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Boucher’s visit to Dhaka

10 February, 2009 12:10:00 editor
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During his visit to Bangladesh, US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Richard Boucher remained tight lipped on two issues that interest Dhaka most - duty free access to American markets for Bangladesh Ready Made Garments (RMGs) and a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (Tifa). He, however, promised technical help to demarcate the continental shelf over which Bangladesh has a dispute with India and Myanmar.

US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Richard Boucher was on a ‘routine’ visit to Bangladesh the past week. Besides meeting government leaders, including the prime minister, he talked to the leader of the opposition, Khaleda Zia, who holds the key for success and strengthening of democratic institutions in the country.  She reportedly assured the American official that her BNP, notwithstanding its reservations on the poll out come, will be ready to deepen democracy.

Boucher has spoken of possible US assistance to Bangladesh in protecting its mineral-rich sea regions. Bangladesh has not yet clearly demarcated its maritime boundary as also continental shelf. It has problem with India and Myanmar and both countries reject Dhaka’s stand that its shelf be measured from where its coastline is navigable and not choked with riverine effluvium.  

Bangladesh has a concave coast which reduces its continental shelf if the line is drawn from the coast. India on the other hand has a convex coast and naturally gets a larger share of continental shelf.  

Another ‘glitch’ is an island which has appeared some years ago in the Bay of Bengal composed of drifting sift.  This two-sq mile island is two miles from India and five from Bangladesh.

The Boucher proposal is still in a nebulous stage. Dhaka has to look at the offer more deeply. For it, an early priority is forward movement by America on duty-free access to Bangladesh Ready Made Garments (RMGs). Boucher was silent on the demand as also on a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (Tifa).

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