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Bangladesh welcomes Indian investment in Chittagong: Foreign minister
Manas Paul, TNN, Nov 11, 2010, 06.34pm IST
AGARTALA: Bangladesh would welcome Indian investment in developing Chittagong port as well as deep sea port at Sonadia Island in the Bay of Bengal, said Bangladesh foreign minister Dr Dipu Mani. At present China is bidding for the two projects which, experts feel, is Beijing's geo strategic String of Pearls policy.
"Why only China, we want all our neighbours to take part in developing Chittagong port and Sonadia Island. And that includes India too", said Dipu Mani. She was addressing a press conference in Agartala after laying the foundation stone of a massive Bangladesh War Memorial at Chottakhola in South Tripura from where in Mukti Yuddhas ( Liberation Fighters ) used to sneak into East Pakistan for guerrilla warfare in 1971.
"We also want other countries like Nepal and Bhutan to use our ports", she said.
Chittagong port assumes strategic importance due to its location in Bangladesh seas with Myanmar and India close by. Sonadia Island is about seven km off the Cox Bazaar. During her visit to Beijing in March last Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had approached China to invest in her country. China readily agreed and revived the old plans for Kunming to Chittagong via Myanmar tri nation Highway and also mooted the idea of developing the two ports. Recently, Myanmar also gave a green signal to China for construction of the road.
"The proposals for Kunming-Myanmar-Chittagong road and ports development by China are there but no final decision in this regard has yet been taken. But we are positive in our approach", she said. "It would be good if Indian support also comes for these ports", added Bangladesh foreign minister.
The Chinese inroads into Bangladesh infrastructure and trade and business sectors-with about 186 Chinese investment proposals worth $ 320 million registered with 'Board of Investment' till first half of the year rang an alarm bell in the Indian establishments. Chinese foray into Chittagong port, many observed, would make it another Hambantota in Southern Sri Lanka. China is also actively involved in Kyakpiu port in Myanmar and is building a road and oil-gas pipeline from there up to Kunming. Kyakpiu is also very close to Chittagong.
No Indian agency took part in the bidding for Sri Lankan Hambantota port, which ultimately went to Beijing.
In this backdrop, Bangladesh foreign minister's indication that Dhaka would happily agree to Indian involvement in Chittagong and also in Sonadia Island is considered a significant development.
Dipu Mani also reiterated both governments' pledge for strong Indo-Bangla relations.
"Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had categorically said our land would not be allowed to commit any anti Indian, for that matter any terrorist activities. We are committed to this pledge and our security establishments are working in tandem at bilateral, regional and international level. There is continuous and uninhibited exchange of information at these three layers through various mechanisms", she said adding that despite absence of extradition treaty between the two countries special measures for pushing back the Indian insurgents could always be an option. Mani however indicated that if necessary both the countries could sign the extradition treaty at any moment to expedite smooth exchange of criminals and terrorists.
Bangladesh foreign minister also pointed out that there was an important breakthrough on Wednesday regarding the standoff on disputed enclaves between the two countries.
When her attention was drawn to the disputed 162 enclaves-of them 111 in Indian side and 51 in Bangladesh side, Dipu Mani said the issue was discussed during Sheikh Hasina's visit to India in January last. Accordingly, the Joint border working group formed to look into the matter held a meeting on Wednesday. "I was informed that there was indeed a great success in the meeting", she said and sought to dispel the confusion on resolving issues relating to common rivers and 6.5 kms of un-demarcated border.
Read more: Bangladesh welcomes Indian investment in Chittagong: Foreign minister - The Times of India Bangladesh welcomes Indian investment in Chittagong: Foreign minister - The Times of India
Manas Paul, TNN, Nov 11, 2010, 06.34pm IST
AGARTALA: Bangladesh would welcome Indian investment in developing Chittagong port as well as deep sea port at Sonadia Island in the Bay of Bengal, said Bangladesh foreign minister Dr Dipu Mani. At present China is bidding for the two projects which, experts feel, is Beijing's geo strategic String of Pearls policy.
"Why only China, we want all our neighbours to take part in developing Chittagong port and Sonadia Island. And that includes India too", said Dipu Mani. She was addressing a press conference in Agartala after laying the foundation stone of a massive Bangladesh War Memorial at Chottakhola in South Tripura from where in Mukti Yuddhas ( Liberation Fighters ) used to sneak into East Pakistan for guerrilla warfare in 1971.
"We also want other countries like Nepal and Bhutan to use our ports", she said.
Chittagong port assumes strategic importance due to its location in Bangladesh seas with Myanmar and India close by. Sonadia Island is about seven km off the Cox Bazaar. During her visit to Beijing in March last Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had approached China to invest in her country. China readily agreed and revived the old plans for Kunming to Chittagong via Myanmar tri nation Highway and also mooted the idea of developing the two ports. Recently, Myanmar also gave a green signal to China for construction of the road.
"The proposals for Kunming-Myanmar-Chittagong road and ports development by China are there but no final decision in this regard has yet been taken. But we are positive in our approach", she said. "It would be good if Indian support also comes for these ports", added Bangladesh foreign minister.
The Chinese inroads into Bangladesh infrastructure and trade and business sectors-with about 186 Chinese investment proposals worth $ 320 million registered with 'Board of Investment' till first half of the year rang an alarm bell in the Indian establishments. Chinese foray into Chittagong port, many observed, would make it another Hambantota in Southern Sri Lanka. China is also actively involved in Kyakpiu port in Myanmar and is building a road and oil-gas pipeline from there up to Kunming. Kyakpiu is also very close to Chittagong.
No Indian agency took part in the bidding for Sri Lankan Hambantota port, which ultimately went to Beijing.
In this backdrop, Bangladesh foreign minister's indication that Dhaka would happily agree to Indian involvement in Chittagong and also in Sonadia Island is considered a significant development.
Dipu Mani also reiterated both governments' pledge for strong Indo-Bangla relations.
"Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had categorically said our land would not be allowed to commit any anti Indian, for that matter any terrorist activities. We are committed to this pledge and our security establishments are working in tandem at bilateral, regional and international level. There is continuous and uninhibited exchange of information at these three layers through various mechanisms", she said adding that despite absence of extradition treaty between the two countries special measures for pushing back the Indian insurgents could always be an option. Mani however indicated that if necessary both the countries could sign the extradition treaty at any moment to expedite smooth exchange of criminals and terrorists.
Bangladesh foreign minister also pointed out that there was an important breakthrough on Wednesday regarding the standoff on disputed enclaves between the two countries.
When her attention was drawn to the disputed 162 enclaves-of them 111 in Indian side and 51 in Bangladesh side, Dipu Mani said the issue was discussed during Sheikh Hasina's visit to India in January last. Accordingly, the Joint border working group formed to look into the matter held a meeting on Wednesday. "I was informed that there was indeed a great success in the meeting", she said and sought to dispel the confusion on resolving issues relating to common rivers and 6.5 kms of un-demarcated border.
Read more: Bangladesh welcomes Indian investment in Chittagong: Foreign minister - The Times of India Bangladesh welcomes Indian investment in Chittagong: Foreign minister - The Times of India
