Much is being said about the agreements and joint declarations made during the Bangladesh Prime Minister’s recent visit to India. It is natural that there will be many discussions about such a visit in diplomatic circles. As citizens of Bangladesh, we mainly want to see the benefit side of Bangladesh, and look at the possibility of strengthening mutually beneficial relations in South Asia at large.

The relationship between Bangladesh and India is very deep, very extensive. The depth or breadth of this relationship cannot be touched by discussing one or two incidents or one or two issues. But on a smaller scale I would like to discuss only one issue, to extent in isolation.

The issue of increasing rail connectivity between Bangladesh and India has been discussed for a long time. It has been under discussion for fifty years. Since the launch of the Dhaka-Kolkata Maitree Express in 2008, this matter has gained a new dimension. Rail and simultaneously road and air connectivity between Bangladesh and India will increase, bringing benefit to neighbouring countries as well, and communication and transportation system between Bangladesh-Nepal and Bangladesh-Bhutan will also improve - all these are the desire of common people.

The job of the leaders is to realise the aspirations of the common people. And so is the function of the existing state structure. Unfortunately, this conviction is very much lacking in our country. Here, flattering is valued more than work. That is why no one uses merit in his work, but engages that in flattery. Bureaucracy is not appreciating merit anymore. Recruitment, posting or promotion is not done on the basis of merit. These are absolutely taken away either by flattery or by lobbying. In many cases by money.

As a result, our leaders do not seek advice from officials. Officials do not hand over talking points to our leaders when they meet their counterparts. Though our leaders are meeting frequently, we could not put at the discussion table the missing links to establish road or railway connection between Bangladesh and Nepal, or between Bangladesh and Bhutan. Our intelligentsia do not conduct research on these things anymore.

The scope for their interactions with the government is also shrinking with every passing day. There is no dialogue. The scopes are inadequate, inappropriate. What Indian media and intellectuals have been writing about for a long time, their leaders are bringing exactly those issues to the discussion table. In our case it is just the opposite. We are rushing into the trip without any homework, only to fill up the seats of the aircraft. As a result, we come back with something that our people are not satisfied with.

The second paragraph of the joint declaration signed at the end of this visit has stated,

“Together, we will pursue a transformative partnership that advances the shared interests in promoting multi-faceted connectivity for both our countries as well as the entire region by transforming our geographical proximity into new economic opportunities. This will include connectivity in its broadest form – physical connectivity covering multi-modal transport and cross-border trade & transit infrastructure for seamless cross-border movement of people, goods and services, as well as energy connectivity and digital connectivity.

As part of our sub-regional connectivity initiatives, India will extend transit facilities for movement of Bangladesh goods to Nepal and Bhutan through railway network. We are committed to early operationalization of the BBIN Motor Vehicle Agreement to promote sub-regional connectivity. In this context, we welcome a new MoU on Railway Connectivity as well as the decision to commence goods-train service from Gede-Darshana through Chilahati-Haldibari up to Hasimara via Dalgaon railhead (as and when operationalized) at the India-Bhutan border.”

I will say that India moved very smartly. They were well prepared, and upheld their agenda successfully during the visit. Why our railway could not prepare our case of connecting Nepal and Bhutan through India and put that on the table. No intelligentsia in Bangladesh raised this issue targeting the visit. We only react, but cannot work pro-actively.

For years, Indian press and intelligentsia, among others, were continuously advocating for strengthening its rail to connect its Northeastern states particularly Arunachal, Manipur and Sikkim eventually to strengthen its defence and security. They consider these strategic, more than commercial. Over the nine years, North East Frontier Railway has significant achievement in Nagaland, Assam and Tripura. It means, bypassing the ‘chicken neck’ is not a whimsical decision on Indian part, rather it has deep strategic significance. As the Times of India mentioned it “reducing reliance on the existing route through the Siliguri Corridor”.

Exactly seven years ago, there was a tension between China and India on a construction of a road in Dong Lang, a place disputed between China and Bhutan. It was only about 80 km far from Bangladesh border. India upheld Bhutan’s position and mobilised military in its border to deter Chinese presence. After a stalemate for months, eventually, India and China had mutually agreed to disengage. However, that incident prompted India to realise more than before the need to find out an alternative to Siliguri Corridor. This is fine. India has all the right to do that. However, when Bangladesh appeared as India’s saviour, it needs to capitalise on it, and put its own agenda on the table before discussing India’s one. We are missing these opportunities again and again. When we are in the market, we need to maximise our profit.

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The writer is a former Bangladeshi Ambassador