3. “The real test of a democracy”, however, as Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh once observed, “is not in what is said in the Constitution but in how it functions on the ground.” Given the enormity of scales in India on any parameter, there is little doubt that all Indians can be proud of what we have achieved in this area. And, as our Prime Minister also reminded us, our experience is also relevant beyond our boundaries.

4. India 's links with Bangladesh , like with her other South Asian neighbours, are civilisational, cultural, social and economic. There is much that unites us - our shared history and common heritage, our linguistic and cultural ties, our passion for music, literature and the arts. With Bangladesh we share not only a common history of struggle for freedom and liberation but also enduring feelings of both fraternal as well as familial ties. Just a few weeks ago, in December 2007, all of us were deeply moved by the spontaneous outpouring of emotions among both our peoples when India handed over to Bangladesh the remains of the 1971 Liberation War hero Sepoy Hamidur Rahman, with full honours – a reminder of the peoples' resolve to safeguard the values for which Bangladesh shed blood to gain its independence.

5. India is keenly aware that its own peace and prosperity is inextricably linked with that of its neighbours. We are as committed to our own sustained economic development and welfare of our people as we are to partnering our neighbours on a mutually agreed basis in their economic development and stability. India readily accepts that as the largest country in the South Asia region with the strongest economy, India has a greater responsibility in developing bilateral relationship with our neighbours. In this context, India has readily accepted the principles of non-reciprocity and positive asymmetry. This has been amply demonstrated in the progress that has taken place in our bilateral relations with Bangladesh in the course of last year.

6. India supports Bangladesh 's quest to transform its politico-economic landscape in its progress toward a full restoration of democracy through free, fair and credible parliamentary elections by December 2008. Consistent with this objective, India has continued its policy of engagement and broadened its bilateral cooperation in 2007. The Minister of External Affairs, H.E. Mr Pranab Mukherjee, visited Bangladesh twice in a span of ten months in 2007; first on February 19 to personally extend an invitation to Bangladesh to participate in the SAARC Summit in Delhi in April 2007, and later on December 1 to express the sympathy and support of India in the wake of Cyclone Sidr. Foreign Secretary Mr Shivshankar Menon visited Dhaka on June 24-27, 2007 for the Foreign Office Consultations that covered the entire gamut of bilateral issues. On the economic side, India, as always, stood by Bangladesh in its hour of need with aid worth over Taka 250 crores ( USD 36 million ) to help it cope with natural disasters like Cyclone Sidr and floods. Further, India lifted its ban on Bangladeshi investments in India in November 2007 and announced duty-free access to SAARC LDCs, including Bangladesh , from January 1, 2008. The two countries also signed, as a starting step, an MOU to grant duty free access to eight million pieces of Bangladeshi ready-made garments in India . On security issues, India unilaterally handed over a few wanted Bangladeshi criminals despite an absence of bilateral extradition treaty between the two countries. As a symbol of its commitment to combat terrorism and organized crime, India also arrested some Bangladeshi fugitives from law at Bangladesh 's request.

7. As our Foreign Secretary mentioned during his visit to Dhaka in June 2007, the challenge for us in our region is to build inter-dependencies that not only integrate economies but also create abiding interest in each other's stability and prosperity in the subcontinent. As our engagement with neighbours increases, the value of our bilateral linkages will outweigh the attractions of sterile confrontation based on historical and contemporary prejudices.

8. In addition to our bilateral relationships, we see the SAARC process as contributing to our goal of building a peaceful and prosperous periphery. At the 14th SAARC Summit in New Delhi in April, all the SAARC members including newly-admitted Afghanistan agreed to a vision of a South Asian community where there will be smooth flow of goods, services, peoples, technologies, knowledge, capital, culture and ideas in the region. With present high growth rates in the countries of the region, we have an opportunity to advance together through trade, open borders and economic integration, and to bring about shared prosperity between India and her neighbors. Several practical steps were agreed at the 14 th SAARC Summit in Delhi , such as establishing a South Asia University , a SAARC Food Bank and operationalising the SAARC Development Fund. As Chair of SAARC, it will be our endeavour to usher in a new phase of effective regional cooperation, reconnecting the subcontinent to itself and the world. We thereby hope to create a common space of prosperity in South Asia based on enhanced economic, trade and investment linkages and sustainable social and economic development.

9. Lastly, it has been a voyage of rediscovery for me and my wife during the last one year. We grew up listening to family elders who were born here and spent their childhood, narrate their tales of affection and nostalgia for this land. Reconnecting those stories with the places and people here and feeling the warmth, generosity and the affection of the incredibly resilient people of Bangladesh , has made our stay most rewarding. I thank the people of Bangladesh for the support that they have extended in strengthening the bonds of friendship between our two countries.

Pinak R. Chakravarty
High Commissioner of India
26th January, 2008