Date:02/08/2002 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2002/08/02/stories/2002080204221200.htm

National

Decision on gas export only after examining reserves: Bangladesh

By Sushma Ramachandran

NEW DELHI Aug. 1. Bangladesh may ultimately export a "moderate'' quantity of natural gas to India, but it will take some time for a final decision to be taken on the issue. According to the Bangladesh High Commissioner, Tufail Haider, the question will arise only after a view is taken on the extent of gas reserves in his country.

Speaking to The Hindu, he said that many questions were being raised here about gas supply from Bangladesh, but expert committee reports on its export were still being considered. Besides, the issue of gas reserves had been politicised and Dhaka had to take into account the sensitivities of its people.

However, Bangladesh had no intention of taking an "anti-Indian'' stance either on the gas export issue or other factors, Mr. Haider said. He recognised that there was a demand for energy in India and that Bangladesh had the reserves, which could possibly be utilised to meet this demand. The ultimate solution could lie in the export of "moderate" quantity of gas, after ensuring that domestic requirements were fully met.

Highlighting the need to satisfy the people back home that gas was not being sold cheaply, Mr. Haider said that when exploration for hydrocarbons began in Bangladesh, it was expected that oil would also be found. Since only gas had been discovered, there was a sense of disappointment, coupled with apprehension over its utilisation.

Earlier, addressing a meeting organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry, Mr. Haider regretted that India had not been able to resolve the issue of reducing tariff barriers on 25 product lines. Though a decision had been announced at the political level, tariff reduction as well as removal of non-tariff barriers remained a non-starter at ``other levels.''

The Sri Lankan High Commissioner, Mangala Moonesinghe, stressed the need for the South Asian countries to function in a spirit of cooperation rather than confrontation. Citing the success of the Indo-Sri Lanka free trade treaty, he said that the reality of India being the most important player in the subcontinent had to be accepted, if the region was to progress.

Pointing to the success of the European Union with its differing cultures, he felt that there was no reason why the South Asian nations could not work together. By giving up its oil tankages to India, Sri Lanka had actually forfeited a measure of sovereignty but it was meant to ensure protection for the vital installations.