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Sunday, 30 Aug 2020, 10:50 PM
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The China Twist in India-Bangladesh Teesta River Challenge ============================= In one of the gargantuan developments, China is making its foray into river management projects in Bangladesh to keep up water levels during arid seasons.The Teesta is one of the 54 rivers that enter Bangladesh from upstream India before flowing into the Bay of Bengal.With the India-Bangladesh water-sharing deal stuck, Bangladesh has begun to discuss a Chinese loan to supervise the river. °°°°°°°°′°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°° "If we can implement the project, a vast area on the Bangladesh side can be supplied with water during the crisis season." °°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°° ~ The ministry Of Water Management ~ ______________________________ Bangladesh is discussing an almost $1 billion loan from China for a comprehensive management and restoration project on the Teesta river. The project is specially aimed at managing the river basin efficiently, controlling floods, and tackling the water crisis in summers. Bangladesh has been awaiting a conclusion of the Teesta water sharing agreement with India and has rebuked the latter for its water woes since the former is a lowland state and is at the mercy of water that flows from India into Bangladesh. But, West Bengal Chief minister Mamata Banerjee objected to it, and the deal was scuttled.A dam constructed on the Indian side causes the water flow to reduce downstream in winter, leading to a water crisis for two months on the Bangladesh side. More importantly, Bangladesh’s discussions with China come at a time when India is particularly vigilant about China following the standoff in Ladakh. Bangladesh is India’s biggest trade partner in South Asia. Bilateral trade has grown steadily over the last decade: India’s exports to Bangladesh in 2018-19 stood at $9.21 billion, and imports from Bangladesh at $1.04 billion. For India, Bangladesh has been a key partner in the neighbourhood first policy — and possibly the prosperous anecdote in bilateral ties among its neighbours.However, there has been recent grumpiness in the relationship. °°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°° How have relations between Bangladesh and China been developing? ______________________________ China is the prodigious trading partner of Bangladesh and is a gazillion source of imports. In 2019, the trade between the two countries was $18 billion and the imports from China commanded the lion’s share. The trade is heavily in favour of China. Recently, China declared zero duty on 97% of imports from Bangladesh. The concession flowed from China’s duty-free, quota-free programme for the Least Developed Countries. This move has been widely eulogized in Bangladesh, with the expectation that Bangladesh exports to China will increase dramatically. Additionally, Bangladesh’s strong defence ties with China make the situation complicated. China is the biggest arms supplier to Bangladesh and it has been a legacy issue — after the liberation, officers of Pakistan Army — who were well-versed with Chinese arms — joined Bangladesh Army and that’s how they preferred Chinese weapons As a result, Bangladesh forces are equipped with Chinese arms including tanks, missile launchers, fighter aircraft and several weapons systems. Recently, Bangladesh purchased two Ming class submarines from China.In the wake of the Ladakh standoff, India has become more sensitive to Chinese defence inroads into Bangladesh. °°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°° How has India been engaging with Bangladesh post CAA? ___________________________ Over the last five months, India and Bangladesh have cooperated on pandemic-related moves.Estimable Prime minister Hasina strongly patronised Modi’s call for a regional emergency fund for combating Covid-19 and declared a contribution of $1.5 million in March 2020. India has also provided medical aid to Bangladesh.The two countries have also cooperated in railways, with India giving 10 locomotives to Bangladesh. The first trial run for trans-shipment of Indian cargo through Bangladesh to Northeast states under a pact on the use of Chittagong and Mongla ports took place in July. However, in recent weeks, Pakistan PM Imran Khan’s call to Hasina raised eyebrows in Delhi. While Islamabad envisaged it as a confabulation on Kashmir, Dhaka said it was about cooperating to deal with Covid-19. °°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°° Finally, while the Teesta project is perspicuously significant and a matter of great urgency from India’s point of view, it will be unmanageable to address it before the West Bengal elections due next year. What Delhi can do is to redress other issues of concern, which too are thought - provoking. ============================= ============================= |