Editorial
A new spurt in Dhaka-Yangon relationship
Time is propitious for it
With the start in the process of democratisation in Myanmar and its opening up to foreign investment, countries rich in capital, technology and expertise are making a beeline to invest in that country. Nations like the USA, Australia, New Zealand China and India are gravitating to a rather relaxed investment destination like Myanmar.
The country is rich with its endowment of natural resources like oil, gas, gem as well as timber.
Therefore, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina took the opportunity of telling the outgoing Myanmar ambassador in Bangladesh U Min Lwin that she looks forward to a vibrant relationship with democratising Myanmar. She saw it as the stepping stone for building bridge with Southeast Asia.
It needs to be noted that Myanmar is the only other neighbour of Bangladesh with which it has been maintaining a friendly relationship. This is marked by Bangladesh's handling the two-decades-old issue of repatriating Rohingya refugees maturely and amicably with Myanmar.
It was a show of friendly gesture from Myanmar towards Bangladesh when it accepted the verdict of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) on the issue of long-standing maritime boundary demarcation between the two countries.
In fact, Myanmar has termed it a win-win outcome.
We think a new window of opportunity has opened up between the two friendly nations to take their relationship to a new height to the mutual advantage of both.
Bangladesh can import gas and raw materials from Myanmar and export pharmaceutical products, readymade garment and jute products to that country.
To enable taking full advantage of the potential that both countries hold out to each other, it will be necessary to increase connectivity between Dhaka and Yangon through road, rail and air links.
Overall, both countries can benefit from the fuller realisation of their potential for a two-way traffic of trade, commerce and investment cooperation between Dhaka and Yangon.
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