India, Bangladesh getting real on migrant issue, terrorism
Guwahati /September 29, 2004
 
Ties between India and Bangladesh seem to have reached a degree of understanding with the two neighbours finally agreeing to discuss the contentious border management issue.

When Union Home Secretary Dhirendra Singh met his Bangladeshi counterpart Muhammad Omar Farooq in Dhaka earlier this month, the talks were described as being by and large positive, revolving around issues like the alleged presence of insurgent camps in Bangladesh and the influx of illegal Bangladeshi migrants into India.

"If you say that whether these talks have been successful, than I must say that they have been," Dhirender Singh, was quoted as saying immediately after the talks had concluded.
As many as six thousand Bangladeshis cross into India everyday in search of work. This sheer number makes it difficult for Indian officials to keep a track on their movements. The problem is compounded further by the geographical diversity of the terrain.

India is currently trying to combat the problem by a proposal to introduce double entry visas and by issuing identity cards to people living along the border areas to distinguish them from the migrant population.

"Even in terms of the movement, the double entry visa is a very pragmatic move. Now, both sides have exchanged or agreed to provide each other certain reciprocity in the double entry visa.

It is modest, but I would say that it helps to facilitate an equivalent of legitimate movement," said Commodore (retired) Uday Bhaskar, a security expert. (ANI)

Foreign Minister M Morshed Khan said Bangladesh has achieved remarkable success in different sectors including food production, women education, poverty eradication, employment and diplomacy during the last couple of years.

Speaking at a press briefing on Monday the foreign minister, who is now on an official visit to the USA, said these achievements, are of course, praiseworthy for a Third World country like Bangladesh.

He said the country was able to produce foodgrains only 40 per cent of its total requirement in 1971 when the country’s total population was 70 million. Now, we are producing foodgrains for its 120 million people, he said.

Regarding success in education sector, the foreign minister said the literacy rate of the country now stands at about 60 per cent, but in 1971, it was only 18-20 per cent. He said the opportunity of education has been opened to all and education for female students up to class 12 was made free.

Besides, Morhsed Khan said, the micro-credit system introduced in Bangladesh became a model to the foreigners.

Referring to the existing political situation, he said the country is not progressing fast due to the division among the main stream political parties in the country. "For this, we are not taking the opportunity to project the success achieved in different sectors across the globe," he observed. The foreign minister said political stability is very much needed for economic progress.

Replying to a question, he said that it was not possible for a single political party to root out terrorism from the country.

"We have to make a political consensus in this regard," he said. Morshed Khan said in the foreign policy, we believe in justice and sovereign equality as in the present world of diplomacy there is no room for hypocrisy. Referring to Bangladesh-India relations, he said as a neighbouring state, we want to solve all bilateral problems through discussions and mutual understanding. "We believe in win-win policy not in win-loss policy in diplomacy," he added.