Cover Story
Get What We Desire!
Pakistan and Bangladesh will continue to be sovereign nations, but nothing should stop them from being formidable partners for their citizens, the region, and the world.
Phobophobia is embedded in most of the world leaders who, despite ruling with an iron hand, are filled with insecurities, malice, and viciousness. Firmly holding on to their power seats, they create what to them seems an impenetrable cordon of armed personnel, sycophants, and kinfolk. The façade of obeisance displayed by those around them emboldens them with oozing haughtiness, a pompous sense of superiority, and arrogant invincibility. Shaikh Hasina Wajid was the epitome of these leaders.
A moment comes when the grandiose structure comes falling down. It’s always an eventuality, but vanity precludes any such belief in the convictions of these leaders. Like Samson, who used his strength to destroy the Temple of Dagon, the Students Movement and the oppressed citizens planned to destroy the pillars that held up the authoritarian Hasina Wajid government. That moment came at a steep price for the citizens, but the outcome was deliverance from the dictator. The lady flew the nest, and within hours or days, a fast-track transformation took place in the corridors of power, in the private sector, and in the lanes and streets.
The unceremonious exit of the Pakistan-hating Prime Minister, who did all she could to maintain a wedge between the erstwhile two wings of undivided Pakistan, enabled the new dispensation in Dhaka to reconnect with Islamabad. Removing the scars of 1971, the new administration signaled close and fraternal relations. Confidence-building measures, such as removal of red tape for visa seekers, allowing the first direct ship from Pakistan to unload cargo, strong possibility of massive tea exports to Pakistan, increased exports of clinker from Pakistan, and at the same time, joint collaboration and representation at world forums, etc.
Now, the time is opportune for the private sector of both nations to forge a charter for bilateral trade and investment. Both South Asian countries should agree that regional trade is always a pragmatic way to enhance this cooperation. No country in the world produces all its requirements, and both these countries have a demand for products, services, and commodities. Bangladesh is a big importer of Pakistani cotton yarn, and there is potential for exporting more. However, Pakistan imports cotton and cotton yarn. Therefore, cotton yarn should not be the only option. Take salt, for example. The floods devastated the salt production in Bangladesh, while Pakistan has substantial reserves. Very sensibly, the buyers have started contacting their counterparts in Pakistan. Since Pakistan is a major importer of soybean seeds for extraction, the Bangladeshis want a large and continuous quantity of soybean oil. Poultry is a big business there, and the requirement for soybean meal, which is a by-product after extraction, is also considerable because 18-20% of poultry feed comprises this meal. Pakistan has a surplus even after catering to the local poultry sector, so the possibility of exporting to Bangladesh is high. Pharmaceuticals from Pakistan can make further inroads, too. What is most needed is the joint collaboration of software developers, freelancers, and other information technology companies.
Pakistan and Bangladesh are signatories of the South Asian Preferential Trade Agreement (SAPTA) that was agreed by SAARC countries on 11 April 1993 and the South Asian Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA) on 06 January 2004. Notwithstanding the enthusiasm generated by the leaders of SAARC, regional dynamics negatively impacted the importance of these agreements. Both countries are poles apart in negotiating a future FTA. Nowadays, FTA is not just about facilitative bilateral trade and the advantages of import duties. Today, the focus of modern FTAs has shifted dramatically from the traditional emphasis on market access to other measures such as services, investment, competition policy, intellectual property rights, government procurement, state trading enterprises, labor, environment, etc. The possibilities are manifold.
The Maritime Economic Corridor, considering the Gwadar Port in Balochistan, the Hambantota Port of Sri Lanka, and the reports of China building a dry dock on a submarine base in Bangladesh, would increase Chinese influence and trade in the region.
There is another positive sign in play. China’s growing footprints in Bangladesh should bring the two South Asian nations closer. Nepal wants to shed its over-dependence on India by linking up with China. Sri Lanka has developed strong ties with China, too. The Maldives is taking advantage of Chinese support. Of course, relations between Pakistan and China are traditional. The Chinese factor would inevitably attract a multilateral bond between SAARC countries without India’s overdue brinkmanship. This bodes well and would be the cornucopia of fraternal ties and relationships since the regional trade dynamics would be favorable for all. South Asia is one of the world’s least integrated and connected regions. The Maritime Economic Corridor, considering the Gwadar Port in Balochistan, the Hambantota Port of Sri Lanka, and the reports of China building a dry dock on a submarine base in Bangladesh, would increase Chinese influence and trade in the region. Thus, there are avenues for strengthening and deepening future cooperation amongst the SAARC States, including in the sectors of trade, investment, and development, and the importance of fostering cooperation in other sectors, particularly in defense, science, technology, and innovation, through the support of, and coordination by Beijing. Maybe in the near future, there could be a South Asian Multilateral Agreement (SAMA) that could replace SAFTA.
There is obviously a lot more positivity among the people of Bangladesh and Pakistan. There are sweet memories of the past and even some that are painful to recall. But life goes on. The governments of both nations must create an environment of forgetting what happened in 1971 and work towards a glorious future. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Bangabandhu of Bangladesh, once stated, “If we had stayed in Pakistan, it would be a strong country. But, then, in life, do we always get what we desire?” Pakistan and Bangladesh will continue to be sovereign nations, but nothing should stop them from being formidable partners for the sake of their citizens, the region, and the world.
The writer is the former President of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
A New Beginning
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