Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Bangladeshi High Commissioner to Pakistan Tarik Ahsan has said that all those involved in café attacks at Dhaka were Bangladeshi citizens and there was not a single Pakistani behind it. In an exclusive interview with Daily Times, Bangladesh High Commissioner, said that although the law enforcement agencies were confirming whether the attackers received any guidance from outside the country, no proof had been found about the involvement of Pakistan.

He said that Bangladesh’s perception of being pro-India is quite wrong. “We are pro Bangladeshi. We don’t have leniency towards India and want to develop relations with all countries. Due to long borders with India, we have to maintain good terms with India” the high commissioner maintained.

Speaking of possibility of Bangladesh cricket team’s tour to Pakistan, he said that his country was interested in playing cricket here in Pakistan, but formalities were down to the cricket boards.

“I am personally in favour of playing cricket in Pakistan. It depends upon the security situation. Last year the Bangladesh women’s cricket team played in Pakistan” he added. On deterioration of relations between the two countries and tit for tat expulsion of each other’s diplomats almost seven months back, Bangladeshi HC said the relations were improving. “We are looking forward to greater interactions between the two countries in the coming days that would contribute to greater understanding and cooperation,” he maintained.

While responding regarding the complaints of ill-treatment with Bihari’s residing in Bangladesh, Ahsan said that Bangladesh has been hosting stranded Pakistanis (Biharis) for 45 years. Bangladesh is an inclusive and hospitable society. Stranded Pakistanis are living in Bangladesh in peace and with dignity. There is no question of ill-treating them. In fact, many of the stranded Pakistanis want to stay back in Bangladesh in view of the good treatment they receive in the country.

On volume of bilateral trade, he said that the in June 2016, Bangladeshi exports to Pakistan were $47 million only. Bilateral trade is in favour of Pakistan as her exports to Bangladesh were much higher, but there remains a need to strike some balance between exports and imports, and diversification of the basket of trade was needed.

He said that trade profiles of Bangladesh and Pakistan appeared competitive, but close contact and assessment by the business communities of the two countries could reveal many areas of complementarities where trade could grow further. To that end, he encouraged exchange of trade delegations and participation of companies in trade fairs in each other’s country.

“I will also try to revive the Joint Business Council between the apex chamber bodies of the two countries. Shipping is another important element in the process of trade. I will try and revive the idea of direct shipping between Chittagong and Karachi, and explore ways to address the challenges associated with it,” he added. He promised that Bangladesh would pursue the removal of non-tariff barriers and introduction of trade preference for certain Bangladesh products in the Pakistani market, and said relations between the two countries were satisfactory and promising.