Why Bangladesh should matter to us

[harpoon]

Build the fence,post the guards, lock the gates and throw away the key...thats my advice to GoI on Indo-Bangla relationship.

 

[Tiki Tam Tam]

What threats to India's sovereignty are you talking about? The north east? ULFA is not a Muslim group. I think you realize that the previous BNP-run Bangladesh were used as a facility to help arm ULFA. They weren't doing it because of religion. They were doing it for money.

Does Pakistan have to do anything with the process? Maybe. Does China? Maybe. Especially considering China's territorial interests over NE India. Albeit a bargaining chip against India. Please note that much of weapons cache found in the Chittagong arms haul were Chinese made.

What India simply doesn't want for Bangladesh is that it'd be used as a route to aid ULFA and serving Chinese interests. The same thing applies to Indian interests in Myanmar. China is the number one supplier of military equipment to Bangladesh. More advanced military equipment in the future are likely.

And of-course, the NE's rebellions and problems are there. That part is not as developed as other parts of India, and been so for quite some time. But, it has tremendous industrial potential considering the resources it has. That can raise some discontent among the NE's population.

As far as NE India goes, the future is unknown. The future always is.

Do Muslim extremists come into play here? I don't think so. Kashmir and Pakistani interests are another world away and have completely different set of problems for Indian interests.

Just one piece of advise - don't make the same mistake the West Pakistanis made back in 1971. Karma can be a brutal and a funny thing

The threats I am talking about are not such pushovers as you are thinking I am alluding to.

BD and ULFA are pinpricks and inconsequential. China is the threat.

BNP helping ULFA is understandable for anyone who goes beyond jingoism and looks at it pragmatically. After Mujib, the BD Army came into power. Say what you want but the army without aiming so, does bring in a national pride and the BD Army was Pakistan oriented and hence anti India and anti Hindu, like it or not.

Hence, the Indo Bangladesh equation plummeted. Likewise, India hardened its stand and anyway, Bangladesh was never to seriously considered in the strategic mosaic of India. Foolish of India, but then India has always been North oriented.

Therefore, for Bangladesh to ensure that India is unbalanced under the fading legacy of the Pakistan army mindset is well understood and if even the Army influence of Khaleda came into play it is understandable. The fundamentalists and giving safe haven to anti Indian organisations is also understood.

You are right that the East is not on the horizon of Delhi. That is what pinches and soon they will have to make amends as they tried to do with the Indo Bangladesh visit of the PM. But then, the East is to blame too! They are laid back as you all are. Because, unlike others, our lands are bountiful and we are people of very minimal needs and not showoffs who require BMWs to show that we have 'arrived'. Our intellect, culture and minimal needs are adequate to show we are fine. However, in a modern equation table, maybe that is not enough. Material wealth is the common denominator, which most of us shun.

NE insurgency has abated. It is merely used to extract money and comfort for the leaders of such insurgencies. So is the case with the Kashmiri Hurriyat. There is an article that has exposed them, which I knew many moons ago.

Thanks for you advice, but then we are ruled by the same genetic roots as the Pakistanis.

 

[SpArK]

Build the fence,post the guards, lock the gates and throw away the key...thats my advice to GoI on Indo-Bangla relationship.

Then why make gates?

 

[Tiki Tam Tam]

Then why make gates?

Gateway of India?

 

[harpoon]

Then why make gates?

For emergency purposes only .....like if BD decides to become another 'Cuba' we may have to....

 

[TopCat]

Frankly speaking I never considered Indo Bangla relation before joining PDF. If you check the mainstream news sources the only countries that are regularly mentioned are Pakistan (for terrorism), US (Being an economic and military super power) and China (cross border issues and respect for their economic growth story). Bangladesh does not feature anywhere.

After joining PDF I came to know that we are very enterprising and have installed our puppet govt. in Dhaka and our BSF jawans are having daily target practices with Bangladeshi cattle traders.

If this is the reason I dont know why we should be afraid of Bangladesh.

Well, its same here in BD. Nobody really cares about India in BD as well. It comes to lime lite once the onion price goes up or there is a shooting in the border. Other than that a rickshaw puller will hardly even mention India.

 

[jayron]

Well, its same here in BD. Nobody really cares about India in BD as well. It comes to lime lite once the onion price goes up or there is a shooting in the border. Other than that a rickshaw puller will hardly even mention India.

