Trackback URL
Download PDF Improving foreign relations and record remittance figures are the highlights of a successful foreign policy adopted by the government in its first year, Foreign Adviser Iftekhar A Chowdhury yesterday said.
Admitting that the government was unable to resolve a number of other issues, Iftekhar also said trying the war criminals must be a part of the country’s domestic policy.
At a press briefing, part of a government campaign to lay out its achievements over the past year, the foreign adviser spoke on the country’s foreign policy in 2007 and said Bangladesh is looking forward to becoming a dialogue partner of the Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations).
Iftekhar said relations with India and other South Asian neighbours have improved significantly during the last year while Bangladesh’s engagement in multilateral organisations, especially in the UN and Asean, is deepening.
“Our aim was to make Bangladesh a responsible state actor in the international arena through reform initiatives by getting the world community involved and interested in Bangladesh” he told the journalists.
He revealed that Bangladeshi expatriate workers remitted a record $6.5 billion in 2007. The same year 600,000 workers migrated to different countries and another 200,000 are ready to follow — another record for the country, he said adding that more middle eastern countries are interested in Bangladeshi workers with the labour minister of Qatar set to visit the country this week.
Bangladesh’s proactive efforts with India, its giant neighbour, has brought the two countries very close to starting rail links and the signing of important security deals, Iftekhar said.
He however admitted that trade, water sharing and border issues with India were far from resolved and required persistent and proactive efforts over time.
“We are not saying we have been able to resolve all problems. We could not do many things during this short period of time,” he said referring to the government’s failure to improve plummeting trade deficits between the two countries.
Iftekhar said the change needs to be incremental and he hoped that the next government would follow-up on the progress made by this caretaker government.
Asked whether the recent cancellation of the Guimet artefacts exhibition would hurt relations with France, Iftekhar was confident in saying that a “single incident” would not harm well-established relations.
The government has made breakthroughs in strengthening relations with Myanmar, Russia and China by opening up new avenues in connectivity, energy cooperation and trade, he also said.
The foreign adviser said after signing of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation — a non-aggression security pact under Asean Regional Forum — in Manila last July, the country’s next goal is to become a dialogue partner in Asean.
Bangladesh shares European values of preserving human rights, as it has demonstrated by the recent decision to form a National Human Rights Commission, he said.
Asked whether this meant that the government would try individuals who committed war crimes and crimes against the humanity in 1971, Iftekhar declined to go into details and said, “This has to be part of the country’s domestic politics.”
The adviser also mentioned that he had sent personal letters to 435 US Congressman to ensure their bipartisan support on a trade bill that would give developing countries including Bangladesh duty-free access to the US.
The issue would also be pursued through negotiations in the World Trade Organization, he added.
Comments are not moderated and only expresses personal views of visitors. BangladeshNews.com.bd is not responsible for commets posted by visitors.
Leave a Reply