Move likely to extend proposed road to Myanmar up to China

Sat. July 21, 2007
Vol. 5 Num 1116
Front Page
Move likely to extend proposed road to Myanmar up to China
Deal with Yangon may be signed next week Ashfaq Wares Khan Dhaka, during Myanmar Deputy Foreign Minister U Kyaw Thu's visit next week, will push Myanmar to consider jointly approaching China to sponsor a feasibility study for extending the proposed Bangladesh-Myanmar road link-up to the Chinese city of Kunming.
A deal may be signed in this regard during a possible visit later next week of the Myanmar Construction Minister Maj Gen Saw Tun, which would kick-start further connectivity agreements including the establishment of direct air-links.
The new 23km road linking Bangladesh and Myanmar will connect Gundhum in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh and Bolibazar, Myanmar.
Bangladesh will also ask Myanmar to import more products including pharmaceuticals, livestock and food items.
An expansion of Bangladesh-Myanmar trade would also see a quick agreement on "Avoidance of Double Taxation," a draft of which has already been finalised but would not be signed during this trip, said a highly-placed source in the foreign ministry.
Yangon, replaced in 2005 by the new capital Naypyidaw, holds special links with Dhaka, as Myanmar is the only other country, apart from India, to share land boundary with Bangladesh.
Myanmar will also be approached to take up Bangladesh's case to link up with the Trans-Asian Highway, which the last BNP-led four-party government chose not to sign up for. Myanmar would have to take up Bangladesh's case, as only signatories of the agreement can recommend another country, sources said.
This visit comes hot on the heels of recent Bangladeshi interest in purchasing hydro-electric power from Myanmar, which is in its primary stages and awaiting a feasibility study by both sides.
The four-member Myanmar delegation led by the deputy foreign minister will hold bilateral talks with Bangladesh on Monday and Tuesday.
Currently, Bangladesh-Myanmar trade is largely limited to "border-trade", with two-way trade volume standing at an annual $60 million and a massive trade-surplus to Myanmar.
Bangladesh wants Myanmar to add more pharmaceutical products to their import-list, along with livestock, onions and pulses, with an additional demand for Bangladeshi businessmen to receive long-term visas and greater access to the country. Bangladesh has also long demanded quick registrations of Bangladeshi businesses in Myanmar.
The talks are also likely to feature contract farming rights so that Bangladeshi farmers can lease land on the other side of the border and cultivate crops.
The repatriation of Rohingya refugees would also come up in the bilateral discussions, with Bangladesh looking to ask Myanmar authorities to visit the camps and re-assure 10,000 refugees, already cleared to return, that they would not face any security risks once they repatriate.
Currently, 10,000 out of the official figure of 25,000 Rohingya refugees have been "cleared" by the Myanmar authorities to return home but the refugees have been reluctant to leave out of security fears.
Foreign ministry sources added that they government also expects the visit of Vice-chairman of the State Peace and Development Council of the Union of Myanmar, the name for the military government, Senior General Maung Aye. According to an official, General Maung Aye's visit will take place soon.
Myanmar has been ruled by the military-led council since 1992.