Bangladesh can be a tiger economy, says ex-diplomat – The New Indian Express

By PTI

KOLKATA: With the spanking new 6.15 km lengthy bridge over the mighty Padma river constructed with its personal sources, Bangladesh has come of age and, with broad-basing of its manufacturing sector, it might nicely be the tiger financial system to observe in Asia, Ambassador Sarvajit Chakravarti (Retd.) mentioned.

Chakravarti, who served twice in Bangladesh and retired as a secretary within the Ministry of Exterior Affairs, urged that India ought to attempt to make Rupee a authorized tender within the nation as it’s in different such neighbouring nations – Nepal and Bhutan, in order that your complete area will be handled, to an extent, as an built-in financial entity.

The dispute over the Teesta Water Sharing Settlement will be probably be bypassed by linking the river with Jamuna (decrease stream of the Brahmaputra) in Bangladesh by a canal in order that Teesta will get extra water, the previous profession diplomat mentioned whereas interacting solely with PTI journalists right here.

“From when (US Secretary of State Henry) Kissinger referred to as it a ‘basket case’ in 1971 to a rustic that has exceeded India in per capita earnings (final 12 months), Bangladesh has come a great distance. It’s justified that the Padma bridge takes pleasure of place. The worldwide companies that had refused to fund it at the moment are congratulating Bangladesh on its completion,” he mentioned.

Linking the southwest of the nation to the northern and jap areas, the road-rail bridge constructed at a value of USD 3.6 billion was inaugurated by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on June 25.

“The bridge will scale back our journey time to Dhaka significantly and can increase tourism site visitors and enhance supply providers from either side. It exhibits the constructive impact growing exports can have on a rustic’s financial system (by producing improvement sources),” Chakravarti mentioned.

Bangladesh has given itself a roadmap – Imaginative and prescient for 2041 – geared toward ending absolute poverty and graduating into greater middle-income standing by 2031, and turning into a developed nation by 2041, he mentioned including that the nation is making progress in a number of social and financial sectors.

From agriculture to prescription drugs and from shipbuilding to clothes, the nation’s industrial base is diversifying and its exports growing.

“They’ve made wonderful progress in training, healthcare and fundamental social providers,” mentioned the retired diplomat, who’s a member of the Kolkata-based think-tank CENERS-Okay. “I see Bangladesh as a future tiger financial system,” Chakravarti added.

Nevertheless, it’s depending on India for some meals gadgets corresponding to wheat and lentils, he mentioned and identified that shortages in India typically end in stalling of those exports to the detriment of individuals in each international locations.

“If Rupee is made a authorized tender in Bangladesh as it’s in Bhutan and Nepal, we now have a Rupee commerce space. We are able to deal with your complete area as an built-in financial entity when it comes to provide of important providers like meals,” he mentioned.

Because the connectivity between the 2 neighbours is growing by way of rail, highway and river routes, container vans from Bangladesh will be allowed to maneuver to Mumbai, Ahmedabad and different ports in western India to make its shipments to Europe simpler, he mentioned.

Now, Bangladeshi ships go to Europe by way of Colombo. The usage of western Indian ports will reduce that distance significantly, he mentioned.

On the Teesta water-sharing concern, Chakravarti mentioned Bangladesh has been “very sort” in not making it the central a part of its relationship dialogue with India.

Sharing of water from the Teesta river which flows by way of Sikkim, northern West Bengal and Bangladesh is a key level within the relationship between the 2 international locations.

An settlement on this was signed however Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee objected to it saying it might have an effect on the state’s curiosity as there may be not sufficient water to share on a assured foundation.

Ambassador Chakravarti mentioned the difficulty could possibly be solved by linking Teesta and Jamuna by way of a canal.

“Many rivers in Assam fall into the Brahmaputra after which your complete quantity of water flows into Bangladesh and thence into the ocean, typically inflicting floods through the Monsoon. So my suggestion is construct a canal from there to the Teesta and re-circulate the water,” he mentioned.

Within the course of, the water quantity is elevated, and there may be potential for irrigating the inter-riverine space and producing electrical energy, he mentioned including that your complete canal can be in Bangladesh.

To a query, he mentioned Bangladesh has a number of benefits over India.

“It’s mono-lingual whilst a multi-ethnic society. So, there are fewer social conflicts (in comparison with India). It additionally historically has a tradition of mutual help and toleration. The Baul-Fakiri custom grew up there,” he mentioned.

The Awami League authorities of Sheikh Hasina has been far stronger and extra proactive in coping with non secular conflicts there, Chakravarti mentioned.

“Each time we hear of any atrocity on minorities, it’s shortly adopted by authorities motion to stop its unfold and by civil society protests,” he mentioned.

One other drawback of Bangladesh is it doesn’t have sufficient dry land as greater than 50 rivers stream by way of it other than their smaller channels and distributaries.

Local weather change and rise of the ocean degree are additionally main points, the previous diplomat mentioned.

“Bangladesh has offered ability coaching and is exporting its manpower to the extent doable as they don’t have sufficient land to dwell on,” he mentioned including that West Bengal and lots of Indian states can take a cue from that.