The Hindu : Gas supply a political issue: Bangladesh Minister

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, May 21, 2003

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Gas supply a political issue: Bangladesh Minister

By Amit Baruah

NEW DELHI May 20. The Bangladesh Finance Minister, M. Saifur Rehman, was non-committal about the possibility of gas from Myanmar being taken through Bangladeshi waters to India.

Speaking at a CII function, Mr. Rehman said he was not in a position to give an answer to the proposition since it involved the defence and gas authorities.

On the possibility of Bangladesh exporting gas to India, Mr. Rehman admitted candidly that this was a political issue back home. Pointing to the competitive political culture in Bangladesh, he however, said that an asset was an asset as long as it was used.

On the resumption of railway links through Tripura to Bangladesh, Mr. Rehman stated that there was no reason why this link should not be restored. However, he made it clear that "transit" was a separate issue. The Finance Minister pointed to the "ups and downs" in the relationship between India and Bangladesh. Other parts of the world were moving forward, but South Asia remained stuck. Not blaming India "completely" for the current state of affairs, he suggested that while small countries becoming "jumpy" could be understood, the bigger power should not do the same. Making it clear that Bangladesh was not buying from India out of any feeling of "love", Mr. Rehman said Dhaka was concerned that India did not extend "reciprocity" in trade issues.

Mr. Rehman, who is scheduled to call on the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, and hold discussions with the Finance, External Affairs and Commerce Ministers, is said to be the "number two" in the Khaleda Zia Government.

Referring to the alleged "special relationship" that India was said to enjoy with the previous Awami League Government, the Finance Minister said he was not concerned about the description of the relationship, but that it should be governed by market forces. Mr. Rehman said he had been "personally encouraged" by the initiative that the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, had taken to mend fences with Pakistan.

While others in the world were uniting, "we (in South Asia) were dividing". Referring to the contact process between India and Pakistan, he said there would be roadblocks from both sides. There was, Mr. Rehman stressed, a need to create a congenial, macro-economic environment.

Admitting that he was under "tremendous pressure" to put additional duties on goods coming from India, Mr. Rehman suggested that the two countries could go in for joint ventures.

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