Dr. A K Abdul Momen
As a Foreign Minister, I introduced 3 policy packages and these were (1) Economic Diplomacy, (2) Public Diplomacy, and (3) Regional Peace and Stability packages.
Bangladesh has 3 major resources and these are (1) large young manpower, (2) plenty of waters, (3) limited but fertile land. In addition, its geo-strategic location, in-between two great emerging economies; China and India — itself a great resource. It has another strategic advantage, Bangladesh is a bridge between East Asia or ASEAN and South Asia.
Economic Diplomacy
In order to utilize our demographic dividend and to create gainful job opportunities for our large manpower, I introduced three policy packages and these are (1) Economic Diplomacy, (2) Public Diplomacy, and (3) Regional Peace and Stability packages.
Economic diplomacy has five components and these are (1) more investments to create jobs, to make Bangladesh a ‘manufacturing hub’ of the world. For more investment, it needs more FDI and diversity of portfolio, (2) increase exports and to diversify its export basket. Since there is positive correlation between inward FDI and export growth, we emphasize it. (3) gainful employment of our manpower both home and abroad. In order to achieve it, Sheikh Hasina government set up Skills Training Centers in each district. (4) technology transfer: acquire knowledge and technology (a) to reduce river erosion and improve cost effective year-round river navigation, (b) utilize its waters to become global supplier of fresh drinking water and freshwater fish all across the world, plus (c) introduce superior technology like digital technologies to reduce corruption and system loss, and 5) providing quality services in all our missions.
To reinforce our economic diplomacy, I introduced Public Diplomacy and created a PD Wing in the Ministry plus set up Bangabandhu Corners in our missions abroad. These offices were designed to educate our stakeholders with the potential of investment opportunities in Bangladesh in partnership and collaboration with foreign Think Tank, Academia, Clubs, Civil Societies, Business associations, and of course, media similar to that of now defunct USIS Information Center of 1960s. Idea is, without a positive perception about the country and its people, business houses may not be interested to invest. For example, behind largescale American investment in Ireland or a few European countries is their superior work ethic based on Catholic religion. Therefore, it is essential to promote the business potential of Bangladesh plus an understanding that our laborforce even if not highly educated yet they have (i) strong work ethics, (ii) they are hard working and (iii) most important, quick learners.
Regional Peace and Stability: the historical evidence shows that national and regional peace and stability are essential to attract investment both domestic and foreign. Therefore, to improve and maintain “Regional Peace and Stability“ as a vehicle of mutual economic development, mutual welfare of people and also to keep the big powers from initiating any ‘proxy war’ in our Asia-Pacific region or in our backyard, I introduced my “regional peace and stability’ doctrine. This strategy is more imperative in the context of Indian subcontinent as there are varieties of sensitive and religious issues that may cloud the goal of national and regional peace and stability abruptly.
Middle East is rich in resources yet due to ‘proxy wars’ their economy and stability is uncertain. Europe enjoyed regional peace and stability ever since WWII and they all achieved great successes. But due to recent Ukraine war, a ‘proxy war’ between USA and Russian Federation, their economies have started finding difficulties. German Foreign Minister confided to me privately at the Munich Security Conference that abandonment of Nord I and II gas pipelines would badly affect smooth flow of energy to Germany. The Hungerian Foreign Minister, a NATO member, apologized that they couldn’t go along with NATO as two-third of their energy supply comes from Russia. Germany has a big economy and it can absorb loss, he added but Hungary cannot. Their national interest played a bigger role in maintaining their relationship with Russia. Are we going to observe the same in Bangladesh-India relationship? Will pragmatism supercede emotions?
Singapore and UAE prospered rapidly because of their (1) national and (2) regional peace and stability. Anyone interested to invest irrespective of his/her nationality, race, ethnicity, religion or political opinion, they are most welcome to invest in their countries. They have become global Hub for their smart policies.
Bangladesh under Hasina government tried to strengthen regional peace and stability for rapid growth and wellbeing of its people. Bangladesh became a Hub of Connectivity as she believed that ‘connectivity is productivity’.
Unfortunately, the Interim Government of Nobel Laureate Mohammed Yunus and a few hawks are now trying to destroy both the national and regional peace and stability. By destroying many well established institutions including the judiciary, the Public Service Commission, the local government institutions, the schools and colleges, political institutions, the parliament, abrupt actions on religious minorities and strict control of opposition media are undermining national unity and stability. Under his iron-clad control of media, (although he often publicly says media is free) and especially jihad on foreign media, rumors and social media have become more pervasive, juicy and attractive.
Reportedly in order to divert public opinion from unabated price hike, closure and infighting in schools and colleges, decline of economic activities, alarming unemployment, closure of RMG factories, export loss, impending food insecurity, shortfall in revenue collection, rise of poverty level, and wild abuse of judiciary and security forces, India bashing strategy has been meticulously initiated. But instead of diverting attention, it is in fact, destroying national and regional peace and stability and creating more uncertainty. MODI’s credit rating has gone down and both domestic and foreign investment sharply declined. The students who fought for better jobs may end up with less job as the economy is declining.
It may be because as four months have passed, lawlessness and anarchy is still wild and pervasive in Bangladesh. Prices of essentials are still sky high beyond the reach of common people. Abuse of judiciary and police regulations and filing of thousands of false and fabricated murder cases against innocent citizens without any investigation are the hallmark of Yunus government. His government is still failing to drop all the false murder charges against innocent people although they accepted the wrong doing. Rather these false cases have become a lucrative tool of extortion of money and harassment.
Instead of taking corrective actions, he attempted to form an interim all-party political government. Critics think it is an attempt to prolong his stay in power and also to marginalize BNP, the 2nd largest political party of Bangladesh. Therefore, they are demanding an immediate announcement of an election roadmap and allowing all political parties to participate in the upcoming free and fair election guaranteeing level playing field to all parties to improve the situation.
To reduce hostilities and more killings, some argue that he can follow President Nelson Mandela of South Africa. Instead of a divisive crime against humanity tribunal that does not meet the UN Genocide criteria, he can look into a Truth Commission for national unity.
Third, reform is a dynamic process and it should be done with proactive participation of people. Otherwise, these reforms will not be sustainable. Therefore, excuse of reforms must not delay the smooth transfer of power to an elected government.
Finally, our Foreign Adviser once said, ‘we don’t know who is running the government’. So the bigger question is, will Nobel Laureate’s meticulously designed policies to create internal and regional chaos and rise of fundamentalism making room for a ‘proxy war’ in the region to deter the rapid growth of the emerging economies of Asia? Will it be good for Bangladesh and the region?
Dr. A K Abdul Momen
Former Foreign Minister of Bangladesh
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