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Dhaka Diary
In its own interest Bangladesh needs to get involved with both Myanmar and China in developing mutually beneficial projects to create closer cooperation, writes
Sayed Kamaluddin
Bangladesh-Myanmar road link
New Age August 2, 2007
The signing of the agreement last Friday in Dhaka between Bangladesh and Myanmar to establish a direct road link between the two countries is indeed a landmark development. Its importance and far-reaching impacts once the agreed 153 kilometre-long road building project is completed could hardly be overemphasised. The Taka 933.46 crore road building project will be implemented in two phases. The 25 kilometres-long first phase that includes 23 kilometre inside Myanmar, linking Guandhum in Coxs Bazar with Bawlibazar in Myanmar, will be built by Bangladesh at a cost of Taka 141 crore.
The proposal for the construction of this important link road project was being discussed between the leaders of the two countries for the last few years, but somehow it did not take a concrete shape so far. However, Foreign Adviser Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury visited Yangon in April this year and a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the project was initialled at the time. Communication Secretary Mahbubur Rahman, who accompanied Chowdhury and Deputy Construction Minister of Myanmar U Thant Shaw signed the deal. Last Friday, the same agreement was finalised and signed by Communication Adviser MA Matin and the visiting Myanmar Construction Minister Saw Tun.
Chittagong was connected with Arakan state of Myanmar now Rakhine state through a road link for ages until early 1960s when it was discontinued. There was also a regular air service between Chittagong and Akyab, which also ceased around the same time.
In a way the road project will revive an old historical link between Bangladesh and Myanmar, the only neighbour other than India having a common border with the country. Once the project is completed, it is likely to pave the way for establishing direct road link with other Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore. Besides, it will also help develop direct road link with Southeastern Chinese province of Yunnan (capital Kunming) as well Laos via Myanmar.
Interestingly, during the formal meeting between the two sides prior to the signing of the deal last Friday, both sides discussed the prospects of stretching the proposed road link up to Kunming via Myanmar. But at the end of the meeting the Myanmar minister Saw Tun told newsmen: This does not depend only on our decision, it also depends on China and we will have to negotiate with them. Matin also agreed saying that a feasibility study should be carried out on the project with assistance from the Chinese.
Making China interested in the extension of the road link up to Kunming may not be that difficult a task because Beijing had earlier reportedly shown interest in the possible use of the Chittagong port for catering to the needs of eastern Chinese provinces and for that purpose such an all-weather road linkage is a must. It was earlier reported in the Weekly Holiday that the last Bangladesh ambassador in Beijing before living the capital earlier this year had requested China to help develop the oil sector by building roads and pipelines in Bangladesh that would also allow China to ship crude oil through Chittagong port to eastern China via Myanmar. The departing Bangladesh envoy had handed over the proposal to the Chinese vice foreign minister.
The interesting part of the proposal, as reported in Holiday recently, is that it invited Beijing to transport China-imported crude oil from Chittagong port to Chinas Yunnan province through Myanmar by building oil pipeline. This proposal appeared timely because China had already started the construction of a 2,500 km gas pipeline from Myanmars Kyakphu in the Bay of Bengal to Rili in Yunnan.
The China connection
Analysts believe that with the signing of the Bangladesh-Myanmar road link agreement the prospects of Beijing getting involved in the above-mentioned proposal has become brighter. Informed sources say the former Bangladesh envoys proposal apparently was based on April 7-8 Sino-Bangla Summit in Dhaka between former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao. At that time, a total of nine accords were signed five agreements, two MoUs, a contract and an exchange of letters.
Analysts suggest that Sino-Bangladesh ties following the Wen Jiabao visit became somewhat cool because of Dhakas inability to actively follow up the decisions taken at the summit. It was largely because of the former foreign ministers preoccupation with his own business-related activities and a section within the cabinets initiative to develop bilateral contacts with the Taiwanese authorities through their business representatives. Without understanding the importance and the sensitivity of the issue, some members of this group agreed to recognise the Taiwanese business representation in Dhaka largely to advance their personal interests. Former foreign minister reportedly chose to avoid being drawn into the controversy because of the involvement of ultra powerful people in the government. The foreign office mandarins, in the absence of active support and guidance from the foreign minister preferred to ignore the issue until Beijing reacted sharply.
