‘We don’t want to tilt one way or another’

Bangladesh has so far maintained traditional diplomatic relations, and also opened up to trade and economic relationship with China and other countries, Prime Minister’s International Affairs Adviser Dr Gowher Rizvi said yesterday. 

The country cannot “remain aloof” from China’s Belt and Road Initiative, because it has important opportunities to take advantage of becoming a developed nation by 2041, he said at a seminar on “Bangladesh-India Cooperation in the Changing Regional and Global Context”. Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) arranged the seminar on its premises in the capital.

“That is not to say, we want to tilt in one way or another... In fact, it is not even a question. We are a sovereign state and we know how to maintain our independent position,” he said.

A delegation of New Delhi-based think tank, Institute of Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA), took part in the seminar, alongside BIISS researchers, officials from different ministries, representatives from foreign missions, businesspersons and academia.

Addressing the seminar’s inaugural ceremony, Dr Rizvi said Bangladesh definitely wants to be a part of the Indo-Pacific initiative, which is a win-win opportunity.

“We have our priorities. Our priorities are elimination of poverty, literacy, prevention of food shortage, and ensuring a prosperous, peaceful, liberal, and secular democracy,” he said.

Dr Rizvi said Bangladesh’s relationship with India is at the “centre of its foreign policies”.

“However, we also have other neighbours. We also have to take them into account and we cannot ignore them or we cannot turn our back to them,” he added.

Terming Bangladesh-India relationship an “ongoing thing”, Dr Rizvi said the countries have had issues and differences.

However, there was not a single problem that could not be resolved or that has not been resolved, he said, adding that issues will come up and “will be dealt with”.

He said the government wants to encourage Indian investment in Bangladesh for mutual benefits, calling upon the IDSA delegation to encourage Indian businesses to invest in Bangladesh.

On the Rohingya issue, Rizvi said the exodus in Bangladesh adjacent to Indian border is threat to security of both the countries. Bangladesh government has so far prevented radicalism in this part of the world, he said.

“We have already noticed weapons are coming in this region… If we are not careful, and if we do not work together, this will be the beginning of instability,” he added.

BIISS Director General Maj Gen AKM Abdur Rahman and IDSA DG Sujan R Chinoy also spoke at the event, presided over by BIISS Chairman Munshi Faiz Ahmad.