ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION: Call to increase regional interconnectivity: Former diplomats urge at roundtable, lament lack of coordination

By Daily Star Staff Correspondent

Former diplomats have suggested that the next elected government formulate a foreign policy prioritizing regional connectivity for economic growth, impacts of climate change, international labour market, energy crisis and access of Bangladeshi products to global market.

They regretted that Bangladesh is failing to gain many benefits because of divergent foreign policies of successive governments and a lack of coordination between the foreign ministry and other ministries concerned.

While formulating the policy, the government should have a broader national consensus and consider the changed world's aspects, especially the economic crisis, they said yesterday at a roundtable.

The ambassadors who represented Bangladesh in different countries over the past few decades also stressed the need for "re-branding" the country in the international arena by projecting its achievements in microcredit and other social sectors and its multi-ethnicity.

The Daily Star and the Centre for Foreign Affairs Studies (C-Fas) jointly organised the roundtable titled "Future Directions of Bangladesh Foreign Policy" at the newspaper's conference room yesterday.

"No foreign policy can be effective without a minimum degree of coordination and coherence. Unfortunately, the role of foreign ministry has been undermined and diluted in Bangladesh and we need to find ways of re-establishing the typical role of the foreign office," said former ambassador Farooq Sobhan at the discussion.

The Bangladeshi diaspora can play a critical role in improving Bangladesh's image abroad, he said, adding that overseas employment, trade, attracting foreign direct investment and fighting terrorism are the key foreign affairs challenges for Bangladesh.

Sobhan said Bangladesh should devise strategies on the basis of the changed global scenarios--rise of India and China on one hand and the economic meltdown on the other.

Moderating the function, C-Fas Chairman Ashfaqur Rahman said, "The new government will have a lot of home work to do regarding foreign affairs."

In his keynote paper titled "Future Directions of Bangladesh Foreign Policy: Dreams or Nightmares?", Dhaka University Professor Imtiaz Ahmed detailed aspects of Bangladesh's past and present foreign policies and how it should be redefined taking into consideration globalisation and the ongoing global economic crisis.

In a globalised world, economic growth is largely interlinked with foreign relations and the challenges facing the country are not going to end unless creative policy initiatives are undertaken to overcome them, he said.

If Bangladesh is to go beyond its current economic growth of over 6 percent, it needs to resolve its energy requirements on a priority basis, he said, adding that in that case the country needs to think beyond oil and coal and keep all options open.

"This would require investment in knowledge and expertise in drafting agreements at both bilateral and international levels. Any lethargy or slippage in what would be protracted external...is bound to cost Bangladesh heavily," said Prof Imtiaz of international relations department.

Referring to a recent research, he said should Bangladesh invest in the development of semi-skilled migrant workers, including catering to restaurant business and plumbing, and have them sent to Europe, it could end up raising the remittance flow up to $30 billion, if not more.

"Here too, creative institutionalisation at home and external engagements is required," he added.

Former ambassador Harunur Rashid said sometime foreign policy is determined by a small cabinet or stalwarts in the ruling party or the prime minister's secretariat undermining recommendations of the foreign ministry.

"There is no consensus or bi-partisanship regarding the country's foreign policy," he said.

He said national consensus is required on issues related to global warming as such environmental issues affect crop production, health and salinity of water.

Harunur Rashid advocated stronger inter-connectivity and transit facilities with India, Myanmar, China and other neighbouring countries. Such transit facilities will increase trade opportunities for Bangladesh, he said.

The former ambassador also stressed the need for paying more attention to the Bangladeshis living abroad.

"We must project Bangladesh as a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural country," he said.

Harunur Rashid said there is a communication gap between the politicians and the foreign office in regard to foreign affairs. He also recommended setting up of a research and evaluation unit in the foreign ministry to devise a long-term plan.

Executive Director of Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) Dr Mustafizur Rahman said Bangladesh will have difficulties in getting market access for apparel to the US under the Obama administration as Obama will be more protectionist.

Bangladesh's foreign policy has to be devised considering the trade opportunities in the south block that includes India and China, he said, adding that carbon trading, territorial issues and nuclear energy should be the new focus of the foreign policy.

Former ambassador Anwar Hashim said, "Since globalisation is to stay, we have to devise ways to benefit from it and fight its negative aspects."

It is essential to determine the country's interests abroad and dispassionately evaluate the achievements and failure in the past 38 years to formulate a foreign policy for getting the benefits of globalisation.

"There are hundreds of issues and we have to prioritise those," said Anwar Hashim.

Former ambassador Muhammad Zamir termed water management, power, environmental degradation and food security the most crucial issues to be included in the foreign policy priority list.

The line ministries usually do not care about the foreign ministry and deal with external issues directly, he said, adding that the foreign ministry should take a coordinated approach in dealing with foreign affairs.

Putting emphasis on capacity building, Zamir said the foreign ministry officials should learn the languages of the countries where the number of Bangladeshi migrants is high and Bangladesh has trade interests.

Former ambassador Shamim Ahmed said it is necessary to look for employment opportunities beyond the Middle East because the decline in oil prices there may have negative impact on Bangladesh's labour market in the region.

The country's image cannot be improved ignoring half the country's populace - women, said ambassador Nasim Ferdous, adding that the foreign ministry should play a key role in creating a pool of female professionals and researchers.

