Agreements with foreign countries should be discussed
LEFT Democratic Alliance on Wednesday said that the government should make public all the bilateral agreements signed with India during Prime Minister’s recent visit. There is a common perception among the general people that Bangladesh’s interests have been overlooked and India’s interests were given priority in the agreements. What’s interesting is that no successive government ever discussed terms and conditions of any bilateral or multilateral agreement with any foreign country in public sphere or in the Parliament before signing. In particular, the size and location of Bangladesh surrounded by India is a weakness for its security, while different governments of Bangladesh in bilateral agreements with India allegedly compromised national interest only for securing political gain. Despite debate, a section of people has considered most of the deals with the neighbouring country go against the national interest.
On Saturday, Bangladesh and India signed seven bilateral documents, according to media reports. These are: MoU for providing a coastal surveillance system; the standard operating procedure on the use of Chattogram and Mongla ports for movement of goods to and from India; MoU on withdrawal of 1.82 cusec water from the Feni River by India for a drinking water supply scheme in Sabroom town of Tripura; Agreement on implementation of the lines of credit committed by India to Bangladesh; MoU between the University of Hyderabad and the University of Dhaka; MoU on cooperation in youth affairs and renewal of a cultural exchange programme. Earlier, the government has agreed to India’s use of Bangladesh’s sea ports but it did not disclose the agreement’s terms and conditions before the countrymen.
As there is strong political sensation among different opposition parties about the agreements signed with the foreign countries, including India, we think it will be wise for the government to make all the agreements public except those which are directly linked to national security. The Constitution with little exception provisioned the government to discuss all bilateral and multilateral agreements in the Parliament. But it often creates misunderstanding among the general people due to absence of this practice.
On Saturday, Bangladesh and India signed seven bilateral documents, according to media reports. These are: MoU for providing a coastal surveillance system; the standard operating procedure on the use of Chattogram and Mongla ports for movement of goods to and from India; MoU on withdrawal of 1.82 cusec water from the Feni River by India for a drinking water supply scheme in Sabroom town of Tripura; Agreement on implementation of the lines of credit committed by India to Bangladesh; MoU between the University of Hyderabad and the University of Dhaka; MoU on cooperation in youth affairs and renewal of a cultural exchange programme. Earlier, the government has agreed to India’s use of Bangladesh’s sea ports but it did not disclose the agreement’s terms and conditions before the countrymen.
As there is strong political sensation among different opposition parties about the agreements signed with the foreign countries, including India, we think it will be wise for the government to make all the agreements public except those which are directly linked to national security. The Constitution with little exception provisioned the government to discuss all bilateral and multilateral agreements in the Parliament. But it often creates misunderstanding among the general people due to absence of this practice.
