We’re part of China’s BRI but India our ‘most important partner’: Bangladesh foreign advisor

[Black_cats]

We’re part of China’s BRI but India our ‘most important partner’: Bangladesh foreign advisor

'We are very willing to be a part of Indo-Pacific relationship,' Gowher Rizvi, international affairs advisor to Bangladesh PM, said at a virtual event hosted by London-based IISS.

PIA KRISHNANKUTTY24 March, 2021

Gowher Rizvi | Commons

New Delhi: Bangladesh has said it is “not going to choose” between India and China as it expressed desire to join the “Indo-Pacific relationship”, though it is part of Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

“We are part of China’s BRI but we are very willing to be a part of the Indo-Pacific relationship… we are not going to choose [between India and China],” Gowher Rizvi, international affairs advisor to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, said during a virtual seminar hosted by London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies Tuesday.

The event was also attended by Pankaj Saran, Deputy National Security Adviser of India, and mediated by Rahul Roy-Chaudhury, who leads the South Asia research programme at IISS.

Though China is an important element in Bangladesh’s developmental projects, it is not “at the expense” of its relationship with India, Rizvi said. “India is our most important partner and you cannot conceive of anything different. It would be suicidal to think differently.”

He also stressed that the “blue economy” or oceanic economy, especially the Bay of Bengal, is an important part of Dhaka’s long-term development plans. The Bay of Bengal area is fast becoming the cornerstone of the Indo-Pacific strategy.

PM Narendra Modi will visit Bangladesh on 26-27 March in his first trip abroad since the Covid-19 lockdown. The visit also marks the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties, Bangladesh’s liberation war and the birth centenary of “father of the nation” Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Bangladesh Monday expressed gratitude after India conferred the Gandhi Peace Award 2020 upon Mujibur Rahman posthumously.

We're part of China's BRI but India our 'most important partner': Bangladesh foreign advisor

'We are very willing to be a part of Indo-Pacific relationship,' Gowher Rizvi, international affairs advisor to Bangladesh PM, said at a virtual event hosted by London-based IISS.

www.google.com

 

[Michael Corleone]

What a bag of dick. Hand over all the credit and construction to india then

 

[Silverblaze]

No one is asking bangladesh to attack india but when muslim bengalis in assam and west bengal have become targets of absolute hate, it is better to show your annoyance than keep pandering.

 

[X-ray Papa]

This guy should be sentence to death along with awami league members.

 

[SpaceMan18]

We’re part of China’s BRI but India our ‘most important partner’: Bangladesh foreign advisor

'We are very willing to be a part of Indo-Pacific relationship,' Gowher Rizvi, international affairs advisor to Bangladesh PM, said at a virtual event hosted by London-based IISS.

PIA KRISHNANKUTTY24 March, 2021

Gowher Rizvi | Commons

New Delhi: Bangladesh has said it is “not going to choose” between India and China as it expressed desire to join the “Indo-Pacific relationship”, though it is part of Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

“We are part of China’s BRI but we are very willing to be a part of the Indo-Pacific relationship… we are not going to choose [between India and China],” Gowher Rizvi, international affairs advisor to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, said during a virtual seminar hosted by London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies Tuesday.

The event was also attended by Pankaj Saran, Deputy National Security Adviser of India, and mediated by Rahul Roy-Chaudhury, who leads the South Asia research programme at IISS.

Though China is an important element in Bangladesh’s developmental projects, it is not “at the expense” of its relationship with India, Rizvi said. “India is our most important partner and you cannot conceive of anything different. It would be suicidal to think differently.”

He also stressed that the “blue economy” or oceanic economy, especially the Bay of Bengal, is an important part of Dhaka’s long-term development plans. The Bay of Bengal area is fast becoming the cornerstone of the Indo-Pacific strategy.

PM Narendra Modi will visit Bangladesh on 26-27 March in his first trip abroad since the Covid-19 lockdown. The visit also marks the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties, Bangladesh’s liberation war and the birth centenary of “father of the nation” Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Bangladesh Monday expressed gratitude after India conferred the Gandhi Peace Award 2020 upon Mujibur Rahman posthumously.

We're part of China's BRI but India our 'most important partner': Bangladesh foreign advisor

'We are very willing to be a part of Indo-Pacific relationship,' Gowher Rizvi, international affairs advisor to Bangladesh PM, said at a virtual event hosted by London-based IISS.

www.google.com

That guy can commit lego step

 

[Homo Sapiens]

“We are part of China’s BRI but we are very willing to be a part of the Indo-Pacific relationship… we are not going to choose [between India and China],”

This is the correct thing to say explicitly to the world, but each relationship should be based on according to it's merit. I don't understand why every times China related questions asked by Indians to the visiting Bangladeshi ministers or advisers! Why so much insecurity feeling and possessive attitude? Just because Sheikh Hasina govt. is very much friendly to you and attentive to your security and connectivity needs, does not mean she or any govt. of Bangladesh can put your's geo-political and economic interests above of Bangladesh. There is a limit on how much your friend can deliver to you, even the very best friend. Indians say they can not choose between Bangladesh and Myanmar when it comes to Rohingya issue, yet they expect us to ditch a country like China and dance to the Indian tunes harming it's own economic and diplomatic interests. Do Indians have any sense of fairness or balance?

