Greater engagement and increased connectivity between Bangladesh and Myanmar can remove all existing challenges and boost bilateral relations. Speakers said this at a seminar, “Bangladesh-Myanmar Relations: Political and Economic Dimensions”, on Wednesday. The event was organised by the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) at its auditorium in the city, with ambassador Munshi Faiz Ahmad, chairman of the BIISS’s board of governors, in the chair.
“We can reap ample benefits from the demographic and geographical features of both the countries. For this, we need greater bilateral cooperation,” said Md Shahidul Haque, secretary in the foreign affairs ministry. He emphasised connectivity between the two countries in terms of roads. He stressed building up bilateral relations in terms of energy and hydro power, and boosting investment in the trade and business sector.
Shahidul Haque said Myanmar is undergoing a democratic transition with various crucial reforms. “Myanmar needs more manpower from other countries to promote its growing economy. We can reap benefits from its geographical and demographic characteristics,” he added.
Haque said despite a large number of bilateral windows and agreements, there has been no follow-up action to push bilateral relations to the next level. The foreign secretary also said that Bangladesh is committed to intensifying cooperative and friendly relations with Myanmar. He expressed optimism that recent reforms in Myanmar will facilitate stronger bilateral ties.
Munshi Faiz noted that relations between the two countries are laden with serious challenges and provide unlimited opportunities. “The Rohingya issue is a longstanding problem in bilateral ties between the two neighbours. The Rohingyas did not migrate to Myanmar from Bangladesh. There is evidence that they are endemic to Myanmar like the Rakhian Buddhists. We need to arrive at a satisfactory resolution on the issue,” he said.
Abu Salah Md Yousuf, a research fellow at the BIISS, and Mohibur Rahman, research officer at the BIISS, jointly presented a keynote paper on “Bangladesh-Myanmar relations: the context of political and economic reforms in Myanmar”. They focused on challenges and opportunities in the Bangladesh-Myanmar relations in the context of recent political and economic changes in Myanmar. They mentioned that the Rohingya issue and border management problems are stumbling blocks on the path of bilateral relations.
They identified trade and investment, connectivity, energy and natural resources, regional and sub-regional cooperation and cultural exchange, among others, as the prospective sectors of cooperation. They recommended that Bangladesh should strengthen its diplomatic endeavours to resolve the existing bilateral disputes to enhance a mutually beneficial relation with Myanmar.
Maj. Gen. Sajjadul Haque, director general of the BIISS, delivered the welcome address.
-With The Independent input