That's not true. BD politics involves India heavily. Relationship with India becomes one of the most defining features of both the main parties there. India's foreign polity remains the same no matter which party is in power.

 

[RockyX]

Build the fence,post the guards, lock the gates and throw away the key...thats my advice to GoI on Indo-Bangla relationship.

 

[jayron]

Well, its same here in BD. Nobody really cares about India in BD as well. It comes to lime lite once the onion price goes up or there is a shooting in the border. Other than that a rickshaw puller will hardly even mention India.

That's not true. BD politics involves India heavily. Relationship with India becomes one of the most defining features of both the main parties there. India's foreign polity remains the same no matter which party is in power.

 

[RockyX]

Double post

 

[below_freezing]

Bangladesh needs to get its hands on a nuclear weapon and an aircraft carrier. Aircraft carriers will be vitally important for Bangladesh, if global warming eliminates land based airbases.

 

[Zabaniyah]

The threats I am talking about are not such pushovers as you are thinking I am alluding to.

BD and ULFA are pinpricks and inconsequential. China is the threat.

Bangladesh technically has no stake in Indo-Sino hostilities. Doing so would violate the very principles the country was founded upon. Otherwise, East Pakistan would still be here today.

BNP helping ULFA is understandable for anyone who goes beyond jingoism and looks at it pragmatically. After Mujib, the BD Army came into power. Say what you want but the army without aiming so, does bring in a national pride and the BD Army was Pakistan oriented and hence anti India and anti Hindu, like it or not.

Mujib's assassination was inevitable considering the circumstances under his leadership. He messed with the tiger in a very new and young nation. And for that, he paid with his life.

Generally speaking, the BNP has more support in the army than the AL has. That's why the current ruling government have installed loyalists in key military and intelligence positions. But this is not going to help AL in ruling the country forever. In fact, it compromises Hasina's goal of a one-party rule. Frankly, I am still very surprised that she is alive and well after the Pilkhana incident.

It is understandable that some shenanigans went on during the Cold War between India and Bangladesh.

Example: The Shanti Bahini. Some guys in India really wanted CHT to be a separate state for mysterious reasons. But, that's over now. The skirmishes with the BD army didn't end well for the Shanti Bahini.

But still, issues with the Chakma and Hmong tribes remain, and as old as the Pakistan era. The issue is still sensitive and can turn things for the worst at any time. The AL aren't doing anything.

Hence, the Indo Bangladesh equation plummeted. Likewise, India hardened its stand and anyway, Bangladesh was never to seriously considered in the strategic mosaic of India. Foolish of India, but then India has always been North oriented.

Indian foreign policy makers should pay more attention to Bangladesh if anything is to actually materialize in Indo-Bangla relations. The Tista water deal just marked a dent in that relationship.

Therefore, for Bangladesh to ensure that India is unbalanced under the fading legacy of the Pakistan army mindset is well understood and if even the Army influence of Khaleda came into play it is understandable. The fundamentalists and giving safe haven to anti Indian organisations is also understood.

Khaleda is a dumb, brain-dead *****. The main threat is her son - Tarek Rahman. It is that guy who pulled pretty much all the strings in Bangladesh during the BNP's rule.

I can safely say that Zia's son is a huge threat to the national security of Bangladesh in the event that he returns after the BNP wins the next elections. The AL is not very popular now.

Those interests at stake include those of India and even the United States. You should note that for Tarek and his band of crooks, money is power. Not religion.

Jamaat are a bunch of brainwashed zombies now. The BNP are merely using them as cannon-fodder to gain more votes through religious and political propaganda. There is no such thing as 'quality control' in Bangladeshi politics. They'll try to be in power - by hook or by crook. That's how the BNP and the AL had been working throughout all these years since the end of the Ershad era.

Perhaps that's the reason why the BNP might support fundamentalist groups(?) It's all about the money and power for Tarek. Me thinks he doesn't think before he does something!

Joy, Hasina's son is also a threat to Bangladesh. And he is to be future leader of AL. That's inevitable.

And as you may well know, majority of the Bangladeshi voter base are intellectually bankrupt. They have a very short-term memory.

No matter what, those men cannot become future leaders of Bangladesh. I just hope.

