[Assam] Dhaka, Delhi sign trade, transit pacts, move closer on terrorism

[Alpana B. Sarangapani]

This is great. Now if we have one like this by India and Pakistan it would be a perfect world, mainly in South Asia, that is.

 
 




  
 
 
 > Date: Tue, 10 Feb 2009 06:15:23 +0530> From: dasmk2k at gmail.com> To: assam at assamnet.org> Subject: [Assam] Dhaka, Delhi sign trade, transit pacts, move closer on terrorism> > *Search:* All News Yahoo! News Only> ------------------------------> Dhaka, Delhi sign trade, transit pacts, move closer on terrorism> > Mon, Feb 9 10:48 PM> > Dhaka, Feb 9 (IANS) Bangladesh and India Monday rejuvenated their political> and economic ties, renewing a trade pact that envisages transit facility to> India, and moved closer on their resolve to combat terrorism.> > A 12-hour hectic visit here of Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab> Mukherjee saw confluence of views on bilateral and regional issues between> the South Asian neighbours, made possible by the emergence in Bangladesh of> a new political dispensation last month under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.> > In conceding road and rail transit to Indian goods that allows Delhi to> connect with its isolated northeastern region, Dhaka displayed political> conviction and overrode opposition brewing at home.> > The main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has threatened> agitation to oppose the deals that it considers 'anti-national'.> > A 'basic agreement' on transit that is within the trade pact - similar to> the one signed in 2006 by the BNP-led government - will be followed by a> protocol to work out details.> > Dhaka has been anxious to bridge its trade gap that is estimated at $1.2> billion.> > Mukherjee, who signed the trade pact and a deal to promote and protect> investments in both countries to boost trade, said the huge gap tilting> heavily in India's favour could not be offset.> > 'Being a former foreign trade minister, I can most respectfully tell you> there is no mechanism through which bilateral trade between two countries in> respect of each and every country could be balanced. It is not possible,' he> said winding up his visit.> > 'But surely it is possible to reduce the gap and to keep it within the> manageable limit,' he said, adding that India had taken some measures to> reduce the yawning gap.> > The talks reinforced a high measure of political understanding on prickly> issues, both bilateral and regional.> > 'We categorically assured Mr Pranab Mukherjee that Bangladesh will not> countenance any anti-Indian activities by elements inimical to the interests> of India using Bangladesh territory,' Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dipu Moni> said.> > 'Similarly, we have also sought India's cooperation against elements who are> trying to harm Bangladesh,' she said.> > The high point of the visit was Mukherjee's 75-minute talks with Hasina with> whom he enjoys a close rapport.> > Hasina elaborated on her proposal for a regional task force to combat> terrorism, emphasising that the principal enemy was poverty, which could not> be fought as long as terrorism and militancy thrived.> > Hasina said Bangladesh attached great importance to its relations with India> and wanted to maintain good relations with all her neighbours.> > Reinforcing ties that have bound the two neighbours, Hasina expressed> gratitude for India's cooperation during Bangladesh's war of independence in> 1971, saying: 'Bangladesh will not forget the sacrifice of several thousand> Indian soldiers during the war against Pakistan.'> _______________________________________________> assam mailing list> assam at assamnet.org> http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
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