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Ashis Biswas

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INDO-CHINA BILATERAL TRADE TO GO UP

NATHU LA NEW OUTPOST OF COMMERCE

By Ashis Biswas

While investors and business circles grumble over the tardy pace of growth in Indo-China bilateral trade through the Nathu La Himalayan outpost, Beijing is apparently not too keen to launch any export promotion initiative just yet. In the context of India’s large trade deficit vis-à-vis China, the reverse trend at Nathu La, where China imports far more from India than it exports, strikes most observers as an oddity.

In statistical terms, the volume of trade has increased considerably. In 2006, when movement between the two countries was resumed linking Sherathang, Nathu La in Sikkim with Rinqinjing, once part of the Tibet autonomous area(TAR)which is currently Southwest China, there was a trade turnover of Rs 20 lakh only !And there was nil import from China that year.

However, by Jan 2015,

NO THREAT FROM DHAKA-MOSCOW NUCLEAR BONHOMIE

ENERGY-HUNGRY BANGLADESH SAW DECADES-LONG WAIT

By Ashis Biswas

KOLKATA: Diplomacy may have won the day for Russia more than financial/technological reasons, in bagging the order to build two nuclear power generating stations in Bangladesh by 2022-23.

This would enable Bangladesh to become the third country in South Asia to generate nuke power, after India and Pakistan. However, Sri Lanka could join the list soon according to present indications.

A proposal to build nuclear power plants in East Pakistan had been put forward as early as 1961 and approved in 1963, according to open source information. Therefore, neither Awami League (AL) leader Sheikh Hasina, nor Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader Khaleda Zia, can be rightfully accused of harbouring illusions of grandeur in going nuclear. Bangladesh has pledged to observe non-proliferati

BJP IN BAD SHAPE IN WEST BENGAL

MAMATA WOOING CONGRESS AGAIN

By Ashis Biswas

For the Bharatiya Janata Party in Bengal, the theme song could well be akla chalo re: Ironically, as the weakest opposition party in West Bengal, the BJP alone is not contemplating any alliance, with only a few months left before the 2016 Assembly polls.

Among other parties, the usually derided, much weakened Congress has emerged as the prime choice as an alliance partner both for the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the CPI(M). Interestingly, the Left camp remains divided over the question of political alignments. For instance, the CPI a firm ally of the Congress during the seventies, has put its foot down to any linkage with it, as have smaller parties like the SUCI or the CPI(M-L). The CPI’s logic: it points to its own remarkable decline over the years, which it sees as a consequence of its earlier reliance on

TRINAMOOL CONFIDENT OF WINNING SOUTH BENGAL

RURAL DEVELOPMENT MAY CLINCH 2016 POLL FOR MAMATA

By Ashis Biswas

As the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and opposition parties gear up for the next round of West Bengal Assembly elections, their campaign themes have been established.

The TMC is contesting on a ‘development’ slogan, while the twin pillars of the opposition’s campaign will be ‘lawlessness and economic stagnation’, broadly speaking.

At first sight, the TMC’s claim of having improved the state’s economy may look suspect, if not downright dubious, to most observers. However, initial impressions may be deceptive. After 54 months of its tenure, the ruling TMC has consolidated its position in rural Bengal. Especially in the highly populated South Bengal districts, which account for most of the 294 seats in the Assembly, the TMC is confident of doing better than its op

SAND MINING GANGS BRING KOLKATA DOWN

TRINAMOOL’S ROWDYISM CONTINUES AS IT IS   By Ashis Biswas   At long last, with only a few months left for the…

CURIOUS POLITICAL FALLOUT OF BENGAL BANDH

ARCHRIVALTRINAMOOL GETS CLOSER TOBJP NOW   By Ashis Biswas   With West Bengal Assembly polls now only months away, political alignments between…

REIGN OF CRIMINAL TERROR PLAGUES WEST BENGAL

MAMATA BANERJEE AT HELM OF GOONDA RAJ   By Ashis Biswas   In West Bengal, the law and order situation has hit…

TEESTA WATER SHARING MAY BE FORMALISED

By Ashis Biswas   While prospects for improving Indo-Bangladesh relations have brightened following Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s discussion with his Bangladeshi counterpart Ms Hasina Wazed on pending issues, working out the Teesta river water sharing arrangement may take some time.   A strong indication to this effect was available in a section of Bangladeshi media recently. In an interview to a Dhaka-based website, former Indian High […]

MAMATA HITS BACK AT HER DETRACTORS

From Ashis Biswas   KOLKATA: Under severe political pressure and feeling vulnerable, Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Mamata Banerjee has reacted characteristically, by going on the offensive against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).   During the last few weeks, Ms Banerjee, as the Chief Minister of West Bengal, has been keeping away from the media. Her leadership and the role of her party, in the multi-crore Saradha chit […]

MAMATA FACING MULTITUDE OF ODDS

By Ashis Biswas KOLKATA: In the end, the outcome of the high level Trinamool Congress (TMC) meeting last month was disappointing.   West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is usually at her attacking best whenever she feels politically cornered. There was no better time like the present, if she wanted to take on her critics, who have been tearing into her over the multi-crore rupees Saradha chit […]

INDO-BANGLA RELATIONS SET TO IMPROVE

By Ashis Biswas   Relations between India and Bangladesh are on the upswing if recent Dhaka-based media reports are any indication.   The Government of India’s decisive intervention into the law and order situation in West Bengal, following the Burdwan blast on October 2, ignoring the state Government’s objections, has been welcomed among the ruling Awami League circles in Bangladesh.   Significantly, Bangladesh authorities have been interacting […]

REWRITING THE SOUTH ASIAN STORY

By Ashis Biswas   Thanks to an improved relationship among neighbouring countries in the Indian sub continent, goods transport and power connectivity is gradually getting better.   Recently, Union Power Minister Mr. Piyush Goyal pressed for a seamless power connectivity among SAARC countries, at a meeting in Delhi. There has been a positive response from Nepal and Bangladesh, apart from valuable co-operation extended by both Nepal and […]

BURDWAN INCIDENT EXPOSES JAMAT’S TERROR LINKS

By Ashis Biswas   KOLKATA: There are no two opinions about it: unless the Indian government cracks down hard on the unholy nexus between the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bangladeshi Jamat-e-Islami, India’s regional foreign policy objectives will be seriously compromised.   The  recent accidental explosion at a house in Khagraghar, Burdwan town, where Muslim extremists with Bangladeshi links had set up an explosive manufacturing centre and […]