Ground Report

BaTSIMM has the potential to re-establish the historically connected East Shore Bay of Bengal Countries   At a time when Bangladesh negotiate with its West Shore of Bay of Bengal Country India to get its fair share of sea area that constitute its extended economic zone in the Bay of Bengal, she should not leave its relations with the East Shore of Bay of Bengal Countries in the refrigerator any longer.   Consecutive failure of the previous governments of Ershad/Khaleda/Hasina/Khaleda has failed to provide a vision for our regional cooperation modus-operandi.   For the same reason, we have allowed ourselves to be trapped into the colonial era thinking as manifested by SAARC. While SAARC may have its possible cultural value, its economic failure is time proven.   As a result, we have rightfully been talking about Look East Policy that should guide us our new regional policy. At a time, when global economic forces are competing to create a better economic alignment that is more efficient and structurally sound, we could not over-emphasize the importance of re-establishing the historically connected East Shore Bay of Bengal Countries – namely that of Bangladesh(Ba), Thailand(T), Singapore(S), Indonesia(I), Myanmar(M) & Malaysia(M) or combinedly BaTSIMM.     As a starter, Bangladesh may consider to take an intitiative to connect these East Shore Bay of Bengal Countries through a international grade hybrid superhighway – combination of road and information connectivity. BaTSIMM may also consider to have an important role in re-establishing the sea connection of Chittagong businessman with our eastern neighbors.   If properly positioned, planned and agreed upon, an ultimate execution of such an initiative will facilitate and build upon several historical and currently ongoing developments.   First of all, this has historical dimention that would bind the people of the region with a common deja-vu feeling that can be harnessed to renew economic and cultural connections of the region.   As we work on our free trade agreement with India at a time when India is done negotiating its free trade deal with ASEAN countries, a BaTSIMM highway would bring several core ASEAN economies at the doorsteps of a big market which is India.   A BaTSIMM approach will be an effective tool to increase the trade route efficiency and maritime security that would harness the similarity of interest of the BaTSIMM countries.   This would be complimentary to our ongoing effort to build a gateway through Myanmar to Thailand. In this effort, both China and India would have a big interest. Hence these two countries might want to have observer status in this.   Most importantly, a succesful positioning of BaTSIMM way of looking at the regional policy would put Chittagong at the forefront of regional business and maritime map. It has an immense potential for the business houses of Bangaldesh.     If you thought some of the ideas are worth of your reading time, please forward it to others. If you have an ear to the columnists in regular traditional media, please forward it to them. If you have an ear to the journalists and news editors of the electronic media, discuss it with them. Hope they would look at the suggestions and give due diligence.