What we need is an inclusive global order based on rule of law and effective participation by all nations to address emerging challenges

- Ambassador M. Huyamun Kabir, Bangladesh Embassy , Nepal

M. Humayun Kabir, Ambassador of Bangladesh in Nepal is a career diplomat. Prior to this, he has been the Director-General (SAARC) Wing in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dhaka. During his stint in the Ministry he also served as Director-General UN Wing, Europe Wing and South Asia Wing in the Ministry. Mr. Kabir was Charge d’ Affaires a.i. of Bangladesh for a short period of time in Kathmandu during the last SAARC Summit in January 2002. It was around this time that we were introduced to each other.

Earlier, he was Bangladesh Deputy High Commissioner in Kolkata, India from 1999-2001.

During his long career in the Bangladesh Foreign Service, Mr. Kabir has served in a number of important bilateral as well as multilateral diplomatic positions. He has served his country in various capacities in different countries. He diplomatic journey begins from his assignment as Second Secretary in the Bangladesh Embassy in Washington in 1987 and after completing a long tour to different countries, he is in Kathmandu as Bangladesh Ambassador to Nepali Court.

Mr. Kabir received a number of professional training, both at home and abroad. Apart from successfully completing the foundation as well as the diplomatic training in Dhaka, he learnt French language in CAVILAM, Vichy, France and completed diplomatic training in the IIAP, Paris in 1983-84. He also successfully completed an international law course at the Academy of International Law and the International Court of Justice, the Hague, the Netherlands in 1984.

Ambassador Kabir is fluent in Hindi, English and hopefully in French language as well. Let’s hope that he is learning Nepali as well.

Mr. Kabir completed B.A(Hons) degree in the Department of Political Science, University of Dhaka in 1975. Having placed himself first in first class in M.A. in the Department of Political Science in 1976, he did his post graduate DESS degree on International Organizations and Multilateral Diplomacy from the University of Paris-XI in 1983-84. He has also been a doctoral fellow of Modern World History at St. John’s University, New York during 1998-99 academic year. He has become a Law graduate (LL.B) from the University of Dhaka in 1981.

Mr. Kabir has written a number of articles on international relations, with particular focus on the multi-lateral diplomacy and negotiations.

He is active. Has a mission to expand Nepal-Bangladesh ties in practically all the possible sectors. He is interested in making academic exchanges possible. However, he doesn’t talk of such exchanges from the media sector.

Let’s hope that during his stint in Nepal, Nepal-B’desh ties will attain a new height.

Last week, I approached this suave diplomat for an interview. Below the results: Chief Editor

TGQ1:To begin with, how you, Excellency the Ambassador, would assess the present state of Nepal-Bangladesh bilateral relations ? Intellectuals in Nepal concluded that being a close door neighbour, Nepal and Bangladesh should have by this time forged an all pervasive relations practically at all levels. Sadly it is not that.

What could have been the reason behind this ? Would you propose some mechanisms to deal with this situation ? Tour remarks please.

H. E. Kabir: The present state of bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Nepal is good. However, there is enough scope to further widen and deepen relations for mutual benefit. We are currently engaged precisely in this pursuit. On the political plane interactions on high political level have grown during the last few years. Hon’ble Prime Minister of Bangladesh Begum Khaleda Zia visited Kathmandu during the 11th SAARC Summit in January 2002 and had useful exchange of views with the then Nepalese Prime Minister. On his part, Hon’ble Prime Minister of Nepal as the Chairman of SAARC visited Dhaka in last December and had discussions on issues of bilateral and regional interest. At the ministerial level, a number of visits took place during the recent months. Hon’ble Nepalese Minister for Physical Planning and Works Mr. Buddhiman Tamang visited Dhaka in the last September. Hon’ble Minister for Water Resources of Bangladesh Mr. Hafiz Uddin, BB visited Kathmandu in January 2004 followed by the visit of Hon’ble Minister for Commerce of Bangladesh in March 2004. Official level interactions have also continued during this period. Bilateral consultations at Foreign Secretary level between Bangladesh and Nepal will take place soon.

On the economic front, new momentum has been generated. Both sides recognize complementarities in their economies and the need to further strengthen bilateral economic interactions. From our perspective, we believe, we can focus on three areas to energize bilateral economic interactions. First, we can improve the volume of trade between Bangladesh and Nepal. A number of policy initiatives are being considered to promote this objective. In their recent meeting on 8th March 2004 in Kathmandu the Hon’ble Commerce Ministers of Bangladesh and Nepal agreed on the need to accelerate this process. They have also agreed that a Joint Secretary level meeting of the Commerce Ministries of both countries should take place soon to explore these possibilities. Policy guidance had also been received from the Hon’ble Prime Ministers when they met in Dhaka on 18th December 2003 for opening negotiations on the bilateral free trade agreement. After the signing of framework agreement on SAFTA in Islamabad a better environment has been created to also pursue bilateral FTA. We believe that all these initiatives will contribute to enhance meaningful trade interactions between Bangladesh and Nepal.

Second, there is a great scope for undertaking joint venture projects on both sides. Bangladesh is already in some projects in Nepal and we invite Nepalese entrepreneurs to explore the possibility of investing in joint venture projects in Bangladesh. Chemical fertilizer, Tourism, Agro-based industries could be areas, among others for Nepalese investors to consider.

Third, transit support to Nepal is another area that could be gainfully explored. Construction of a full fledged land port at Banglabandha is almost complete and will be inaugurated soon. In addition, Bangladesh has granted special facilities to Nepal for the use of Mongla Port for its external trade. Hon’ble Commerce Ministers of Bangladesh and Nepal during their recent meeting have also agreed, in principle, to introduce Dhaka-Kathmandu Bus service as soon as possible. Nepalese business leaders have shown some interest to use Chittagong Port. I believe that if they are interested this issue could be discussed at appropriate forum.

