PM's first foreign visit to China or India

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman may travel to either China or India in June on his first foreign trip after election, Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman said Tuesday before flying for Beijing.
"No final decision has been taken on the destination, and discussions are ongoing. We need to wait a little longer," he told reporters, adding: "It cannot be said right now which country the visit will be to."
He also notes that the timing would depend on the availability of the respective heads of government and other logistical considerations.
The foreign minister says Bangladesh's long-cherished Teesta megaproject would feature prominently during his visit to China.
He describes the initiative as "extremely important" for people living in the Teesta basin and reiterates government commitment to resolving longstanding water- management challenges tied to the frontier river.
Addressing concerns over alleged "push-ins" from India, Rahman says the government had issued a strong protest following remarks by the chief minister of Assam and would take necessary measures in response.
Responding to a question on the recent trade agreement with the US, the foreign minister said public debate around such deals was healthy. "We did not enter into this agreement alone; many countries have done so."
He pointing to comparable arrangements signed by Indonesia, Vietnam and Cambodia.
He urges analysts to compare Bangladesh's terms with those secured by other countries. According to Rahman, Washington had initially imposed reciprocal tariffs of 39 per cent or 37 per cent on various partners, but following negotiations some countries -- including Vietnam -- secured rates as low as 20 per cent, while Bangladesh obtained 19-percent rate.
"All these agreements are now available in the public domain. If you read Bangladesh's agreement alongside others, you will better understand what we have gained, what we have not, and the policy commitments involved," he says about the critics.
Responding to a question as to whether progress could be made on a long-pending Teesta water-sharing agreement after elections in West Bengal, Rahman declines to speculate.
"A government has not yet been established there. It is not my job to read their minds," he says.
mirmostafiz@yahoo.com