The first ever two-day meeting under the Joint Declaration of the
Bangladesh-US Partnership Dialogue commenced in Washington on September 19 to
bolster bilateral and regional cooperation between the two countries.
Foreign Secretary Mijarul Quayes led the 10-member Bangladesh
delegation at the discussion with his counter-part the US Under -Secretary of
State for Political Affairs, Wendy R Sherman.
Representatives from ministries of commerce, energy, home, Economic
Relations Division, Board of Investment, Armed Forces Division and Bangladesh
Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) were included in the Bangladesh
delegation.
The composition of Bangladesh
delegation indicated that besides security, enhanced US investment, the duty-free and
quota-free export facility for apparels and inclusion of Bangladesh in
the Millennium Challenge Account of the US would be underscored by Bangladesh. For the US, the priority was security
including counter-terrorism, speedy investigation for the death of the labour
leader Aminul Islam and the future of Grameen Bank.
It was reported that the delegations held productive discussions on a wide
range of bilateral and regional issues including development, civil society and
governance; trade and investment; security and countering violent extremism;
counter-narcotics, military-to-military engagement, UN peacekeeping efforts and
humanitarian assistance, science and technology; women's empowerment and gender
equality.
On the sidelines of the dialogue, the Bangladesh business delegation held
talks with the US
buyers and importers. It may be noted that Bangladesh's export earning to the US during
2010-11 stood $ 4.59 billion, constituting 25% of total exports and the balance
of trade is heavily in favour of Bangladesh. It is reported that
granting of duty-free goods is a matter of legislation by the Congress and the
executive branch cannot do it.
According to the US,
the signing of Trade and Investment Cooperation Framework Agreement (Ticfa)
with Bangladesh
is necessary for attracting US
trade and investments. However, it is reported Bangladesh has reservations on the
labour-issue and since the US
would not soften its stance on the labour issue, Ticfa cannot yet be signed.
A media note issued by the US Department of State on September 21 said:
"Bangladesh's
status as a moderate Muslim democracy and its flourishing civil society
organisations are the foundations of our bilateral partnership….At the
dialogue, we also discussed the importance of appointing a respected leader to
serve as the new managing director of Grameen Bank."
At the meeting, the United
States encouraged Bangladesh to continue to play an
active role in regional integration, including efforts such as the New Silk
Road, the Indo-Pacific Corridor and Indian Ocean
organisations.
Bangladesh
is an integral part of the New Silk Road envisioned by the US that will
connect Central Asia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar and China. The
pivotal reasoning behind the New Silk Road is that economic incentives will
reinforce political integration and long-term stabilisation.
The meeting in Washington
has taken place in the backdrop of a Joint Declaration on "Bangladesh-US
Partnership Dialogue" which was signed in Dhaka,
on May 5, 2012 by Bangladesh
foreign minister and the US
Secretary of State, to which the prime minister of Bangladesh witnessed the signing.
The "Umbrella Declaration" aims to establish regular dialogues on
bilateral cooperation on issues ranging from combating terrorism, transnational
crimes to food security, education, climate change and child and maternal
health. It also sets a forum of consultations between the two countries. Annual
consultation is envisaged at the level of Foreign Secretary/Under Secretary and
periodic consultations at the level of Foreign Ministers of two countries.
Political observers say Bangladesh
has become hugely important for the US because of its geographical
location. Bangladesh
shares borders with India
and reformist and resource-rich Myanmar.
It is also a near neighbour to China
and stands as a bridge between South Asia and South East Asia.
Bangladesh's
direct access to open sea -- Indian Ocean --
is strategically important for the US since under a new U.S strategy,
the Pentagon plans to shift its focus and resources away from Europe
to Asia-Pacific. The US
author Robert D. Kaplan in his book "Monsoon" (2011) states that it
is in the Indian Ocean that the interests and
influence of India,
China
and the United States
are beginning to overlap and intersect. It is here, Kaplan says, that the 21st
century's "global power dynamics will be revealed."
Bangladesh attracts not only as a large consumer market but also is suitable
for US investment since 60% Bangladesh's economy is connected globally and the
country has been included as "Next -11"potential major economies. The
continuation of the same rating (Ba3) by the Moody's rating agency shows
optimism about the country's macroeconomic stability and growth prospects, said
Bangladesh Bank Governor Atiur Rahman.
The relationship between Bangladesh
and the US
has evolved from one of aid dependence to that of trade dependence. Bangladesh
needs to develop with the US
a truly modern partnership, one that is practical, open and engaged to meet the
global and regional challenges. The strength of the relationship relies on the
capacity to adapt to changing circumstances.
The visit of Foreign Secretary to Washington
under the "Partnership Dialogue" will broaden and deepen bilateral
relations with the US,
an important development partner
While cooperating with the US,
analysts maintain Bangladesh
has to be mindful to the concerns of China and may balance its interests
between the US
and China
and should not be perceived to be within the camp of the US against China or vice
versa. Asean has played a model role in balancing their benefits between the US and China. While
Asean is tied with China
through Free Trade Agreement, they also seek security assurances from the US.
Strategic or Partnership Dialogue is based on long-term shared strategic
vision, based on convergence of strategic interests, mutual trust, confidence
in each other and respect for each other's strategic sensitivities. The US concluded
Strategic Dialogue Agreement with India and China.
The next meeting at the Foreign Secretary level would be held in Dhaka in September 2013, officials concerned said.
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