What are expected of the high-flying visits of Hillary and Pranab?
Sunday, 6 May 2012
Zaglul Ahmed Chowdhury
It is certainly an extra-ordinary occasion for Bangladesh that two key figures from two important countries are in its capital city at the same time on bilateral visits. What their talks with the leaders in Dhaka will finally accomplish will be closely watched by all concerned. Needless to say, the focus of the visit by the United States Secretary of State Hillay Rodham Clinton and that of Indian Finance Minister Pranab Kumar Mukherjee would be on both bilateral and international issues. But what makes their visit to Bangladesh more significant is the timing as this country is passing through a politically restive situation.
Any visit by the secretary of state of a country like the US is undoubtedly quite important by all accounts and Hillary's maiden visit to Bangladesh in her present capacity is certainly a development of great importance. Likewise, the visit of a senior Indian minister and a key figure of the ruling Congress party carries a lot of significance, although the issues related to visits of two dignitaries are vastly different.
Nonetheless, what is common is the extent of importance of their discussions in Bangladesh with both the government and the opposition leaders. Such parleys have assumed a particular significance since Dhaka has a packed agenda with both the United States and India on varying matters that cover domestic, regional and international issues of common concern. Although the visits are primarily intended to further strengthening the bilateral ties and expanding the areas of cooperation, there is no denying that some contentious issues will also figure in prominently in the discussions since several matters have cropped up between Dhaka and New Delhi, on one hand, and Dhaka and Washington, on the other. However, the Dhaka-Washington relations and Dhaka-New Delhi relations at the bilateral level have been described by all concerned sides as quite friendly and cooperative.
It is a sheer co-incidence that the US Secretary of State and the Finance Minister of India arrived in Bangladesh within a difference of few hours. Hillary was the first to come in the afternoon straight from a critically important visit to China. Pranab arrived later. The timing of their arrival suggests that they are on visits to Dhaka for important purposes in which all have common interests. But the visits are bilateral with no links whatsoever with multilateralism and one can only say that such a synchronisation seldom happens, especially when both the visits are considered to be of significance for a variety of reasons. Bangladesh has a number of issues for discussions with both the United States and India at high levels and the whole gamut of the bilateral relations are expected to be covered during the talks with both Hillary and Pranab.
The political situation in the host nation in view of the opposition's agitation, centering on several subjects ranging from abduction of one of their leaders to system of government that would oversee the next elections, is somewhat restive. This matter can not be overlooked by either side during the parleys. Both Hillary and Pranab are scheduled to meet the main opposition leader as well, in addition to the prime minister and other government leaders and this automatically lends importance to their talks with all sides here. The United States is the strongest democracy in the world while India is credited with having the largest pluralistic polity, and this makes it plausible that the key figures from both the countries would discuss the issues that are inextricably linked with democracy, good governance and human rights. It goes without saying that there is certainly no question of interference on their part in Bangladesh's internal affairs as the people of this country themselves would decide their future. However, some issues related to democracy and also of interests to the people can not be sidetracked as the democratic world have always given vent to its views on these matters.
Hillary Clinton had earlier visited Bangladesh as the American First Lady many years ago and is not a stranger here as she had also gone in the countryside to see for herself the projects for the rural women run by the "Grameen Bank". As the US Secretary of State, she has spoken of cordial relationship with Dhaka and some developments including agreements for cooperation are expected during her visit. Some issues including the much talked-about "Grameen Bank" matter are also likely to be discussed by her as she and her husband -- former president Bill Clinton -- are known to be the admirers of this micro-credit programme and have emulated the same in their Arkansas state in the US. The fight against terror, climate changes and several other issues of common concern will come up for talks and Washington has praised Bangladesh's progress in the field like containing terrorism and religious radicalism.
Mr Pranab Mukherjee is known to be the person in the Indian government having high importance as far as New Delhi's bilateral relations with Dhaka are concerned. As the Indian external affairs minister, he had come to Dhaka as the special envoy of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh soon after the present Bangladesh government took office to congratulate it, upon assumption of power following the last general elections. The cordial Indo-Bangladesh ties are, however, passing through some problems as some issues of critical importance to Bangladesh like the "Teesta" river water sharing accord are hanging for a settlement, much to dismay of Dhaka.