While the Taiwan representation issue vis-à-vis Beijings stand was settled in favour of the latters stand on that of One China policy, it did leave a bitter taste in the mouth. It was a mistake and the government had to admit it but those greedy politicians who tried to influence the governments foreign policy could not be bothered. However, the implementation of the agreements signed in Dhaka in 2005 April lost its momentum and the country suffered.
Experts have lately been warning that with the countrys proven natural gas reserves depleting fast and the country may not in too distant future face an energy crunch of the type that it has never known. Last year the Energy and Mineral Resources division decided to offer 26 new off shore gas blocks in the Bay of Bengal for exploration in the near future. Six of them are in the shallow waters of the Bay while the rest 20 blocks are in the deep-sea. The involvement of hydrocarbon exploration in the Bay may face some problem because both India and Myanmar have reportedly are involved in encroaching thousands of kilometres of Bangladeshs exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in their seismic surveys. Interestingly, India owns 30 per cent stakes in three Myanmar gas fields, parts of which fall within Bangladesh territorial waters. I wonder how the foreign office mandarins will explain this predicament.
To meet its growing demand for energy Bangladesh has also lately revived its option of producing nuclear power though earlier prolonged negotiations with the Western countries for the same in the 70s and 80s failed. However, in 2005 China agreed to help establish nuclear power plants in Bangladesh. While negotiations with China on the question of setting up nuclear power plant is in its preliminary stage, efforts are being made to involve it in the exploration of hydrocarbon in the off shore blocks of the Bay. Bangladesh has also initiated developing a hydropower generating plant in Myanmar as joint venture and buyback the produce through high voltage transmission line.
Mutual dependence
Analysts believe that lasting and fruitful relations are based on mutually beneficial projects through which both the sides could be in a win-win situation. The Coxs Bazar Yangon road link is likely to be stretched up to Kunming without much difficulty only if the interests of all the three countries involved converge. Chinas global and regional interests are likely to prompt Beijing to study the proposals it received from the former Bangladesh envoy to China with due seriousness and come up with appropriate response.
In its own interest Bangladesh needs to get involved with both Myanmar and China in developing mutually beneficial projects to create closer cooperation.
http://www.newagebd.com/oped.html
In its own interest Bangladesh needs to get involved with both Myanmar and China in developing mutually beneficial projects to create closer cooperation, writes
Sayed Kamaluddin
Bangladesh-Myanmar road link
New Age August 2, 2007
The signing of the agreement last Friday in Dhaka between Bangladesh and Myanmar to establish a direct road link between the two countries is indeed a landmark development. Its importance and far-reaching impacts once the agreed 153 kilometre-long road building project is completed could hardly be overemphasised. The Taka 933.46 crore road building project will be implemented in two phases. The 25 kilometres-long first phase that includes 23 kilometre inside Myanmar, linking Guandhum in Coxs Bazar with Bawlibazar in Myanmar, will be built by Bangladesh at a cost of Taka 141 crore.
The proposal for the construction of this important link road project was being discussed between the leaders of the two countries for the last few years, but somehow it did not take a concrete shape so far. However, Foreign Adviser Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury visited Yangon in April this year and a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the project was initialled at the time. Communication Secretary Mahbubur Rahman, who accompanied Chowdhury and Deputy Construction Minister of Myanmar U Thant Shaw signed the deal. Last Friday, the same agreement was finalised and signed by Communication Adviser MA Matin and the visiting Myanmar Construction Minister Saw Tun.
Chittagong was connected with Arakan state of Myanmar now Rakhine state through a road link for ages until early 1960s when it was discontinued. There was also a regular air service between Chittagong and Akyab, which also ceased around the same time.
In a way the road project will revive an old historical link between Bangladesh and Myanmar, the only neighbour other than India having a common border with the country. Once the project is completed, it is likely to pave the way for establishing direct road link with other Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore. Besides, it will also help develop direct road link with Southeastern Chinese province of Yunnan (capital Kunming) as well Laos via Myanmar.
Interestingly, during the formal meeting between the two sides prior to the signing of the deal last Friday, both sides discussed the prospects of stretching the proposed road link up to Kunming via Myanmar. But at the end of the meeting the Myanmar minister Saw Tun told newsmen: This does not depend only on our decision, it also depends on China and we will have to negotiate with them. Matin also agreed saying that a feasibility study should be carried out on the project with assistance from the Chinese.
