The Hindu : U.S. urges Dhaka to export gas

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Mar 14, 2002

International

International

U.S. urges Dhaka to export gas

By Haroon Habib

DHAKA, March 13. Despite a renewed suggestion by the U.S. that Bangladesh should export its natural gas, the Begum Khaleda Zia Government seems unlikely to take an immediate decision on the issue.

The U.S. Assistant Secretary of State, Ms. Christina Rocca, who ended her two-day visit to Dhaka on Tuesday as the first high-level American official to meet the new Government, opined that it was in the interests of Bangladesh to make a "positive decision'' on gas export "to broaden its investment base and woo U.S. entrepreneurs''.

Ms Rocca, during her meetings with the Prime Minister, the Foreign Minister, Morshed Khan, and Leader of the Opposition, Sheikh Hasina, reportedly emphasised the issue of gas export. However, she did not receive any response. Ms Rocca said any decision taken by Bangladesh on the issue would not affect Dhaka-Washington ties. ``The gas issue would not create any impact on bilateral ties between the two countries'', she said.

Ms Rocca, while asking for more cooperation from Bangladesh, has discounted the possibility of the country receiving any special economic benefits from the U.S. for its strong support to the anti-terror campaign. "You joined the anti-terror coalition on your own accord. There were no terms or strings attached''.

The Khaleda Government, which appointed two study teams to make recommendations on gas export, now seems to be tight lipped although some senior policy makers are in favour of exporting gas.

On duty-free access for Bangladesh readymade garments to the U.S. market, a concession that this country has been requesting for long, Ms Rocca termed the issue as ``a difficult subject'', explaining the decision would not be taken by the executive branch but the U.S. Congress. Besides, there was some opposition from the domestic textile sector, she said.

During her talks with Ms Rocca, Begum Khaleda Zia emphasised the need to keep the U.S. market open for Bangladesh garments, as much of the country's economy depended on it. The U.S. official was optimistic that Bangladesh would send its troops to Afghanistan for peace-keeping.

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