Shringla’s trip made Dhaka see big picture | Economic Times

Conspiracy invariably animates any conversation India has with its neighbours. Bangladesh is no different. And it gets more complicated when you have China in the mix, because then it raises concerns even in New Delhi, which otherwise would let minor rumblings go unnoticed.Foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla’s visit to Dhaka happened in such a context. And for once, New Delhi did what it should do more often — unconditional reach-out. That it was a FS, who had done the Bangladesh beat for a while besides being a successful high commissioner, helped rebuild equations in what is arguably the most positive and, therefore, important relationship for India in its unpredictable neighbourhood.Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina has been a source of steady support for India. So, to let the conspiracy mill take over the grammar of the conversation, would have been disastrous. And this had acquired pace ever since PM Narendra Modi’s March visit got put-off due to the onset of coronavirus. It appears, in the interregnum, contacts from India reduced while China stepped up its Covid-19 diplomacy to the point of talking vaccine trials in Bangladesh.Clarity, as always, emerges from the big picture. Yes, China has committed $25 b while committed Indian aid amounts to $7.8 b. However, on ground, China has effectively spent $1 b while India has shelled out $800 m. So, the huge gap on paper does narrow substantially in real terms. Needless to say, Chinese aid comes with more stringent conditions than Indian support. Which means India is not badly off yet, but sure has a serious challenge and must step up its game accordingly.At the same time, it’s important to note that Chinese credibility is not really high given their poor rate of delivery and lack of flexibility with terms. And that, in fact is the political opportunity for India. The most pressing political issue for Hasina is the massive influx of Rohingya refugees. Bangladesh had hoped China would help bring this issue to the UN Security Council. That did not happen and now, India is set to become member of the Council. Dhaka also knows how isolated Beijing stands within the UNSC, while Delhi could actually navigate this conversation better.Shringla spent over an hour with Hasina and is believed to have gone through all these issues threadbare. She is understood to conveyed that India is “irreplaceable” and while asking for on-going projects to be completed, she also wanted the Indian side to take up more ambitious port development and connectivity ventures.Does that mean India has nullified the China problem in Bangladesh? Far from it. But Shringla’s visit has emphasized the strategic context in which Indian views Bangladesh. And for all that it may do with Beijing, the fact is Delhi and Dhaka mutually benefit from a shared understanding of their strategic and security environment. The Foreign Secretary, besides dealing with the unattended but necessary minutiae, Dhaka didn’t lose sight of that larger picture.