Through PTI
KOLKATA: With the spanking new 6.15 km lengthy bridge over the mighty Padma river constructed with its personal assets, Bangladesh has come of age and, with broad-basing of its production sector, it may possibly smartly be the tiger financial system to look at in Asia, Ambassador Sarvajit Chakravarti (Retd.) mentioned.
Chakravarti, who served two times in Bangladesh and retired as a secretary within the Ministry of Exterior Affairs, urged that India will have to attempt to make Rupee a felony smooth within the nation as it’s in different such neighbouring international locations – Nepal and Bhutan, in order that all of the area can also be handled, to an extent, as an built-in financial entity.
The dispute over the Teesta Water Sharing Settlement can also be in all probability be bypassed by way of linking the river with Jamuna (decrease move of the Brahmaputra) in Bangladesh by way of a canal in order that Teesta will get extra water, the previous occupation diplomat mentioned whilst interacting completely with PTI reporters right here.
“From when (US Secretary of State Henry) Kissinger known as it a ‘basket case’ in 1971 to a rustic that has exceeded India in in step with capita revenue (remaining 12 months), Bangladesh has come a ways. It’s justified that the Padma bridge takes satisfaction of position. The world companies that had refused to fund it are actually congratulating Bangladesh on its finishing touch,” he mentioned.
Linking the southwest of the rustic to the northern and japanese areas, the road-rail bridge constructed at a price of USD 3.6 billion was once inaugurated by way of High Minister Sheikh Hasina on June 25.
“The bridge will scale back our go back and forth time to Dhaka significantly and can spice up tourism site visitors and toughen supply products and services from either side. It presentations the certain impact expanding exports may have on a rustic’s financial system (by way of producing construction assets),” Chakravarti mentioned.
Bangladesh has given itself a roadmap – Imaginative and prescient for 2041 – geared toward finishing absolute poverty and graduating into upper middle-income standing by way of 2031, and turning into a evolved country by way of 2041, he mentioned including that the rustic is making development in numerous social and financial sectors.
From agriculture to prescribed drugs and from shipbuilding to clothes, the rustic’s business base is diversifying and its exports expanding.
“They have got made superb development in training, healthcare and fundamental social products and services,” mentioned the retired diplomat, who’s a member of the Kolkata-based think-tank CENERS-Ok. “I see Bangladesh as a long run tiger financial system,” Chakravarti added.
Then again, it’s depending on India for some meals pieces akin to wheat and lentils, he mentioned and identified that shortages in India continuously lead to stalling of those exports to the detriment of other folks in each international locations.
“If Rupee is made a felony smooth in Bangladesh as it’s in Bhutan and Nepal, we’ve a Rupee industry space. We will deal with all of the area as an built-in financial entity on the subject of provide of crucial products and services like meals,” he mentioned.
Because the connectivity between the 2 neighbours is expanding by the use of rail, avenue and river routes, container vans from Bangladesh can also be allowed to transport to Mumbai, Ahmedabad and different ports in western India to make its shipments to Europe more uncomplicated, he mentioned.
Now, Bangladeshi ships pass to Europe by the use of Colombo. The usage of western Indian ports will lower that distance significantly, he mentioned.
At the Teesta water-sharing factor, Chakravarti mentioned Bangladesh has been “very sort” in no longer making it the central a part of its courting discussion with India.
Sharing of water from the Teesta river which flows thru Sikkim, northern West Bengal and Bangladesh is a key level within the courting between the 2 international locations.
An settlement in this was once signed however Leader Minister Mamata Banerjee objected to it announcing it could have an effect on the state’s hobby as there isn’t sufficient water to percentage on a assured foundation.
Ambassador Chakravarti mentioned the problem might be solved by way of linking Teesta and Jamuna by the use of a canal.
“Many rivers in Assam fall into the Brahmaputra after which all of the quantity of water flows into Bangladesh and thence into the sea, continuously inflicting floods all over the Monsoon. So my advice is construct a canal from there to the Teesta and re-circulate the water,” he mentioned.
Within the procedure, the water quantity is greater, and there’s doable for irrigating the inter-riverine space and producing electrical energy, he mentioned including that all of the canal will probably be in Bangladesh.
To a query, he mentioned Bangladesh has a number of benefits over India.
“It’s mono-lingual at the same time as a multi-ethnic society. So, there are fewer social conflicts (in comparison to India). It additionally historically has a tradition of mutual reinforce and toleration. The Baul-Fakiri custom grew up there,” he mentioned.
The Awami League govt of Sheikh Hasina has been a long way more potent and extra proactive in coping with spiritual conflicts there, Chakravarti mentioned.
“Each time we pay attention of any atrocity on minorities, it’s temporarily adopted by way of govt motion to forestall its unfold and by way of civil society protests,” he mentioned.
Every other downside of Bangladesh is it does no longer have sufficient dry land as greater than 50 rivers go with the flow thru it except their smaller channels and distributaries.
Local weather alternate and upward push of the ocean degree also are main problems, the previous diplomat mentioned.
“Bangladesh has equipped talent coaching and is exporting its manpower to the level conceivable as they don’t have sufficient land to live to tell the tale,” he mentioned including that West Bengal and lots of Indian states can take a cue from that.