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On Asian Highway: Prime Minister’s Statement Does Not Satisfy Us
The prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, on Wednesday told the parliament that Bangladesh would have full control over its stretch of the proposed Asian Highway that would come form India and re-enter India through Bangladesh. She said Bangladesh would join the proposed Asian Highway to promote development, employment, business and infrastructural improvement of the country. ‘We are not afraid of any bogus boo and we can’t live in isolation from the rest of the world by shutting our doors,’ Hasina told the House during the question-answer session with speaker, Abdul Hamid, in the chair. Responding to a query from ruling alliance lawmaker, Mujibul Huq Chunnu, the prime minister said those who do not believe in the spirit of liberation war and want to sell out the country’s interest are opposing the Asian Highway due to ‘India phobia’. Hasina, however, informed the House that one of the routes is to go through Bangladesh from one end of India and Bangladesh will have the authority to control or shut the route, if required. . So our government is well aware of the fact that what would be harmful for the country and what would be beneficial for it,’ she said, adding that the government is not afraid of signing an agreement in this regard. Responding to a question raised by Workers Party president Rashed Khan Menon, the PM said the proposed Asian Highway will not just have entry and exit points with India, it will connect many other countries including China and those in the Middle East and Europe. Responding to an appeal of Bangladesh government, the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) of the United Nations recently gave consent for signing an inter-governmental agreement in this regard and after formal signing of the agreement by Bangladesh, ESCAP would finally approve the Asian Highway route, she said. Hasina said in the ESCAP proposal three routes through Bangladesh were selected. The routes are : Benapole-Jessore-Bhanga-Dhaka-Kanchpur, Sylhet-Tamabil (Route AH-1), Banglabandha-Hatikamrul-Tangail-Dhaka-Kanchpur-Syhet-Tamabil (Route AH-2) and the regional Mongla-Khulna-Jessore-Pakshi-Hatikamrul-Kanchpur-Comilla-Chittagong-Cox’s Bazar-Teknaf (Route AH-41). She said selection of the third route will depend on Myanmar for its implementation. Moreover, she said, ‘it is not that Bangladesh’s desire will be final; ESCAP has a say about the routes’.
The Prime Minister’s statement did not satisfy us. None in Bangladesh is against Asian Highway.We all understand the need for connectivity with the world and economic benefits that may come because of this highway.The issue is different.Why should we choose a route that would give India an extra benefit of a corridor and transit when our demands of transit to Nepal and Bhutan is pending ? The issue of Asian Highway route and corridor should not be mixed up. The AH-3 route will disentangle the two issues of corridor and the highway.The consent of Myanmar will be required in all these routes because no route can go except through Myanmar.We can discuss the matter with Myanmar and express our concerns.ESCAP can also discuss this with Myanmar and finalize the issue.
There is no point in harping on who are conscious of Bangladesh sovereignty and independence. It will be determined by over-all policies by various governments There is also no point in saying that the opponents of particular route do not have spirit of liberation and of India-phobia. We ask the Prime Minister to understand these points.
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