Upcoming visit of Kerry

‘Significant, but don’t read too much into it’

While the government is naturally pleased with the upcoming visit of United States Secretary of State John Kerry, experts have placed great emphasis on making the most of it by highlighting the issues important for the country.

“John Kerry is coming on August 29. He was supposed to come earlier. We are glad,” Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali told reporters after inaugurating a seminar on Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) at the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies yesterday.
All the aspects of the Dhaka-Washington bilateral relations will be discussed during the visit and preparations are on in this regard, he said.
Some officials of the foreign ministry are terming the visit a ‘diplomatic achievement’ given the divergence in the relationship regarding some issues with particular reference to the ‘controversial election’ on January 5, 2014, which was criticised by the US government.
“The visit reflects a change of heart on the part of Washington. It also reflects the maturity and depth of the relations,” a senior foreign ministry official told The Independent.
Experts, meanwhile, described the visit as very important as well as significant, but at the same time they warned against reading too much into it as the trip is taking place since Kerry will be in the region and he is at the end of his tenure constraining him from taking any major policy decisions.
They also said that the gruesome terrorist attack on a Gulshan restaurant on July 1 to some extent contributed to the decision of Kerry to undertake the visit, as the incident put Bangladesh into prominence on the face of globe for wrong reasons.

The experts hailed the government for being able to make the visit happen and said that it will help develop more political understanding between the two countries.
Experts, however, are divided on the notion that Kerry’s visit is an endorsement of the parliamentary election on January 5, 2014 through which the present government came to power.
They were also of the opinion that it is all but certain that the visit has nothing to do with any early participatory election in Bangladesh.
“It’s high time he visited Bangladesh. It is his first visit to Bangladesh,” former Foreign Secretary Ambassador Faruq Ahmed Chowdhury said.
“His visit is very significant because it is taking place at a time when Bangladesh has been put on the world map as a terrorist-stricken country due to the Gulshan incident,” he said.
The former foreign secretary praised the government for handling the situation after the incident, but emphasised, “It’s a continuous process.”
He hoped that during the visit the Bangladesh side will show skill and maturity in highlighting the issues that are important for Bangladesh.
“I think you may or may not,” said Ambassador Ashfaqur Rahman, former Secretary of the foreign ministry, when asked if people should read too much into it.
“The relation should be on the basis of give and take. And, we should make best use of the visit by highlighting our priorities including GSP,” he said.
“There is convergence and divergence in the Dhaka-Washington relationship and you have to work out a balanced way to make the relationship work,” Rahman said, adding that here diplomatic skill and maturity are needed.
“I am hopeful America will not play any prank with us,” he said.
In a way, the visit can be seen as an endorsement of the January 5 elections, said Rahman.
Mentioning the upcoming visit of the Chinese President, the former Ambassador to China said that these high-profile visits prove that Bangladesh is a credible country.
“I don’t think we need to be overexcited about the visit. But definitely, the visit will provide Bangladesh an opportunity to highlight its issues of interests in the context of regional and global perspectives,” Humayun Kabir, former Bangladesh Ambassador to USA and Secretary of the foreign ministry, said.
“Through this visit, we can try to find a common ground of mutual interest,” he said, adding that he does not think there is any connection between his visit and the general election on January 5, 2015.
“This visit is very important from the present government’s political perspective. It will also enhance Bangladesh’s political importance in the world. We all know about the January 5 elections and US reaction to that,” said Delwar Hossain, a professor of International Relations at Dhaka University. 
Bangladesh has some disagreements with USA on some issues including GSP and security with particular reference to the presence of ISIS, he said, adding that the relationship will have to be taken forward with these disagreements as US is the largest power in the world and a large market for Bangladeshi products.
Delwar Hossain said that Dhaka should continue pressing Washington for allowing duty-free and quota-free access for Bangladeshi products in US market.

Upcoming visit of Kerry

Significant, but dont read too much into it

While the government is naturally pleased with the upcoming visit of United States Secretary of State John Kerry, experts have placed great emphasis on making the most of it by highlighting the issues important for the country. John Kerry is coming on August 29. He was supposed to come earlier. We are glad, Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali told reporters after inaugurating a seminar on Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) at the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies yesterday. All the aspects of the Dhaka-Washington bilateral relations will be discussed during the visit and preparations are on in this regard, he said. Some officials of the foreign ministry are terming the visit a diplomatic achievement given the divergence in the relationship regarding some issues with particular reference to the controversial election on January 5, 2014, which was criticised by the US government. The visit reflects a change of heart on the part of Washington. It also reflects the maturity and depth of the relations, a senior foreign ministry official told The Independent. Experts, meanwhile, described the visit as very important as well as significant, but at the same time they warned against reading too much into it as the trip is taking place since Kerry will be in the region and he is at the end of his tenure constraining him from taking any major policy decisions. They also said that the gruesome terrorist attack on a Gulshan restaurant on July 1 to some extent contributed to the decision of Kerry to undertake the visit, as the incident put Bangladesh into prominence on the face of globe for wrong reasons. The experts hailed the government for being able to make the visit happen and said that it will help develop more political understanding between the two countries. Experts, however, are divided on the notion that Kerrys visit is an endorsement of the parliamentary election on January 5, 2014 through which the present government came to power. They were also of the opinion that it is all but certain that the visit has nothing to do with any early participatory election in Bangladesh. Its high time he visited Bangladesh. It is his first visit to Bangladesh, former Foreign Secretary Ambassador Faruq Ahmed Chowdhury said. His visit is very significant because it is taking place at a time when Bangladesh has been put on the world map as a terrorist-stricken country due to the Gulshan incident, he said. The former foreign secretary praised the government for handling the situation after the incident, but emphasised, Its a continuous process. He hoped that during the visit the Bangladesh side will show skill and maturity in highlighting the issues that are important for Bangladesh. I think you may or may not, said Ambassador Ashfaqur Rahman, former Secretary of the foreign ministry, when asked if people should read too much into it. The relation should be on the basis of give and take. And, we should make best use of the visit by highlighting our priorities including GSP, he said. There is convergence and divergence in the Dhaka-Washington relationship and you have to work out a balanced way to make the relationship work, Rahman said, adding that here diplomatic skill and maturity are needed. I am hopeful America will not play any prank with us, he said. In a way, the visit can be seen as an endorsement of the January 5 elections, said Rahman. Mentioning the upcoming visit of the Chinese President, the former Ambassador to China said that these high-profile visits prove that Bangladesh is a credible country. I dont think we need to be overexcited about the visit. But definitely, the visit will provide Bangladesh an opportunity to highlight its issues of interests in the context of regional and global perspectives, Humayun Kabir, former Bangladesh Ambassador to USA and Secretary of the foreign ministry, said. Through this visit, we can try to find a common ground of mutual interest, he said, adding that he does not think there is any connection between his visit and the general election on January 5, 2015. This visit is very important from the present governments political perspective. It will also enhance Bangladeshs political importance in the world. We all know about the January 5 elections and US reaction to that, said Delwar Hossain, a professor of International Relations at Dhaka University. Bangladesh has some disagreements with USA on some issues including GSP and security with particular reference to the presence of ISIS, he said, adding that the relationship will have to be taken forward with these disagreements as US is the largest power in the world and a large market for Bangladeshi products. Delwar Hossain said that Dhaka should continue pressing Washington for allowing duty-free and quota-free access for Bangladeshi products in US market.