhet area.

35.  Planning to divert Feni River water.

36.  Constructing defence installation within 150 meters of the No-man’s land violating international rules.

37.  Grabbing our land along border areas such as Tamabil of Sylhet.

38.  India shut transit facility between Bangladesh and Nepal just hour after opening it.

39.  Pilkhana massacre is alleged to be India’s mastermind in order to demolish our border security.

40.  India plotted to assassin Bangladeshi President Ziaur Rahman which is revealed by Shuvir Bhoumik in his book titled ’Troubled Peripheri’.

Strategic advantages achieved and benefits enjoyed by India for Bangladesh

41. India’s arch rival Pakistan is divided in 1971 War with the help of Bangladeshi people and Freedom Fighters.

42.  Avoid huge financial expenditure for eastern sector due to absence of Pakistani Forces.

43.  No potential threat in Eastern sector.

44.  India is relieved seeing- no harboring of North-Eastern guerrillas in Bangladesh.

45.  Arrest and handing over of infiltrator guerrillas to Indian authority by Bangladesh Govt making Bangladesh fight a proxy war for India.

46.   Support ensured from Bangladesh for India’s permanent membership in the UN Security Council.

47.  Able to destabilize security situation in Bangladesh by supporting any armed group as done in CHT.

48.   Able to launch offensive operation on isolated Bangladesh while only defending western front with Pakistan.

49.  Influence Bangladesh’s foreign affairs by installing puppet regime.

50. Claiming and capturing lands, islands and maritime area without being effectively opposed by Bangladesh.

51.  Getting facility to counter NE independent movement and fight China using Bangladesh territory as corridor.

52.  Avoid risky Shilliguri Corridor for transportation of her goods and military hardware.

53.  Dominating and subverting Bangladesh Armed Forces by combined military exercises, training, visits etc.

54.  Dominating our border physically and psychologically and suggesting us to term all killings by BSF as simple ‘deaths’.

55.  Got a rare chance of defeating Pakistan’s 94000 Muslim Forces; thereby taking ‘Hazar saal ka badla’ as  stated by Indira Gandhi which could never be possible without active support of our thousands of Freedom Fighters and whole population.

56.  Achieved free and easier access for her intelligence force ‘RAW’ to operate inside Bangladesh.

57.  Got a chance to bargain with us using ‘international river water’ as a tool to gain corridor and other facilities from Bangladesh.

58.  Subvert and intimidate Bangladeshi people and Armed Forces by showing her large army, advanced arms and nuclear weapons; as a result, many MPs, ministers and writers term India as ‘Big neighbour’.

59.  Bangladesh became a country almost surrounded by Indian territory from all sides which also facilitated India to confine Bangladeshi nation by fencing.

60.  Installed a puppet Regional Council authority in CHT led by Shantu Larma and after withdrawal of Bangladeshi Security Forces; it will be easier to capture CHT and cut off Chittagong Port by putting blockade at Feni.

61.  Easy to establish blockade against Bangladesh by land and sea during any hostility.

62.  Bangladesh is unable to maintain any defensive front line as India is able to launch offensive from almost all directions.

63. India is now in a more advantageous position in annexing Bangladesh as she did to Sikkim in order to fulfill her Nehru Doctrine of Greater India.

India’s Economic domination on Bangladesh

64.  Bangladesh is converted into an economic colony of India; daily commodities including motorbikes, TATA trucks, buses and cars, CNG Baby Taxies etc are dominating BD market.

65.  Able to destabilize economic stability of Bangladesh by smuggling into/from Bangladesh.

66.  Getting contracts for printing text books, providing all materials and consultancy for construction of corridor infrastructure as per 1 billion dollar loan agreement.

67.  Planning to produce electricity by importing BD gas; then exporting it to BD and also supply to Poshchimbongo through BD.

68.  Capturing BD garments sector, mobile communication sector etc.

69. Reduce time, distance and transportation cost by using BD territory as corridor.

70. Reduce BD’s scope of export to NE states as India’s goods will be available there now in reduced prices.

71.  India enjoys huge earning facility from Bangladeshi nationals who go to India for medical treatment and education.

72.  Indian Marwaries looted billions of dollars from BD share market scam in previous term of Awami regime due to Awami Finance Minister’s self-admitted ignorance about share market.