 

[magra]

This is the correct thing to say explicitly to the world, but each relationship should be based on according to it's merit. I don't understand why every times China related questions asked by Indians to the visiting Bangladeshi ministers or advisers! Why so much insecurity feeling and possessive attitude? Just because Sheikh Hasina govt. is very much friendly to you and attentive to your security and connectivity needs, does not mean she or any govt. of Bangladesh can put your's geo-political and economic interests above of Bangladesh. There is a limit on how much your friend can deliver to you, even the very best friend. Indians say they can not choose between Bangladesh and Myanmar when it comes to Rohingya issue, yet they expect us to ditch a country like China and dance to the Indian tunes harming it's own economic and diplomatic interests. Do Indians have any sense of fairness or balance?

Your minister is not ditching China (BRI). He is only balancing China's BRI with Indo-Pacific connectivity. So what is the issue?

 

[khansaheeb]

Fools should create an economic corridor to China through Myanmar, India is a vile predatory nation, Bangladesh should learn it's lesson and look east.

 

[Homo Sapiens]

Your minister is not ditching China (BRI). He is only balancing China's BRI with Indo-Pacific connectivity. So what is the issue?

The issue is each and every times our ministers go to India or attend any program organized by Indians, they have to justify Bangladesh's relation with China and have to assure that it is no way inimical to Indian interests. They also have to repeat those soothing words like 'our relation with India is a special kind due to liberation war, not comparable to any other relation' etc. etc.). It seems many Indians feel they have some kind of special privilege at dictating Bangladesh's policy due to friendly govt. seating there or Sheikh Hasina govt's primary mission is to uphold India's geo-political interests above all other things. This kind of attitude is very annoying and insulting to the guests.

 

[VikingRaider]

No problem , just keep giving the lip service to India for few more years ! Sap o morlo , lathio vanglo na!

 

[magra]

The issue is each and every times our ministers go to India or attend any program organized by Indians, they have to justify Bangladesh's relation with China and have to assure that it is no way inimical to Indian interests. They also have to repeat those soothing words like 'our relation with India is a special kind due to liberation war, not comparable to any other relation' etc. etc.). It seems many Indians feel they have some kind of special privilege at dictating Bangladesh's policy due to friendly govt. seating there or Sheikh Hasina govt's primary mission is to uphold India's geo-political interests above all other things. This kind of attitude is very annoying and insulting to the guests.

Indian govt is not holding them by the throat to speak such things. If BD ministers feel the need to keep India on their side and humour India, then it is their thought. Why should India feel guility about keeping Indian interests in mind?

 

[KedarT]

As expected, Bangladeshis here aren't happy with any of the pro-India statements by their ministers.

Though China is an important element in Bangladesh’s developmental projects, it is not “at the expense” of its relationship with India, Rizvi said. “India is our most important partner and you cannot conceive of anything different. It would be suicidal to think differently.”

Good to hear

 

[xyxmt]

Bangladesh still have not recovered from stockholm syndromes

 

[Protest_again]

Unlike PDF Bongos, their govt is more rooted to reality. It is absolutely suicidal to work against India for Bangladesh. Lol.

 

[Homo Sapiens]

Unlike PDF Bongos, their govt is more rooted to reality. It is absolutely suicidal to work against India for Bangladesh. Lol.

There was much hostility between BNP govt. in Bangladesh and India in the past. Indian establishment then complained about harboring North East freedom fighters and Pakistani ISI in Bangladeshi soil. You may not know, there were huge border clashes between BDR and BSF in 2005-2006 period often requiring thousands of bordering villagers to flee. I don't think that was a suicidal period for Bangladesh. Do not delude yourself that just because you got the bigger army, you can punish Bangladesh into submission. Never.

You should be grateful to Sheikh Hasina that she has immense goodwill towards the Indian nation. Much of it is due her personal gratitude towards Indira Gandhi, for sheltering her in her darkest chapter of life, Indian role in our liberation war and her father's foreign policy which was friendliness with Nehru-Gandhi leadership. She is also willing to walk extra miles with India for the sake of regional peace and prosperity. Do not underestimate her goodwill for your nation as her weakness. She can easily play Anti-India hostility card for political gain. Her popularity will skyrocket inside Bangladesh. But she will never do that. As I said, much of it is due to her ideology. She is a person who still see everything with 1971 prism.