Hn_Ani2_Dhaka_Former_Bangladesh_Ambasador_Mashfee_Binte_Shams_17-52-40

ETVBHARAT

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00:00In addition to that, there are many more dependencies and I know that sometimes it seems that we

00:08in Bangladesh are totally dependent on Indian products or Indian imports.

00:15But on the other hand, we in Bangladesh also believe that there are many things in Bangladesh

00:21that India is also dependent upon.

00:25For example, this 18 billion market is not a very small market.

00:30So that way I would like to think that the business relationship between the two countries

00:35is quite substantial and we can only try to nurture it and try to make it even bigger

00:46because it is definitely a win-win situation.

00:50When we import from India, we do it because this is the, I wouldn't say the cheapest,

00:57the most competitive in terms of prices and time and it serves the Indian exporters also.

01:06They can really get their money quickly instead of exporting to a further destination.

01:13The transportation costs are so much less than in case of exporting to some other country.

01:21So let's not think that it's only Bangladesh who is depending on India for business.

01:28People to people contact wise also, I know that there is a narrative that Bangladesh

01:36is dependent on India for medical treatment and for other tourism issues, education.

01:46But this medical treatment that we are getting from India is not free.

01:52The people are paying for it.

01:53The education that we are getting in India is not also free.

01:58People are also paying for it.

01:59So there's a, it's a symbiotic relationship.

02:04And the sooner we realize that both sides are benefiting from it, I think the sooner

02:10we will be able to support this sort of people to people contact and the business relationship

02:18because it is clearly not a one-sided affair, but a win-win situation for both the sides.

02:26So the public on both sides need to recognize it, the business communities on the two sides

02:32need to recognize it.

02:34And most importantly, the politicians also need to recognize it and not try to, you know,

02:42not try to harp on a certain one-sided narrative as if it's only Bangladesh who is benefiting

02:54from relationship with India.

02:57Should Bangladesh's growing ties with Pakistan create concern for India?

03:04I think India should not at all be concerned about relationship with Pakistan.

03:10Because in the first place, we have a lot of unsettled issues with Pakistan that still

03:15need to be resolved.

03:17And I think in our hearts, we are still not ready to accept Pakistan with open arms.

03:25Of course, there are certain restrictions are being lifted regarding visas.

03:31Yes, certain trade relationships have increased recently.

03:37I know there's a lot of concern in India about the direct shipping linkages.

03:42But this is not a recent development.

03:46Even when Sheikh Hasina government was there, we were still working with the Pakistani side

03:52for direct shipping linkages, because it doesn't make sense for a ship to go from

03:57Chattogram to Dubai, and then from Dubai to go to Karachi.

04:01You know, direct shipping linkages, Bangladesh has always promoted connectivity, direct shipping

04:06linkages with many countries.

04:09So that way we can avoid costs, trading costs, we can reduce costs.

04:15So I think there is not at all anything that India needs to worry about regarding our relationship

04:23with Pakistan.

04:26Because whatever happens, I think trade with Pakistan will never overtake trade with India.

04:34The relationship that we have with India, the people to people relationship, the cultural

04:42linkages, the similarities, the language, linguistic, all these sort of commonalities,

04:49these are much more stronger with our neighbor, India, than ever with Pakistan.

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