KALADAN NEWS

 

Dated: Thursday, January 13, 2005

 

 

Bangladesh East Policy Observed 

 

Chittagong, January13: The Bangladesh Parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Ministry observed the “Look East” policy on 10th January 2005 and put commentary that it has been on paper, not in practice. So, it asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to initiate steps to cement ties with the Far Eastern countries.

 

According to a report of The Daily Star on January 11, the Committee expresses dissatisfaction over the present status of relations with, Japan, Burma, Thailand, particularly with China at a meeting. It blast the ministry’s handling of the Taiwan issue.

 

Referring to the move to open an office of Taiwan in Dhaka last year which was later shelved, said a ruling party lawmaker at the meeting "it is unfortunate that relations with China have deteriorated over the Taiwan issue."

 

About the “Look East” policy, members of the committee said there was no real progress in the government’s move to strengthen relations with the far-east countries.

 

China had shown interest in a planned cross-country highway connecting Bangladesh with Kunming in China through Burma and Thailand, but virtually there was no response from Bangladesh, the parliamentary body said.

 

Though Communication Minister Nazamal Huda and Burma transport Minister Major General Hla Myint Swe laid the foundation stone for the Asian highway, nearly one year passed, in practical there is no construction works are being started.

 

There was a cloud of misunderstanding and cooling of relations between Bangladesh and Burma over diplomatic lapses that shocking act of a Bangladeshi Survey Engineering team had returned home immediately without any response from Burma side on 25th September, 2004. 

 

The new administration body of Burma imposed restriction on movement of businessmen in the middle of December 2004, mostly upsetting the border trade between the two neighboring countries, Burma and Bangladesh. It is also alleged that since the very beginning of the border trade, non-cooperation from the Burmese authority has been affecting normal trade relations of the two countries, sources said.##

 

 

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