We are also encouraged by the interest taken by Business Community in Nepal and Bangladesh to promote economic interactions between Bangladesh and Nepal. FNCCI and CNI delegations visited Bangladesh in last January and signed two MOUs with their counterparts in Bangladesh. A Women Entrepreneur group from Nepal is currently visiting Bangladesh to explore areas of co-operation.

Consistent with our priority on economic diplomacy, Bangladesh Embassy in Kathmandu is in constant contact with the Business Community in Kathmandu and outside. Bangladesh Embassy and CNI already formed a Taskforce to identify problems in bilateral trade with a view to emerging our economic co-operation and suggest remedies. We have also agreed to set-up a Bangladesh Business Information Center in Morang Chamber of Industry in Biratnagar and Bangladesh Information Desk at Birgunj Chamber of Commerce and Industry. We believe that more flow of information will facilitate more economic interactions.

We also engaged to expand the scope for cultural and academic exchanges between Bangladesh and Nepal. About 700 to 800 Nepali students are currently studying in Bangladesh and we believe that this number could go up if we could mobilize our Private Universities to take more Nepali students. It may be mentioned that in Bangladesh there are more than 50(fifty) Private Universities which are contributing to developing human resources in the country. We are also anticipating more focused exchange program between higher academic institutions in Bangladesh and Nepal. In sum, what we are trying to do is to build a sustainable structure and mechanism with a view to giving qualitative lift to bilateral relationship between Bangladesh and Nepal.

TGQ2:We in the SAARC talk much and the results are not that much encouraging, as it should have been. Your country being the next Chair of the SAARC organizations, what plans do you have in order to hasten the progress on areas wherein we all the members have agreed to ?

South Asian Growth Quadrangle was formed some years ago with many fanfares. However, the idea, though a rewarding one, couldn’t move as was expected of it. Where lies the hitch ?

H.E.Kabir: Bangladesh is happy with the outcome of the 12th SAARC Summit and we believe that enough positive momentum has been created to accelerate the process of regional co-operation within the framework of SAARC. Bangladesh, as the next host of the SAARC Summit, is ready to contribute to this process. Implementing the Road Map for poverty alleviation, SAFTA, Social Charter and to make the organization more result oriented, among others, could be our focus. Some progress has been made on the concept of South Asian Growth Quadrangle. Some study has already been done to identify areas of co-operation in this regard and it is encouraging that Government-Private sector co-operation is developing in this area. The Asian Development Bank has decided to earmark funds for promotion of tourism among the countries involved in this quadrangle. With SAARC process gaining momentum, a favourable climate has also been created to pursue co-operation at the sub-regional level.

TGQ3:Nepal and Bangladesh both are now members of SAARC and BIMSTEC. Could you tell us Excellency as to how we both in a less developed stage comparatively speaking could benefit from SAFTA and the arrangements provided by the BIMSTEC organization?

H.E.Kabir: SAFTA is a framework for broader co-operation among thee members of SAARC. While duty reduction and eventual waiver is an important element, other complementary measures, such as removal of non-tariff and para-tariff barriers, harmonization of customs procedure, documentation and investment on a regional basis, among others, are equally important elements to make the process meaningful to all member states. In addition, it is perhaps necessary to identify relative strength of member states and exchange advantages and build on specialization each member state possesses. This will create a new dimension of co-operation based on strength of each member state. Bangladesh and Nepal could perhaps co-ordinate their positions as LDCs within the framework of SAFTA and at the same time identify new areas of co-operation based on mutual advantages. Bangladesh welcomed Nepalese entry into BIMSTEC and we are ready to provide suitable support to Nepal for getting access to broader market opportunities, keeping in view the geographical location of Nepal.

TGQ4:We have been told that Bangladesh has been opposing the very idea pushed by India on the River Linking Project. Nepali intellectuals too have been opposing this Indian proposal but then Nepal has yet to take a decision in this regard. Could you tell us how this Indian idea would harm the legitimate interests of Nepal and your country ?

H.E.Kabir: Bangladesh has formally registered its opposition to River Linking plan proposed by India during the last Joint River Commission(JRC) meeting between Bangladesh and India in New Delhi last September. Hon’ble Minister for Water Resources during his recent visit to Kathmandu reiterated Bangladesh’s concern in this regard and urged India not to proceed with such plan. At the civil society level in Bangladesh there is a great concern that such a project would divert water from rivers in Bangladesh, which will certainly have serious adverse affect on Bangladesh. Besides, threat of desertification of large part of Bangladesh, which is dependent on major river systems, sources of portable water and for irrigation will dry up, salinity will increase and other ecological disasters may take place. Bangladesh firmly believes that since most of the major rivers flowing through Bangladesh are common rivers among Bangladesh, Nepal and India a regional approach would be most effective to harness water resources for the benefit of people in these countries.

TGQ5:After the sad incident of 9/11 a section of academicians argued the world claim that a sort of clash of civilization has begun in between some sets of religion. How would you comment on this issue ?

H.E.Kabir: This a too skeptical view of global situation. While such ideas have been articulated by certain intellectuals in the West, an alternative version of co-operation and understanding has also been articulated. Perhaps, there is an urgent need now to intensify efforts to energize the process of dialogue among nations for fostering better understanding on global diversity and pluralism and ensure that the process of globalization benefits the common people. What we need is an inclusive global order based on rule of law and effective participation by all nations, so that emerging challenges could be addressed collectively.

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