By Sunita Paul
According to rules of World Trade Organization (WTO), none of its member countries are allowed to maintain total ban on another member country. Bangladesh is a member of WTO and continues to undermine such rule, thus in other words, violating international law. Because of this specific rule of WTO, country like Saudi Arabia even lifted trade embargo on Israel.
Bangladesh presently continues the following bans and embargoes on Israel, the only Jewish state in the world, despite the fact that, a large segment of readymade garment and shrimp buyers in the world are Jewish entrepreneurs. By doing business with Bangladesh, these Jewish entrepreneurs are in other words, patronizing an extremely hostile nation, which dreams of elimination of Israel from the global map.
Despite series of requests from the international community, Bangladesh did not change its anti-Israeli and anti-Semitic sentiment. Rather, the foreign advisor in the military backed interim government in Dhaka, Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, continues to give anti-US, anti-West, anti-Israel and anti Semitic statements. He has openly expressed solidarity to mega terrorist organization like Hamas and Hezbollah. Bangladeshi authorities even recently passed remarks in press stating that the country is no more a partner in war on terror. But, the international community is silent. Bangladeshi soldiers are continuing to work in joint forces under United Nations. But, for sure, it is time for the international community to look into the entire matter with due urgency and initiate some strong measures against Bangladesh for its anti-Israel and anti-Semitic as well as anti-US and anti-West notions.
Bangladesh continues the following bans and restrictions on Israel. According to experts, most of such actions by Bangladesh are direct violations of international charter and law:
1. Israeli Flag Vessel: Whenever any Letter of Credit (L/C) is established from a Bangladeshi bank, there is a specific clause in the L/C document stating, the good 9to be imported by Bangladesh) cannot be carried in 'Israeli flag' vessels.
Bangladesh previously did not have diplomatic relations with South Africa and now even does not have diplomatic relations with Taiwan. But, such notorious clause has never been used in case of any other country, except Israel, as if Bangladesh is at war with Israel.