It is a pleasure to present the proceedings of two remarkably constructive dialogues on the relations between India and Bangladesh, which were jointly organized by the Society for Peace, Security and Development Studies (SPSDS) and the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) in 2003 and 2006.

To promote an enlarged and intensified dialogue on emerging issues and developments in international relations and security policy is one of the objectives of the multifaceted country program of KAS in India. Since some time these dialogues have included also the countries of South Asia as well as issues related to the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC). The KAS was encouraged to do so by the experiences of the European integration which paved the way for peace, stability and prosperity.

Insofar, two dialogues Democracy, Development and Participation: India and Bangladesh and Bangladesh in its National, Regional and Global Context were taken up. Both aimed at fostering mutual understanding, strengthening the interaction between distinguished personalities, deepening cooperation, supporting further connectivity and last but not least, at contributing to an enhanced trust between the two countries.

Contents

Part I: DEMOCRACY, DEVELOPMENT AND PARTICIPATION: INDIA AND BANGLADESH (Venue: Gangtok, 2003)

Inaugural

Pluralism and Democracy in Banladesh

Decentralization, Devolution and People's Empowerment

Non-Government Organizations as an Interface between Grassroots and the National Mainstream

National Governance: New Challenges and Opportunities

Economic Reforms and their Implication for Poverty Alleviation and Human Security

Concluding Remarks

PART II: BANGLADESH IN ITS NATIONAL, REGIONAL AND GLOBAL CONTEXT (Venue: Shillong, 2006)

Inaugural

Bangladesh and the Globalization Process

Challenges to Democracy in Bangladesh Including Fundamentalism and the Undermining of the Role of the Civil Society

Development Dilemma: Including Linkages, Environmental Security and Micro Level Interventions

Regional Security and Bangladesh Including Terrorism and Migration

Bangladesh in its Geo-Political Setting vis-a-vis India, China and other Countries

Discussion and Observations

Concluding Remarks