Making China interested in the extension of the road link up to Kunming may not be that difficult a task because Beijing had earlier reportedly shown interest in the possible use of the Chittagong port for catering to the needs of eastern Chinese provinces and for that purpose such an all-weather road linkage is a must. It was earlier reported in the Weekly Holiday that the last Bangladesh ambassador in Beijing before living the capital earlier this year had requested China to help develop the oil sector by building roads and pipelines in Bangladesh that would also allow China to ship crude oil through Chittagong port to eastern China via Myanmar. The departing Bangladesh envoy had handed over the proposal to the Chinese vice foreign minister.
The interesting part of the proposal, as reported in Holiday recently, is that it invited Beijing to transport China-imported crude oil from Chittagong port to Chinas Yunnan province through Myanmar by building oil pipeline. This proposal appeared timely because China had already started the construction of a 2,500 km gas pipeline from Myanmars Kyakphu in the Bay of Bengal to Rili in Yunnan.
The China connection
Analysts believe that with the signing of the Bangladesh-Myanmar road link agreement the prospects of Beijing getting involved in the above-mentioned proposal has become brighter. Informed sources say the former Bangladesh envoys proposal apparently was based on April 7-8 Sino-Bangla Summit in Dhaka between former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao. At that time, a total of nine accords were signed five agreements, two MoUs, a contract and an exchange of letters.
Analysts suggest that Sino-Bangladesh ties following the Wen Jiabao visit became somewhat cool because of Dhakas inability to actively follow up the decisions taken at the summit. It was largely because of the former foreign ministers preoccupation with his own business-related activities and a section within the cabinets initiative to develop bilateral contacts with the Taiwanese authorities through their business representatives. Without understanding the importance and the sensitivity of the issue, some members of this group agreed to recognise the Taiwanese business representation in Dhaka largely to advance their personal interests. Former foreign minister reportedly chose to avoid being drawn into the controversy because of the involvement of ultra powerful people in the government. The foreign office mandarins, in the absence of active support and guidance from the foreign minister preferred to ignore the issue until Beijing reacted sharply.
While the Taiwan representation issue vis-à-vis Beijings stand was settled in favour of the latters stand on that of One China policy, it did leave a bitter taste in the mouth. It was a mistake and the government had to admit it but those greedy politicians who tried to influence the governments foreign policy could not be bothered. However, the implementation of the agreements signed in Dhaka in 2005 April lost its momentum and the country suffered.
Experts have lately been warning that with the countrys proven natural gas reserves depleting fast and the country may not in too distant future face an energy crunch of the type that it has never known. Last year the Energy and Mineral Resources division decided to offer 26 new off shore gas blocks in the Bay of Bengal for exploration in the near future. Six of them are in the shallow waters of the Bay while the rest 20 blocks are in the deep-sea. The involvement of hydrocarbon exploration in the Bay may face some problem because both India and Myanmar have reportedly are involved in encroaching thousands of kilometres of Bangladeshs exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in their seismic surveys. Interestingly, India owns 30 per cent stakes in three Myanmar gas fields, parts of which fall within Bangladesh territorial waters. I wonder how the foreign office mandarins will explain this predicament.
To meet its growing demand for energy Bangladesh has also lately revived its option of producing nuclear power though earlier prolonged negotiations with the Western countries for the same in the 70s and 80s failed. However, in 2005 China agreed to help establish nuclear power plants in Bangladesh. While negotiations with China on the question of setting up nuclear power plant is in its preliminary stage, efforts are being made to involve it in the exploration of hydrocarbon in the off shore blocks of the Bay. Bangladesh has also initiated developing a hydropower generating plant in Myanmar as joint venture and buyback the produce through high voltage transmission line.
Mutual dependence
Analysts believe that lasting and fruitful relations are based on mutually beneficial projects through which both the sides could be in a win-win situation. The Coxs Bazar Yangon road link is likely to be stretched up to Kunming without much difficulty only if the interests of all the three countries involved converge. Chinas global and regional interests are likely to prompt Beijing to study the proposals it received from the former Bangladesh envoy to China with due seriousness and come up with appropriate response.
In its own interest Bangladesh needs to get involved with both Myanmar and China in developing mutually beneficial projects to create closer cooperation.
http://www.newagebd.com/oped.html