All eyes are now set on the outcome of the two visits as talks with both these two important dignitaries are expected to further strengthen the bilateral ties with Dhaka, amid wider interest and curiosity among all concerned about their overall outcome. (zaglulbss@yahoo.com)
It is certainly an extra-ordinary occasion for Bangladesh that two key figures from two important countries are in its capital city at the same time on bilateral visits. What their talks with the leaders in Dhaka will finally accomplish will be closely watched by all concerned. Needless to say, the focus of the visit by the United States Secretary of State Hillay Rodham Clinton and that of Indian Finance Minister Pranab Kumar Mukherjee would be on both bilateral and international issues. But what makes their visit to Bangladesh more significant is the timing as this country is passing through a politically restive situation.
Any visit by the secretary of state of a country like the US is undoubtedly quite important by all accounts and Hillary's maiden visit to Bangladesh in her present capacity is certainly a development of great importance. Likewise, the visit of a senior Indian minister and a key figure of the ruling Congress party carries a lot of significance, although the issues related to visits of two dignitaries are vastly different.
Nonetheless, what is common is the extent of importance of their discussions in Bangladesh with both the government and the opposition leaders. Such parleys have assumed a particular significance since Dhaka has a packed agenda with both the United States and India on varying matters that cover domestic, regional and international issues of common concern. Although the visits are primarily intended to further strengthening the bilateral ties and expanding the areas of cooperation, there is no denying that some contentious issues will also figure in prominently in the discussions since several matters have cropped up between Dhaka and New Delhi, on one hand, and Dhaka and Washington, on the other. However, the Dhaka-Washington relations and Dhaka-New Delhi relations at the bilateral level have been described by all concerned sides as quite friendly and cooperative.
It is a sheer co-incidence that the US Secretary of State and the Finance Minister of India arrived in Bangladesh within a difference of few hours. Hillary was the first to come in the afternoon straight from a critically important visit to China. Pranab arrived later. The timing of their arrival suggests that they are on visits to Dhaka for important purposes in which all have common interests. But the visits are bilateral with no links whatsoever with multilateralism and one can only say that such a synchronisation seldom happens, especially when both the visits are considered to be of significance for a variety of reasons. Bangladesh has a number of issues for discussions with both the United States and India at high levels and the whole gamut of the bilateral relations are expected to be covered during the talks with both Hillary and Pranab.
The political situation in the host nation in view of the opposition's agitation, centering on several subjects ranging from abduction of one of their leaders to system of government that would oversee the next elections, is somewhat restive. This matter can not be overlooked by either side during the parleys. Both Hillary and Pranab are scheduled to meet the main opposition leader as well, in addition to the prime minister and other government leaders and this automatically lends importance to their talks with all sides here. The United States is the strongest democracy in the world while India is credited with having the largest pluralistic polity, and this makes it plausible that the key figures from both the countries would discuss the issues that are inextricably linked with democracy, good governance and human rights. It goes without saying that there is certainly no question of interference on their part in Bangladesh's internal affairs as the people of this country themselves would decide their future. However, some issues related to democracy and also of interests to the people can not be sidetracked as the democratic world have always given vent to its views on these matters.
Hillary Clinton had earlier visited Bangladesh as the American First Lady many years ago and is not a stranger here as she had also gone in the countryside to see for herself the projects for the rural women run by the "Grameen Bank". As the US Secretary of State, she has spoken of cordial relationship with Dhaka and some developments including agreements for cooperation are expected during her visit. Some issues including the much talked-about "Grameen Bank" matter are also likely to be discussed by her as she and her husband -- former president Bill Clinton -- are known to be the admirers of this micro-credit programme and have emulated the same in their Arkansas state in the US. The fight against terror, climate changes and several other issues of common concern will come up for talks and Washington has praised Bangladesh's progress in the field like containing terrorism and religious radicalism.
Mr Pranab Mukherjee is known to be the person in the Indian government having high importance as far as New Delhi's bilateral relations with Dhaka are concerned. As the Indian external affairs minister, he had come to Dhaka as the special envoy of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh soon after the present Bangladesh government took office to congratulate it, upon assumption of power following the last general elections. The cordial Indo-Bangladesh ties are, however, passing through some problems as some issues of critical importance to Bangladesh like the "Teesta" river water sharing accord are hanging for a settlement, much to dismay of Dhaka.
All eyes are now set on the outcome of the two visits as talks with both these two important dignitaries are expected to further strengthen the bilateral ties with Dhaka, amid wider interest and curiosity among all concerned about their overall outcome. (zaglulbss@yahoo.com)