Bangladesh-India Dialogue in October, 2009

On a grant by the Asia Foundation, the Centre for Foreign Affairs Studies has undertaken the task of having a Dialogue in June between experts from Bangladesh and India to give a set of recommendations on the “do-able” and “deliverable” on the relations between the two countries in order to move ahead. Asia Foundation has engaged CFAS for this project to come up not just with a set of recommendations but also with a few in-depth papers on the key issues in the bilateral relations of the two countries in the same way the Foundation engages experts before a new US Administration takes office to come up with a document on Asia with articles and recommendations. In this case, Asia Foundation’s initiative has been taken in the context of a new administration taking office in Dhaka and a new one expected to take office in New Delhi soon.

Following in-depth exchanges at the expert level in August the Bangladesh side will place the document to the new administration in Dhaka and the Indian side will do likewise to a new administration in New Delhi.

The two sides met at a preparatory meeting in Dhaka on November 22^nd last year. From the Bangladesh side, the members present were Ambassador Ashfaqur Rahman, Chairman, CFAS; Ambassador M. Serajul Islam, Director, CFAS and Ambassador Shamim Ahmed, Director CFAS. From the Indian side, Ambassador Rajendra Abhyankar, former Secretary, External Affairs of India, and Ambassador Dev Mukharji, former Indian Ambassador to Bangladesh were present. The Asia Foundation was represented by Country Representative Mr. Kim Mcquay, Deputy Country Representative Mr. Jerome Sayre and Program Advisor Mr. Shahjahan Kabir.

The meeting discussed the format and the time of the meeting and agreed to stay in touch over email on a continuous basis till the Dialogue is held during October 21-22, 2009.

The Bangladesh side has been meeting regularly at CFAS office after forming the team and dividing it into sub-teams based on the issues that both sides have agreed upon. The Bangladesh team comprises the following:

1.       Ambassador Harun ur Rashid

2.       Ambassador Dr. Afsarul Qader

3.       Dr. Rezaul Karim

4.       Mr. Khalilur Rahman

5.       Brigadier SA Khan

6.       Dr. Imtiaz Ahmed

7.    Dr. A. Quader

8.    Dr. Rahmatullah

9.    Dr. K Moazzem

10.    Ambassador Ashfaqur Rahman
11.    Ambassador Shamim Ahmed

12.  Ambassador M. Serajul Islam

13.    Ambassador Mahmood  Hassan