In policy making domain of Bangladesh, Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) with USA and transit facilities for India are the much talked about issues as Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, Richard A Boucher are scheduled to visit Bangladesh in this week.
Reports appeared in local press quoting Faruk Khan, the commerce minister, said that the government of Bangladesh has intention to sign TIFA with USA and providing transit to India.
The minister while talking about the government position on these talked about issues, said, the government would not sign any agreement contradictory to the national interest. But, Mr. Khan mentioned that government is in the final stage to strike TIFA and this will benefit the country.
On transit facilities to India, the commerce minister said that the issue is already been covered by an earlier bilateral agreement though it is not yet operational. He, however, did not find any reason to put the matter non-operational. A clause on transit to India for the use of Bangladesh’s waterways, roads and railways was included in the Indo-Bangladesh Trade Agreement of 1978, which had been renewed by all governments, including the previous BNP rule in 2006, Faruk Khan mentioned.
However, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), the largest opposition in parliament, asked the government not to sign any deals with foreign countries against national interest. BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain said government is doing this by their ‘brute majority’ in parliament. BNP general secretary advised the government not to sign TIFA with USA and transit agreement with India.
Meanwhile the state minister for foreign affairs, Hasan Mahmud, said the government was yet to decide signing the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement with the United States and providing transit facilities for India, which is contradictory to the statement made by the commerce minister.
TIFA and transit, especially the transit, are very talked about issues in Bangladesh. Even there is a debate on transit that it is a political or economical issue. People of Bangladesh expect that whatever the character of the issue is, it needs a solution soon.
Mentionable that Richard A Boucher and Pranab Mukherjee are scheduled to arrive in Bangladesh on 7th and 9th February respectively.
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