Former diplomat and adviser to the caretaker government CM Shafi Sami said Bangladesh is failing to formulate an effective foreign policy because of polarised politics and lack of good governance.

Brig Gen (retd) Shahedul Anam Khan gave the welcome speech.

Former ambassadors Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury, Serajul Islam, Kazi Anwarul Masud, M Shafiullah, chief editor of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) Zaglul Ahmed Chowdhury and businessman SM Mainuddin Momen also spoke.

Seminar on maritime boundary

Published in The Daily Star, November 20, 2008 (by Daily Star staff correspondent)

While continuing negotiations with India and Myanmar on maritime boundary delimitation, Bangladesh should build capacity to conduct physical surveys in the Bay of Bengal, so it may make proper claims with the UN Commission on the Limits of Continental Shelf (UNCLCS) in 2011, experts said.

Pointing out a lack of proper political direction on the issue during the tenures of past governments, the experts stressed on increasing maritime capabilities for learning about the economic importance of the resources in the bay.

The opinions were expressed by speakers at a roundtable yesterday arranged by The Daily Star on "Bangladesh's Delimitation Issues with India and Myanmar" held in the newspaper's office conference room.

Mahfuz Anam, editor and publisher of The Daily Star, welcomed the speakers while Brig (retd) Shahed Anam, defence and strategic editor, moderated the session.

The speakers said July 27, 2011 is the deadline for Bangladesh to file maritime claims with the United Nations (UN) in line with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The date however is not for determining the sea boundary, so scopes for negotiations will remain.

So it is important to take proper preparations rather than being frustrated about the issue, although much time has already been lost, they added.

They said Bangladesh can promote its national interest best by negotiating on the basis of equity principle, while India and Myanmar prefer to settle the issue in equidistance method which will not do justice to the countries in locations like Bangladesh is in.

Rear Admiral (retd) SI Mujtaba, former foreign secretary Barrister Kaiser Murshed, former state minister for foreign affairs Reaz Rahman, former ambassadors Barrister Harun Ur Rashid, Muhammad Zamir, Ashfaque Ahmed, Serajul Islam, and Shameem Ahmed, former adviser to the caretaker government Shafi Shami, AK Azad of Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS), Dr Uttam Kumar Deb of the Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD), and Professor Shahiduzzaman of the international relations department of Dhaka University spoke at the event.

The speakers said amid a lack of political direction, the media have a great role to play through raising public awareness regarding the issue.

Commodore (retd) Khurshed Alam made a brief presentation on the maritime boundary delimitation issue, the historical background, international laws and conventions, as well as about the country's position, progress in the negotiation, and the ground reality.

He said a great deal of harm has already been done to the country by not taking proper action in proper time, and it will be too late if the nation fails to take a decision now.

He recommended setting up a permanent forum for dealing with the matter, redrawing the baseline, updating the maritime zone act, claiming continental shelf up to 350 nautical miles into the bay, and developing maritime capabilities to safeguard national maritime interests.

Reaz Rahman said Bangladesh has an opportunity to claim up to 350 nautical miles of the continental shelf into the deep sea fulfilling the conditions of UNCLOS.

After 2002 the immediate past government had trained some 15 officials of the foreign ministry on maritime issues, but they were later posted abroad, he said.

"The country should determine the maritime boundary through negotiations according to international conventions, at the same time the government should build capacities for the younger generation," he said.

Shafi Shami stressed the need for arousing a political will for delimiting the maritime boundary as the country has not moved much yet on the issue.

Harun Ur Rashid said Bangladesh had proposed a joint survey to resolve the issue with India, especially about South Talpatty during the 70s, but India did not agree.

Barrister Kaiser Murshed said the maritime issue is not a matter of a national debate but of a national consensus, so all should work together on the issue for the sake of national interest.

Serajul Islam said no professional approach has been seen yet for solving the problem, although the country has to file its claim within 2011. He suggested bringing technical and legal expertise on the matter under a single umbrella.

SI Mujtaba said it is regrettable that politicians and bureaucrats have failed to demarcate the maritime boundary yet.

He urged the government and policy makers to take the marine resources into consideration.

Stressing the importance of the country's marine resources he said, "We need to adopt a look south policy towards the sea rather than looking east or west."

Muhammad Zamir said the foreign ministry took many steps regarding maritime boundary, but all those seemed to lack proper planning.

Since the issues involve national security, political direction is a must to solve the problem, he said adding, no matter which government comes to power, it must develop some experts who will help the government in moving forward on the issues.

Dr AK Azad of BIISS suggested joint explorations with neighbouring countries in the bay, as ultimately the differences of resolutions are about marine resources.

CPD researcher Dr Uttam Dev said the negotiations should not only focus on sovereignty, rather should also take into account the economic importance of resolving the issue.

"So it is very clear, the negotiators should know what they are getting out of the negotiations and what they are losing," he said mentioning upcoming projected crisis of gas reserve in the country. So the country needs to focus on capacity building on legal, scientific and economic resources.

Suggesting use of the influence of international alliances during negotiations, Prof Shahiduzzaman said the country should not get stuck in a single strategy.

"We should think about the manifold ramifications of the issue. We should not put all eggs in a single basket," he said adding that Myanmar might even try to use its force against the country in the future.

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