We’ve only just begun/Before the rising sun we fly/ So many roads to choose/ We start out walking/ And learn to run/ And yes! We’ve just begun.
The Carpenter’s pedigree is gleefully appropriate today: Bangladeshi domestic and foreign has been a planar patchwork of sawed and hacked retro-fitted pieces of woodwork and sawdust. The Awami League might now lay claim to re-arrange the country’s working affairs by retooling afresh for the long sly-crafted job ahead.
The Daily reports this piece of welcome breaking news:
“India tonight announced 1 billion dollar line of credit for infrastructure development in Bangladesh.”
“This is the highest one time credit by India to any country.”
“This was conveyed to visiting Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina by her Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh during the delegation level talks led by them”
This news follows a diplomatically productive day. The Bangladesh and India deledgation have signed 4 agreements on issues ranging as widely as mutual cooperation on counter-terrorism, organized crime, drug trafficking and commodity transfers. The Daily Star reports that:
“[Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh], leading their countries at the delegation-level talks at the Hyderabad House from 5:30pm to 7:30pm, had a detailed discussion covering the entire gamut of bilateral issues with particular focus on terrorism, security, connectivity, trade and investment, border concerns and sharing of water and power resources.”
Perhaps most interestingly, under the agreement on organized crime, indiviuduals convicted of crimes in either country may serve out their terms in their native country. This seems like a patently unnecessary move from a criminal justice perspective. Strikingly, perhaps, this move is meant to rebut and obviate the argument of right-leaning opposition parties in both countries that the ruling party delegation is trading out national sovereingty for a few billion dollars.
On th occasion of the Hasina’s visit, P.M. Singh proclaimed that:
“India stands ready to be a full and equal partner in the realisation of your vision of social change and economic development for Bangladesh.
He continued, “India seeks to build a new future with Bangladesh. The time has come to chart a new path. We are ready to pursue a bold vision for our relations, based on mutual respect and mutual benefit”
“Our two peoples want peace, security and prosperity. We should move forward to achieve these common goals for ourselves and for all the people of South Asia.”
This is very good news. But we’ve only just begun.
