THIS is surprising that the government appears to be avoiding the three-day conference Bay of Bengal Conversation, which began on November 21 and ends today. Even after being scheduled to attend the international conference, which features about 600 participants from 70 countries, the foreign minister, who was scheduled to attend the opening as chief guest, and the home affairs minister, who was scheduled to attend another session, did not do so. When the conference, hosted by non-government think tank Centre for Governance Studies and attended by politicians, diplomats, academics and policy analysts from many countries, is an important platform for Bangladesh to engage regional and global stakeholders in issues that concern the region and the country, the government’s apathy towards it shows a parochial political outlook. While organisers say that they were given words by the foreign minister that the latter would address the inaugural session, the minister is reported to have expressed his surprise at seeing his name as ‘chief guest’ of the session. The home affairs minister, however, is yet to give his reasons for avoiding the conference.
It was also reported that the conference was conspicuously avoided by the electronic media. It is surprising that such an international programme would struggle to find the attention of the electronic media. It seems, as many allege, that the government has ensured that the conference does not get the media attention it deserves. Sessions in the conference have focused on the inclusive growth of the countries in the Indo-Pacific region, the enhancement of regional cooperation on a greater security, climate change, displacement and risks of conflicts in the Bay of Bengal region, trade and investment for regional growth, governance and shared development challenges such as poverty and income inequality. Democracy, the Rohingya crisis, geopolitics and economic issues from global and regional perspectives are also covered in the conference. All this makes the conference an interesting point of convergence that could help the government and policymakers to choose their path and uphold national and regional interests. For example, the conference appears an excellent platform to let the world know what Bangladesh faces when it comes to the Rohingya crisis or climate change. The absence of the ministers sends out a wrong signal and taints the image of both the country and the government. One could easily explain such avoidance on part of the government to engage in issues that might put it at unease.
The current century is called the Indo-Pacific century and Bangladesh, which has a geostrategic importance in the region, needs to make informed decisions by consulting stakeholders from the region. When the government should bring stakeholders to discuss issues at programmes, it should certainly participate in and promote conferences organised by non-governmental organisations.
News Courtesy:
https://www.newagebd.net/article/187175/govt-avoidance-that-speaks-of-parochial-political-outlook