Excerpts of “BJP’s Bangladesh Problem" –by Seema Sirohi(TOI)

The BJP declared it was opposed to the Land Boundary Agreement with Bangladesh, calling it flawed and one-sided. It further warned that it won't support the amendment to allow implementation of the pact when the Bill comes up in Parliament this session. BJP president Rajnath Singh also brought up the issue of illegal immigration from Bangladesh.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh signed in Dhaka in 2011 was a continuation of what the BJP-led government had started. The longer India takes to resolve this, the harder it will get with geography taking a toll and rivers changing course.  Under Sheikh Hasina, India has got unprecedented cooperation from Bangladesh on security issues. Dhaka has handed over men without an extradition treaty, it has uprooted training camps and disrupted networks of northeast insurgents operating form its territory, and taken action against terrorists from Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed and Indian Mujahideen. In other words, it has acted to curb Pakistan's ISI.

The Land Boundary Agreement is a result of painstaking negotiations, consultations with people living in the affected areas and the state governments of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and West Bengal. These state governments have already given their written consent. They want official boundaries realigned to maintain status quo on territories in ''adverse possession'' to prevent uprooting large numbers of people who want to stay where they are. When the people most affected and the relevant state governments are agreeable, for the BJP to raise objections appears to be a needless exercise in useless politics. 

The agreement is eminently practical because it deals with the situation on the ground and does what the people want after extensive opinion surveys. Most significantly, it will not lead to displacement - a major plus for any thinking politician. What is important to understand is that the exchange of enclaves is only a notional one since the protocol basically converts a de facto reality into a de jure one. Bangladesh has already ratified it. It would be wise for Indian political parties to come together to show that India's democracy is mature

Bengali cinema should break the brooder

Cultural exchange always influences the relationship to a greater extent. Recently in kolkata there was a discussion regarding Bengali cinema in Bangladesh and India.  Bengali film-maker Goutam Gosh , Bangladesh information minister Hasanul Haq Inu, Bengal’s Industry minister Partho Chatterjee, film-maker Mahesh Bhatt, Film-maker Rituporno Gosh , actress Rituporna Sengupta, Actor Prsenjit Chatterjee ware  present at FICCI ,s Media and Entertainment Business Conclave. The motion was that, how both the film industry can exploit the opportunities over the boundary.

There are some problems as well as opportunities for both India and Bangladesh film industry. Also it can blossom the Indo-Bangla relation. Indian film fraternity especially Bengali film makers have complained that Bangladesh’s theatre owners never welcome them. Bangladesh’s film producers  feared about business loss. They think that cinema of Bengal will slow down the market of Bangladeshi cinema. Also Bangladeshi TV channels have an argument about the unofficial embargo in India.

In reality audience of both sides are not getting the change to enjoy the movie. Not only that, this kind of restrictions also hampering India- Bangladesh relation.  Now we need to work out for the viable solution. First India government should free flow the Bangladeshi television channels. It will be a very effective for Indo- Bangla relation. Bangladesh government need to take serious attempt to show Indian movies in Bangladesh. It will create a business value. Both the countries can earn revenue from the initiative.

Bangladesh film industry and government should maintain the theatres well and build more international standard theatres all over the country. There is a practical shortage of good theatres in Bangladesh. Indian film industry also can invest in Bangladesh theatres if they get the openings of business.   Piracy problem also a major set back for film industry. Both the governments should look at the matter in serious manner.

Both the countries should organise India- Bangladesh film festivals in frequent intervals. It is a fact that if any one want to watch Bangladeshi movie in kolkata, it will very tough for him. Because one can get the CDs of Indo- Bangla joint production but sole production of Bangladeshi movies are not available in the market.

Teli- drama is another strong medium in Bangladesh. Popularly it is known as” ID er Natok”. If some festival or shows can be organised, only with Television Drama that will also bring a large audience. Along with that if the CDs of the “ID er Natok” can be relished in India that can also encourage a good business volume. Also producers’ of the Drama can get the telecast prospect in Indian television.

On that event Indian film director Mahesh Bhatt said that after 9/11 if Pakistan can allow   Indian movie in Lahore then why not it is possible in Dhaka. He also cited that, initially there was an objection from Karachi film industry despite that it helped revives the industry in larger extent. At the end we all hope exchange of cinema will open another dimension of India- Bangladesh relation. Now just need good endeavour from both the sides.

By-Arindam Chatterjee &Sandip Mukherjee.

Proposed Currency swap agreement among SAARC nations

It can bring smooth and beneficial business relation

 Currency swap agreement among SAARC countries is the one multi effective proposal by India. SAARC countries Currency swap agreement will help to increase business volume and growth.   While addressing a conference on economic integration of South Asia, Mr  Ranjan Mahanti the Foreign Secretary of India said that India is spearheading efforts to finalise an agreement for SAARC central banks to establish a currency swap arrangement as a baseline measure that would provide funds to SAARC states to defend their currencies when faced by special exigencies. Mr. Mahanti also said Policies would be made by each country based on their laws but once we have policies in place which are in line with international practices, we should not allow non-economic considerations to affect in functioning of commercial entities in each others' country.

It is important to understand that how Currency swap agreement among SAARC countries will help the business growth. Currency swap agreement is such a system by which two parties can loan for equivalent aspects with net present value lent in another currency. For an example, suppose an India based company needs Japan’s Yen and a Japan based company needs INR then they can arrange funds by establishing an interest rate, an agreed upon amount and a common maturity date for the exchange.