You are right that the East is not on the horizon of Delhi. That is what pinches and soon they will have to make amends as they tried to do with the Indo Bangladesh visit of the PM. But then, the East is to blame too! They are laid back as you all are. Because, unlike others, our lands are bountiful and we are people of very minimal needs and not showoffs who require BMWs to show that we have 'arrived'. Our intellect, culture and minimal needs are adequate to show we are fine. However, in a modern equation table, maybe that is not enough. Material wealth is the common denominator, which most of us shun.

Interesting.

I would not dispute about the 'laid back' part seeing from the history of India's NE insurgency.

I am not sure if the 'showing off' part applies to the newer generation of Indians. As people's wealth increases, people just want more stuff like BMWs, iPods, Starbucks, etc. Humans are greedy by nature. And the more democratic and liberal minded those 'younger generation' become, the more it becomes necessary for the state to guard secrets. That's why Julian Assanage made so many enemies in Washington.

But, the question is: is a prosperous and democratic India within the interests and benefit of the people of NE India? Having haves and have-nots for too long in a country is often a dangerous thing. Trust me, I have observed this in Thailand. That country risked civil war had it not been for the necessary measures undertaken by the army-backed government. And divisions are still there even after Thaksin's sister won the elections.

And there is China. Indeed, China is a threat to India's interests. The risk of BNP or even an army ruled Bangladesh bankrolling on Chinese/Pakistani money again is likely. Now that's a tough equation to crack.

Some senior BD army officers opposed the transit deal for "security reasons". They didn't explain just what the hell it meant to the public. They are never transparent with the public. Even during defense related procurement! At times I wonder if the army is in charge or the government!

There are just some folks in the BNP and army who still live in the days of the Cold War. And there is not a thing that much of the poor and intellectually bankrupt Bangladeshis can do about it. They just lead their small and shabby livelihoods. Cautious, wealthy, morally clean and educated Bangladeshis cannot do much. They are a minority.

The commoners must stand up in support for change for the better. Presently, I am not seeing this for positive changes in Bangladeshi politics.

Did MMS's recent visit to Dhaka be considered productive? I doubt it.

NE insurgency has abated. It is merely used to extract money and comfort for the leaders of such insurgencies. So is the case with the Kashmiri Hurriyat. There is an article that has exposed them, which I knew many moons ago.

You are right, those insurgent leaders and even their agents lead pretty good lives. I know of one who used to tutor a boy of one ULFA agent in Bangladesh. He even send him to a well-renowned international school in Bangladesh. Afterwards, he and his family fled to some other country to avoid getting caught by RAB. Now that's a well funded and well organized!

It has indeed gone down. But, it is still hard to say about the long term. Those ULFA guys just won't go down without a fight. And I don't mean just random skirmishes. I think it is safe to assume they are not only limited to South Asia or China for that matter. Me thinks, those guys are increasingly becoming global. They are not just some mere rag-tag army. They seem pretty sharp, and they have backers.

Thanks for you advice, but then we are ruled by the same genetic roots as the Pakistanis.

Yeah

India must be very careful about the NE parts. And how it handles Bangladeshi affairs. There is China and God knows who else. Especially if Bangladesh ever comes under BNP rule. MMS's visit was not at all productive for either sides other than some free trade agreements and a few patches of land!

Hope things go for the better. Hell, it'll take a miracle for Bangla-Indo relations to improve!

 

[RockyX]

Bangladesh needs to get its hands on a nuclear weapon and an aircraft carrier. Aircraft carriers will be vitally important for Bangladesh, if global warming eliminates land based airbases.

Who will pay the money and expenses ?

Do you know the cost of CBG and the expenses to run ?

Even China don't have a single CBG and you saying BD should have ?

What CBG will do, If land based airbases (means whole Bangladesh) will eliminates. You posting without any logic.

 

[Zabaniyah]

Bangladesh needs to get its hands on a nuclear weapon and an aircraft carrier. Aircraft carriers will be vitally important for Bangladesh, if global warming eliminates land based airbases.

They sound expensive. Mind if we borrow some?

Floating bases was once proposed the US, but dropped it due to expenses.

 

[AkhandIndia]

They sound expensive. Mind if we borrow some?

Floating bases was once proposed the US, but dropped it due to expenses.

chinese can do this like they did in movie 2012