- Good visit

The Bangladesh Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, completed a three day visit to India with the signing of three pacts on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters, Agreement on Transfer of Sentenced Persons, and Agreement on Combating International Terrorism, Organised Crime and Illicit Drug Trafficking. Without a doubt, from India’s point of view, these three agreements will clear the primary causes of a rocky relationship with Bangladesh. It will be interesting how the political opposition and the Islamic radicals in Bangladesh will analyse Hasina’s deal with India, but the billion dollar credit line that she has managed should go a long way towards convincing the people about the benefits of cooperation with India.
There can be no doubt about Sheikh Hasina’s courage, and her commitment to secular principles. Indian politicians cannot even begin to imagine the kind of struggle she has had to put in to abide by secular and democratic principles in the face of the murderers of her family, military dictators and rabid fundamentalists. To make things worse, during the past twenty years, the ISI has found much support among the establishment and the people of that country. Even so, on taking over power, she has without much fuss or ado reversed quite effectively the anti-Indian attitude and acts of her country. Both countries have benefited from this approach. Bangladesh in no longer effective sanctuary for terrorists from India, nor are anti-Indian agencies being provided support by the government.
Having come to power on the back of a popular vote, it can be said comfortably that her policies and actions have the support of a substantial number of people in that country.
It takes very little for Indian public opinion to change. By simply refusing to back anti-Indian activities, Hasina has reduced anti-Bangladeshi paranoia in this country to a considerable extent. Anybody exhibiting sincere friendship towards India will find reciprocation in multiple measure.
The other irritant in Indo-Bangladesh relations is the illegal immigration from that country. In the past, this was actively encouraged by the powers that be, not only in Bangladesh, but also in some border states of India. For many, illegal immigrants served as captive vote banks to stave off declining popularity among the people. This has resulted in demographic changes in the East that have adverse strategic and security implications. The immigrants have spread westwards and can be found in large numbers even in Uttarakhand. Not schooled in India’s democratic and secular culture, they can damage the already strained social, political and cultural fabric.
However, improved relations with Bangladesh will only help in curbing the spread of this problem. It is not that the immigrants enter a vacuum when they cross the border. They do work that much of India’s population is not willing to do at cheap rates. They also bring skills that are in short supply - India’s quality labour has been sucked away over the decades to West Asia. Like the Gulf countries, India should provide work permits to Bangladeshis to enter in a regulated and legal manner. This would ensure that they would not bring their families along, which is the compulsion of the illegal immigrant.
Just as India cannot afford to ignore political instability in neighbouring countries, it can similarly not overlook the poverty next door. It will prove a drag on India’s development because people will keep crossing the border, one way or another. Not only should labour be allowed to cross into India, investment should go over from the Indian side. In that context, the recent tour by Hasina seems to have been quite on the correct lines. More power to her!