73.  Every Eid festival is a lucrative business opportunity for Indian traders who sell Indian clothes worth around 5000 crores Taka when Indian dresses are sold in BD markets priced from 3000 to 3 lac Taka.

Cultural domination on Bangladesh

74.  Indian dozens of Hindi channels earn more than 1000 crore Taka every year from Bangladesh.

75.  In last 3 years around 300 Indian artists attended different cultural programs in Bangladesh who earn millions of dollars from Bangladesh.

76.  Hindi culture is observed in most of the middle class families of Bangladesh. Even Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina believes that due to Durga Ma’s visit by Roth, BD is abundant with crops.

77.  Most of the cultural programs are filled with Hindi film songs, dances and costumes; Tri-nation concert organized in Dhaka on 24^th February 2010 is an example of this.

78.  Many beauty shops use Indian style and cosmetics for decoration of brides.

79.  Many pro-India intellectuals preach that formation of Pakistan on the basis of religion was a mistake but they carefully refrain from admitting that we could get an independent Bangladesh because of creation of independent Pakistan in 1947 from British South Asia.

Strategic disadvantages faced by India

80.  Indian Poschimbonga and North-Eastern states are encouraged by an independent Bangladesh to achieve independence.

81.  BD capable of widening operational area into NE states if invaded by India.

82.  Bangali Nationalism propagated by Awami regime likely to inspire Poshchimbonga (West Bengal) Bangalees to be united with independent Bangladesh accepting Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib as their Father of the Nation and Tagore’s ‘Amar sonar Bangla’ song as their National Anthem too.

83.  Whole Bangladeshi nation got alienated against India because of Indian subjugation, deprivation, hegemony, imperialism and intimidation.

84.  It has become easier to identify Indian agents by their words, actions, policies and agreements signed with India surrendering national interests who waited 40 years to give corridor to India.

85.  Bangladesh being world’s 7^th largest country in population, India, by its military might, may occupy Bangladesh but cannot hold the ground as any invasion by India will cause a protracted liberation war which will sink invading forces into the quagmire of Bangladesh.

86.  Unidentifiable border at CHT area covered by hills and jungles are ideal terrain for both Indian and Bangladeshi tribal insurgents to infiltrate as due to CHT Treaty- BD security camps are being withdrawn and Bangalees are prohibited to settle in CHT leaving CHT as a paradise for armed groups.

Recommendations

87. BD nation needs to reject and resist Hasina-Monmohon’s ‘Framework Agreement for Co-operation’ signed on 6^th September 2011 which is an infinite bondage of slavery.

88.  India needs to change its hegemonic attitude and reshape her diplomatic and economic policies towards Bangladesh.

89. India has to stop all border killings and violations and compensate for border killings and repression as per international rules.

90.  India has to make compensation for the damage and loss suffered by BD due to Farakka Barrage which is estimated around 140 billion dollar.

91.  India has to return all weapons abandoned by Pakistani Forces in 1971.

92.  India has to refrain from supporting CHT terrorist groups operating against Bangladesh and stop allowing her land to be used for propaganda against Bangladesh.

93.  India has to remove all tariff and non-tariff barriers imposed on BD products in order to eradicate trade imbalance.

94.  India has to abandon her Tipaimukh Barrage project.

95.  India has to share 50% water of each international river entered into Bangladesh.

96.  India should refrain from interfering with BD politics and stop supporting any chosen regime.

97.  India has to abandon her undue occupation on BD’s Talpotti Island and also return 3 Bigha Corridor to Bangladesh completely if she wants to retain Berubari enclave as per the Mujib-Indira Treaty.

98. India has to abandon her undue claim on BD’s maritime boundary.

99.  India has to stop smuggle of drugs and illegal arms into Bangladesh.

100.              India has to stop using Bangladesh territory as her corridor and all treaties/MOUs signed with India need to be disclosed to BD people.

Conclusion

Relation between Bangladesh and India should be based on equality, mutual interest and mutual respect for each other’s sovereignty.

Both countries should recognize help of each other during BD Liberation War and Indo-Pak War in 1971.

India should reflect on the strategic and economic advantages and benefits that she enjoys because of Bangladesh and refrain from all sorts of hostile and unfriendly activities against Bangladesh which is a precondition for building trust and confidence of Bangladeshi people for bi-lateral co-operation. 

By: Major Faruk (Retd)