Transit and our concern

“O Lady! We receive but what we give”
Not without reason, transit is a highly sensitive issues in the any country of the world.because when any country give transit in others states than automatically security, economic ,social, and cultural issues come into being focal point discussion. It is important to note here that .According to the 1965 convention on transit trade of land –locked states ,article 2 states that “freedom of transit”that means states have the duty to give the transit in others land locked states. It goes without saying that ,as the states are very much dependent on each others, so they have to go others states through another states because of economic, social, and cultural development. In this aspect India want transit through Bangladesh because of communicating of North-eastern part of India.Ok Fine,Bangladesh should give transit to india according to the convention article 2 which I mention above. Is it enough.Some question remain unanswered until now , In same convention article 3 “Traffic in transit shall not be subjected by any authority within the transit State to customs duties or taxes chargeable by reason of importation or exportation nor to any special dues in respect of transit. Nevertheless on such traffic in transit there may be levied charges intended solely to defray expenses of supervision and administration entailed by such transit.But recent some statements from the top level of government surprised us because they give transit without any cost or fees .What does it means.
Not only that article 15 states “reciprocity” “ The provisions of this Convention shall be applied on a basis of reciprocity”That means we give transit India and India provide us transit to go Nepal ,Or Butan this the reciprocity .But what we see ,we see india always try to pressure us to give transit to india.But india remain silent to give us transit through India to go to Nepal or Butan.India is such states when they wanted to do something ,they raise the issues that this is their legal right.But when something which is against for them . they don’t care to violate the rules and regulations of international law.We know, we have a agreement regarding the issues of Tin Bigha corridor Article 1.14 of the Agreement which stated: "India will retain the southern half of South Berubari Union No. 12 and the adjacent enclaves, measuring an area of 2.64 square miles approximately, and in exchange Bangladesh will retain th Dahagram and Angorpota enclaves. India will lease in perpetuity to Bangladesh an area of 178 metres x 85 metres near 'Tin Bigha' to connect Dahagram with Panbari Mouza (P.S. Patgram) of Bangladesh.In this regard we amended the constitution and give them Southern half of south Berubari Union No 12 and the adjacent enclave. Although India open the corridor only 12 hours in daylight. but until now india control over the Tin Bigha corridor.Is it not the violation of international law.Because of big brother attitude of India, Demarcation of maritime boundary,Undemarcated border boundary 6.5k.m, ownership of south talpattry . exchange of enclave.border killing, water sharing remain conflectual.Iwill not go into details discussion about the above the issues. It seems to me that Transit is our strategic resource on the other hand transit is very essential to India .So we should be dealt with the matter very carefully. Before giving the transit we should be emphasized to be resolve the conflectual issues.History shows us that India is such a state can never sacrifice his own interests. Deplomacy and negotiations should be continued.On the other hand attitude of India should be changed they should be understood that friendship can be continued on the “law of reciprocity” Otherwise how we can survive in future as India is surrounding us at three sides.
Md. Ariful Islam Rony
Seven semester
Department of international relations
University of Dhaka
Mail-arifulislam62@gmail.com
01737171008