B'desh officer’s visit is a big step to better links with India

NEW DELHI: The Bangladesh army is keen to mend fences with India. Its chief Lt General Moeen U Ahmed is likely  to come to New Delhi next  month for talks with his counterpart Lt General J J Singh. The  dates are being worked out.

For India, relations with Bangladesh is very important because of security concerns. This is why the rise of fundamentalist forces under Begum Khaleda Zia’s government was a major headache for New Delhi. So despite the fact that the interim  administration is making a mockery of democracy by confining  both Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina  to their homes and not allowing for political activity in the country, New Delhi is willing to play ball. with the army.

For the first time in decades the army is willing to improve relations with India. Earlier despite Sheikh Hasina’s  honest efforts to address India’s concerns, , the army never fully backed  her.. Also Hasina was always looking over her shoulders at the BNP, which branded her as a puppet of New Delhi.

The fact that the Bangladesh army, which is behind the interim administration is now looking to New Delhi for support has given India the opportunity to push for what it has long wanted. Soon after taking office, the Bangladesh army had sent feelers to India to support the current regime.

Realising that  indefinite postponement of elections could have repercussions internationally, the army wanted India to bat for it and explain the reasons for the delay. India’s support for the cleansing the political system and keeping national elections on hold is crucial for the army-backed government.

India hopes the visit  of the army chief would be a good opportunity to raise its security concerns. Besides the fact that north eastern India’s most prominent militant group the United Liberation Army of Asom (ULFA) has been using Bangladesh as a base for its activities and many of its prominent leaders are settled there, the army will also raise the issue of ISI backed groups  making use of the porous border to slip into India. Though for the moment the ISI backed outfits are not too active, they are still in place. Flushing out north eastern militant camps and their cadres will be a central issue of discussion. The army is now operating against the ULFA in Assam and its members on the run find safe havens across the border in Bangladesh.

Senior Indian officials are confident that democracy will be restored in Bangladesh. ``Bangaldesh is a highly politicised society, it is not Pakistan where the army calls the shots. We are certain that elections will be held in Bangaldesh once the electoral rolls are cleaned and corrected,’’ a senior official who did not wish to be named, said.