Transit, trade gap to rule talks with India

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The foreign-secretary level talks between Bangladesh and India begin in New Delhi today with both sides set to put forward their agenda of interests the two neighbours have been negotiating for years.

Foreign Secretary Towhid Hossain leads the six-member delegation to the two-day talks.

He left for the Indian capital yesterday hoping to return with positive results on long-standing issues relating to economy and border.

Foreign Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury has said that Bangladesh would not give any concession regarding issues of transit but discuss with importance strengthening security to tackle terrorist activities on both sides of the border.

“We will address the issues in a way that safeguards the interest of the country,” he said.

Speaking at a briefing after talks with the Jatiya Ganotantrik Party (JGP) at the chief adviser’s office yesterday, Iftekhar Chowdhury reiterated the government’s position on transit, saying the interim government would not take steps that go against the sovereignty of the country.

Dhaka is taking the issues of reducing the trade gap, that amounts to nearly US$ 2 billion, removal of non-tariff barriers, duty-free access, exporting more Bangladeshi products to India, border demarcation in the remaining 6.5 kms, unfettered access through the Tin-bigha corridor, exchange of enclaves and unsettled territories to the meeting.

Killings of innocent Bangladeshis by BSF and sharing of water are also expected to feature in the talks.

India, keen to raise both transit and security issues at the talks, is also optimistic about Bangladesh’s positive response over Delhi’s request for nearly two decades for transit through Bangladesh to reach its seven north-eastern states known as the seven sisters.

“We have discussed the transit in different forums. We are interested in the transit and will remain interested,” Indian high commissioner Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty told reporters earlier last week.

He portrayed the matter as purely an economic issue than a political one.

Responding to his statement, both the foreign adviser and the foreign secretary ruled out any possibility of reaching consensus on the issue at the talks this week.

“Bilateral mechanism would be strengthened at the foreign-secretary level talks,” Iftekhar earlier told The Daily Star. He said major issues like the transit would be discussed at a greater forum.

The foreign secretary assured journalists on Tuesday that no decision would be taken on the issue of transit at the talks.

Both countries will also discuss improvement of the Dhaka-Kolkata train and bus services, reducing duration of immigration clearance on the Indian side and how to woo more passengers to the service.

Sources at the foreign ministry said that Shillong-Guwahati bus service might also come up for discussion. Expediting the process of exchanging criminals hiding in each other’s territory is also likely to be discussed, the sources added.

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