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http://www.thedailystar.net/backpage/dhaka-moves-strengthen-ties-1242451
BANGLADESH-MYANMAR RELATIONS
Dhaka moves to strengthen ties
Special envoy to visit Nay Pyi Taw at the end of this month
Diplomatic Correspondent
Bangladesh has taken a fresh move to build the best possible relations with Myanmar with the change of regime in the neighbouring country and decided to send a special envoy in Nay Pyi Taw to convey Dhaka's intention to that end.
Diplomatic sources said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is sending Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque as her special envoy, who will meet Myanmar President Htin Kyaw and Minister of President's Office and Foreign Minister Aung San Suu Kyi to renew ties for Bangladesh's strategic interests.
Haque will carry special letters from the prime minister to the Myanmar leaders conveying Dhaka's eagerness for stronger relations through holding dialogues in different areas for cooperation for the benefit of the two peoples.
The special envoy is expected to make the visit on June 30-July 1 and meet other high-profile leaders and officials. The visit also aims at giving a signal to remove misunderstanding and gap between the two neighbouring countries.
Foreign ministry officials said the premier has given the directives to engage Myanmar at the highest level, keep the channels of dialogue open, set up mechanisms to resolve border differences, strengthen confidence-building measures to prevent actual border incidents and increase trade and investment for economic development.
They said Bangladesh has been making all kinds of positive gestures as per the prime minister's directives “to build the best possible relations with Myanmar.”
They added Bangladesh has already proposed through diplomatic channels to work with Myanmar in areas of climate change, energy, agriculture, education and increase border trade and tourism.
Dhaka has also offered to increase its engagement with Myanmar's apparently disadvantageous state of Arakan and support for its economic development through import of various agro-products from the state.
Diplomatic sources said the foreign ministry officials at a meeting with the Myanmar ambassador in Bangladesh last month conveyed Dhaka's eagerness to support Arakan for its economic development.
The foreign ministry officials said Bangladesh has decided to handle Myanmar “very softly” and would not raise any issues that may irk the neighbouring country.
To remove irritants, Bangladesh last month suggested that Myanmar should not register Rohingya Muslims in their country as Bangalees or term them “illegal migrants from Bangladesh.”
On the Rohingya issue, the foreign ministry officials said Dhaka would go soft in handling the issue considering sensitivity of the matter. Dhaka has recently made a formal offer for financial assistance and expertise to Myanmar to assist it in resolving the Rohingya problem.
During the meeting with the Myanmar ambassador in Dhaka, officials said Bangladesh has expressed its readiness to allow Myanmar vessels use its inland ports as both the countries have already marked Chittagong, Mongla, Narayanganj and Teknaf ports in Bangladesh and Yangon, Pathein, Sittwe and Maungtaw ports in Myanmar for each other's use.
The two countries have re-established Dhaka-Yangon air connectivity and is now working on road and marine connectivity.
To reduce tension between the border guards of the two nations, Dhaka has also suggested signing a Memorandum of Understanding to hold regular dialogues on security matters.
Besides, the foreign ministry has been trying to convince Myanmar for more than a couple of years to create space for dialogues to build trust between the two nations.
BANGLADESH-MYANMAR RELATIONS
Dhaka moves to strengthen ties
Special envoy to visit Nay Pyi Taw at the end of this month
Diplomatic Correspondent
Bangladesh has taken a fresh move to build the best possible relations with Myanmar with the change of regime in the neighbouring country and decided to send a special envoy in Nay Pyi Taw to convey Dhaka's intention to that end.
Diplomatic sources said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is sending Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque as her special envoy, who will meet Myanmar President Htin Kyaw and Minister of President's Office and Foreign Minister Aung San Suu Kyi to renew ties for Bangladesh's strategic interests.
Haque will carry special letters from the prime minister to the Myanmar leaders conveying Dhaka's eagerness for stronger relations through holding dialogues in different areas for cooperation for the benefit of the two peoples.
The special envoy is expected to make the visit on June 30-July 1 and meet other high-profile leaders and officials. The visit also aims at giving a signal to remove misunderstanding and gap between the two neighbouring countries.
Foreign ministry officials said the premier has given the directives to engage Myanmar at the highest level, keep the channels of dialogue open, set up mechanisms to resolve border differences, strengthen confidence-building measures to prevent actual border incidents and increase trade and investment for economic development.
They said Bangladesh has been making all kinds of positive gestures as per the prime minister's directives “to build the best possible relations with Myanmar.”
They added Bangladesh has already proposed through diplomatic channels to work with Myanmar in areas of climate change, energy, agriculture, education and increase border trade and tourism.
Dhaka has also offered to increase its engagement with Myanmar's apparently disadvantageous state of Arakan and support for its economic development through import of various agro-products from the state.
Diplomatic sources said the foreign ministry officials at a meeting with the Myanmar ambassador in Bangladesh last month conveyed Dhaka's eagerness to support Arakan for its economic development.
The foreign ministry officials said Bangladesh has decided to handle Myanmar “very softly” and would not raise any issues that may irk the neighbouring country.
To remove irritants, Bangladesh last month suggested that Myanmar should not register Rohingya Muslims in their country as Bangalees or term them “illegal migrants from Bangladesh.”
On the Rohingya issue, the foreign ministry officials said Dhaka would go soft in handling the issue considering sensitivity of the matter. Dhaka has recently made a formal offer for financial assistance and expertise to Myanmar to assist it in resolving the Rohingya problem.
During the meeting with the Myanmar ambassador in Dhaka, officials said Bangladesh has expressed its readiness to allow Myanmar vessels use its inland ports as both the countries have already marked Chittagong, Mongla, Narayanganj and Teknaf ports in Bangladesh and Yangon, Pathein, Sittwe and Maungtaw ports in Myanmar for each other's use.
The two countries have re-established Dhaka-Yangon air connectivity and is now working on road and marine connectivity.
To reduce tension between the border guards of the two nations, Dhaka has also suggested signing a Memorandum of Understanding to hold regular dialogues on security matters.
Besides, the foreign ministry has been trying to convince Myanmar for more than a couple of years to create space for dialogues to build trust between the two nations.
