‘Pak, China making headway in Bangladesh, India should keep up': Experts to parliamentary panel
The Parliamentary Committee on External Affairs was told by experts on Friday that the Pakistan-China nexus is making headway in Bangladesh and that India should keep up with the developments in the country and not be caught napping.
The experts told the panel that India should create stakes in Bangladesh and engage with the neighbouring country through people-to-people contact, The Indian Express has learnt.
The agenda of the meeting on Friday was to hear experts on 'Future of India-Bangladesh Relationship'. Four experts in the field of external affairs briefed the Standing Committee on Friday. Former national security advisor Shivshankar Menon, retired Army General Syed Ata Hasnain, former high commissioner of India to Bangladesh Riva Ganguly Das and Dean of the School of International Studies (JNU) Amitabh Mattoo briefed the committee on Friday.
One of the experts is learnt to have told the panel that the Chinese are making a lot of headway in Bangladesh through infrastructure development like building ports and air bases.
Another expert said that the role of the media in the two countries developing a bond is quite crucial, and in the recent past, the media has played a negative role in both India and Bangladesh.
One expert said that India needs to grasp the reality of the new power structure in Bangladesh and move ahead.
The committee was told that India needs to think and move beyond former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina and engage with the current ruling dispensation in the country.
The panel was also told that the need of the hour was to engage with the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus.
An Opposition member in the Committee asked the experts how West Bengal could play a role in improving India's relations with Bangladesh. Sharing of river water was also discussed during the meeting, including the Ganga Water Treaty, which is up for renewal in 2026.
Members asked the experts about the probable reasons for the trust deficit between India and Bangladesh and what could be done to mend the relationship.
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