EU welcomed 1/11 changeover to avert bloodshed

Stability in Bangladesh a matter of int’l concern, says German Ambassador Meyke
The European Union had welcomed the ‘1/11 changeover’ in Bangladesh to avert possible bloodshed in the then “dangerous” political confrontation, outgoing German envoy Frank Meyke said yesterday.
He, however, rejected allegations of any diplomatic role in the declaration of a state of emergency on Jan 11, 2007.
“But once it happened, we supported it,” Meyke, said in a Meet the Reporters programme organised by Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU) at its auditorium in the capital.
“But we wanted the caretaker government to have a roadmap for the elections. And, finally they delivered it,” the diplomat said, adding that now is the time for the government and the political parties to strengthen democratic practices.
He said the 27 countries of the European Union believed “bloody developments” would have taken place if the election that was scheduled for Jan 22, 2007, had gone ahead.
“There was no better solution at the time as there was no conducive environment for holding a free and fair election,” he also added.
The German envoy praised the Fakhruddin Ahmed-led caretaker government for its role in restoring democracy to Bangladesh.
“The democratic structural reforms of the last caretaker government and the elections of December 29, 2008, has opened up the perspective of a stable democracy,” he said in his written speech on Bangladesh-German Relations: The New Paradigms.
He said the general election, with over 87 percent turnout, was a “great positive element” for the international image of Bangladesh.
The outgoing Ambassador’s statement comes at a time when some in the ruling and opposition parties have been talking of bringing the leaders of the 1/11 changeover “to justice” for imposing the state of emergency and installing a two-year interim regime without constitutional basis .
Meyke said Germany would support Bangladesh in trying the war criminals if the government wants.
“Wherever they are, we wish all (war criminals) to be prosecuted. We will support if Bangladesh requires,” he told the function.
Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni, earlier in the morning, sought German assistance to try the perpetrators of crimes against humanity during the war of liberation in 1971 as the Ambassador made a farewell call on her at the Foreign Ministry.
Focusing bilateral relationship between the countries in economic front, he said despite economic recession Bangladesh’s export to Germany increased by 27.5 per cent in the first four months of the current fiscal year.
The bilateral trade has reached almost 2 billion Euro in 2008 and there is immense potential for German investment if there are right political signals in Bangladesh, he said, adding that they are now observing the intra-party practices in the political parties.
He said a promising new field of Bangladesh exports to Germany is ship as already more than 30 ships worth about 250 million Euro (Tk 2400 crore) have been ordered by German ship owners.
Referring to some constraints, Meyke said Bangladesh has attractive legal framework for foreign investors but the practical implementation is still often cumbersome.
“Administrative processes are complicated and time consuming. In a very competitive international environment this might be a drawback for Bangladesh.”
He said although foreign companies investing in manufacturing sector find a legal framework considered to be among the best in Asia in terms of tax holidays, repatriation of profits and fiscal incentives of various kinds, they have so far been rather reluctant in investing in Bangladesh.
“Bangladesh is still widely perceived as a land of floods, poverty and corruption with significant obstacles on the ground intimidating to the new comer: massive bureaucratic tangles, frequent power cuts and political uncertainty,” Meyke noted.
“Unlike trade, German investment in Bangladesh is still at a modest level,” he said, adding that German investors carefully assess business environment before they make investment.
He, however, said a number of positive steps like regulatory reforms, strengthening the capacity of BOI and encouragement of public private partnerships have been taken improving the business environment.
On development cooperation, the Ambassador said all new bilateral commitments for projects and programs annually add up to about 28 million Euro. However, total disbursements in 2008 even amounted to 40.5 million Euro.
DRU President Shameem Ahmed and General Secretary Pathik Saha also spoke on the occasion.

Courtesy of The New Nation