Diplomatist Magazine Diplomatist October 2019

INDIA & THE WORLD It has been seen in 2016-17 that 2,59,8023 mt of ﬂ y ash was exported to Bangladesh from India through the protocol route. However, the fact remained that, these vessels came back empty most of the time. This has increased the cost incurred by private trading agencies. Despite the prescription of 50:50 cargo-ratio in the protocol, the share of Indian vessels in inland water transport (IWT) inter-country trade remains insigniﬁ cant. More so, the necessity of dredging, lack of assured fairways, lack of night navigation facilities are some of the pressing issues which have restricted the expected growth of IWT. To increase awareness among the stakeholders about the beneﬁ ts of trade by waterways a series of dialogues may be organised on both sides of the border. Disasters, vulnerabilities and call for collective engagement The Bay of Bengal is also infamous for its turbulence and frequently experiences cyclones. Tsunamis are also frequent here. The Indian east coast is popularly known as “Cyclone High Damage Risk Zones” frames the Bay in the west, and witnesses an average of three cyclones every year particularly between the months of May-June and October-November. The country is also a victim of regular ﬂ oods and earthquakes and has already been the victim of sea-level rise. Bangladesh being physically adjacent to the Indian state of West Bengal shares vulnerability to natural calamities. As a large number of people of both the countries live in this coastal area and are dependent on the sea for their livelihood these calamities often transform into disasters. In many past incidents, it has been seen that the cyclones which made landfall in West Bengal have also aﬀ ected Bangladesh and vice versa. There is thus scope for collective engagement in disaster management bilaterally. Such endeavours rather than being conﬁ ned at the state level must also be percolated amongst the people. Joint eﬀ orts must, therefore, be made in capacity building amongst the disaster-aﬀ ected communities of both Bengals and this will also promote an eﬀ ective transmission of mutual best practices. This can also be extended to the level of ports, and the ports of Bangladesh can work in consortium with those in West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu to develop an eﬀ ective early warning system. The concerned ports can also be connected via a hotline system in this regard. Joint training of the port community may also be undertaken as the nature of the vulnerability is the same. Further, the Bay of Bengal region is extremely vulnerable and susceptible to climate change. Due to global warming the region is experiencing a rise in sea surface temperature and sea level, increasing frequency of severe storms, and consequently, net land loss. What choices do India and Bangladesh have? How do these countries address environmental security in the face of climate change- induced displacement in the eco-region? These are some pressing concerns that need to be addressed bilaterally apart from maritime collaboration for capacity-building, joint research, training, the establishment of joint working groups and cooperation in areas of blue economy and marine security.  References: Abul Kalam, (2019). Bangladesh’s Maritime Policy: Entwine Challenges. London: Routledge Anasua Basu Ray Chaudhury and Pratnashree Basu, India-Bangladesh connectivity: Possibilities and Challenges, Observer Research Foundation, New Delhi, 2015. Anasua Basu Ray Chaudhury, Pratnashree Basu and Sohini Bose, India’s maritime Connectivity: Omportance of the Bay of Bengal, Observer Research Foundation, New Delhi, 2018, https://www.orfonline.org/research/indias-maritime- connectivity-importance-of-the-bay-of-bengal/ Anasua Basu Ray Chaudhury and Sohini Bose, “In the eye of tempestuous Bay of Bengal: Measuring the disaster resilience of major ports on India’s east coast”, Issue Brief, Issue No.289, Observer Research Foundation, New Delhi, April 2019, p.1, https://www.orfonline.org/wp-content/ uploads/2019/04/ORF_Issue_Brief_289_DisastersPorts.pdf Anasua Basu Ray Chaudhury and Rakhahari Chatterji, “Maritime order and connectivity in the Indian Ocean: the renewed signifi cance of the Bay of Bengal”, Journal of Indian Ocean Region, https://www.tandfonline.com/action/showAx aArticles?journalCode=rior20 Annual Report 2015-16, Inland Waterways Authority of India, Ministry of Shipping, Government of India fi le:///C:/ Users/sreeparna/Downloads/Annual%20Administration%20 Reports%202015-16%20report%20of%20IWAI%20(1).pdf Bangladesh Disaster Risk and Climate Resilience Program, Relief Web, 25 July 2018, https://reliefweb.int/ report/bangladesh/bangladesh-disaster-risk-and-climate- resilience-program Delwar Hossain and Delwar Hossain, “Unfolding Bangladesh-India Maritime Connectivity in the Bay of Bengal Region: A Bangladesh Perspective”, Journal of Indian Ocean Region, 2019, https://www.tandfonline.com/action/showAxa Articles?journalCode=rior20 Pratnashree Basu, Sohini Bose and Anasua Basu Ray Chaudhury, “Andaman and Nicobar Islands: facilitating India’s connectivity in the Bay of Bengal”, Journal of Indian Ocean Region, 2019, https://www.tandfonline.com/action/sh owAxaArticles?journalCode=rior202019, *Author is a Senior Fellow, Observer Research Foundation, Kolkata and can be reached at [email protected] Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Diplomatist • Vol 7 • Issue 10 • October 2019, Noida • 45

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