This helps the companies to avoid currency fluctuations. This is a perfect instrument to hedge the foreign exchange risk for any company.  Companies can perform their business with more profitability. It is also a confirmation for the both business establishment of both countries, which required liquidity  that will be available in their preferred currency. But an important thing to look at that every country should structure a legal parameter for Currency swaps agreement for any kind of misuse. It should use for only business consideration. In this case every country may categorised type of economic consideration they will allow Currency swap. 

 Many countries use this agreement for interrogated business benefit. If all SAARC central banks able to come together the Currency swap agreement then business growth of the region will increase sharply. The Reserve Bank of India on 4 December 2012 signed a three -year Bilateral Swap Arrangement with the Bank of Japan. This will help to short- term liquidity problem. South Korea and China also singed a currency swap agreement in recent times. It is a timely and relevant approach. The SAARC central banks should take initiatives for purpose. Hopefully it will bring new commercial growth in the region.       

At present relation between India and Bangladesh is going through a topsy turvy situation as India is reaching out its hand to both Sk. Hsina and Khaleda Zia  to make a balance. Currency swap agreement between this two countries, without doubt, will have a significant role to raise Indo-Bangla relation to a new height. 

By-A .C

Afterthought: “India Trade show” in Bangladesh

There was a symphony among Dhakai Saree with Murshidabad Silk, Indian jewelry with a label of “Made in Dhaka”. The rhythm of friendship and the tune of prosperity were floating inside the conference center. It was’ India Trade show’ in Dhaka from 3rd to 5th December. The theme of “Partnership and Progress” displayed at Bangabhondhu International Conference Center. The Indian apex trade body leader and the Bangladesh commerce minister GM Qader both admitted that there is an opportunity about $2 billion two way trade among India and Bangladesh.

Now we need to analysis the opportunities and the threats of intra border trade between India and Bangladesh. We all know that Bangladesh import some engineering goods, processed food, textile fiber, some amount agricultural items and equipment relating to transportation. And India import mostly jute bags, fish and some amount of textile from Bangladesh. This is very less in total business volume in the part of Bangladesh. Total trade deficit with India is huge for Bangladesh. 

But in changing economic situation new avenues are opening. India is also ready to increase import from Bangladesh. Some very important things are needs to review for that. India should essay the Visa norms with Bangladesh, infrastructure near border is very poor in both side. It needs to upgrade with high importance. India slashed its sensitive list under the South Asian Free Trade Agreement (Safta) . Now it is the time to implement the will force for the enhanced business cooperation. 

In other side Bangladesh need to improve infrastructure and bring strong corporate governess to welcome the business opportunity with India. Political stability and technological enhancement are highly required elements to reduce the trade deficit with India. Bangladesh should reduce import tariff to make more business with India.

 For both the nations the India Bangladesh rail lines should open. Roads and other infrastructure should develop. More and more business delegation should visit both the countries. India government should let Bangladesh business houses to open outlets at various cities in India. For Indian business houses have opportunities to start ventures in education, health care, steel, Pharmacy and many other items. India can import vegetables from Bangladesh. It will help to and pulses control the inflation to some extent. Leather bags knitwear can be imported. In other hand India can open cattle trade with Bangladesh. There is another opportunity for India to treat Bangladesh as an associate to produce finished goods from the semi-finished ones manufacturing in India and there after to export it from Bangladesh to USA and EU.  With such simple effort a good business relation can be developed between both the countries. Also this kind of effort will encourage the friendly atmosphere as well as develop economic prosperity to both the nations. 

By-Arindam Chatterjee

Bangladesh Book Fair(Kollkata)2012 –A View

A commendable step was taken last year to make the bond between two countries and create a market of Bangladeshi books by organizing Bangladesh Book Fair in Kolkata by  Bangladesh Deputy High commission, Kolkata, with cooperation of Bangladesh  Jnan O Srijonsil Prokashok Somiti, an organization of publication houses.

  This year they have miscalculated on many a thing. This year the timing 4^th week of November was not favourable. Hindu dominated West Bengal went through various phases of religious festivals like Durga Puja , Kali puja. Diwali, Chhot puja, Bhai Phonta beside Eid in the months of October and November. Secondly , in the first or second week people have money in there pockets. No one can ultimately deny that book is also a product after all, which has to be sold.

 This time much effort on campaigning should have been given. Only a few bill boards across Kolkata or a few ten second TV add would suffice to draw bigger crowed. But it was absent for which the turn out not so much as expected.

 There is another aspect which lies in the hands of the publication houses. Books were sold at 25% discount on Bangladeshi Taka i.e. a book of 1000 Taka was sold at Rs.750. more or less 60 INR = 100 TAKA a 1000 Taka- book should have been sold at Rs.600. it would cast Rs.540 after giving 10% discount. Indian readers as well as customers felt the singe while glanced at the price tag. Unless Bangladesh publishers consider this, even writer like Humayun Ahmed cannot enter Bengali households in West Bengal. If the publishers suffer from egotism regarding INR-TAKA exchange rate, they must do away with.      

By-S. M & A. C

Make cattle trade legal - U K Bansal


Controversial suggestion of making cattle trade legal by U K Bansal, outgoing BSF chief may raise eye brows but India and Bangladesh must give a deeper and serious thought. Many a time pragmatic approach rather than theory on paper proved its success. Soft stand taken by India has made Bangladeshi cattle smugglers more ferocious and violent whereas the BSF is at the receiving end in several occasions. It is sure groups advocating cow protection will be on warpath and raise hue and cry. But rising cross border tension and a Rs.2000 core industry in Bangladesh have to be kept in mind. Mere policing will not bring the ultimate remedy.

S.M

By-Sandip Mukherjee