The secretariat of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation started its formal functioning on Saturday which is expected to enhance Bangladesh’s image among the international community and deepen mutual understanding and cooperation with BIMSTEC member states reported local media. The Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, formally inaugurated the BIMSTEC Secretariat in the morning amid all diplomatic formalities. It is expected that the activities of the BIMSTEC should be time-bound and result-oriented ones to fulfil the hopes and aspirations of the people of the region. The aim of the regional forum should be to alleviate poverty as the largest number of poor people is living in this part of the world. BIMSTEC secretariat, located in the city’s Gulshan area, is the first headquarters of any inter-governmental organisation in Bangladesh and the government considers the establishment of the secretariat here as its great ‘diplomatic achievement’. BIMSTEC was established on June 6, 1997 in Bangkok and it started its journey with only four participating members and six areas of cooperation. Presently, it has seven member states – Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand – and 14 areas of cooperation.All inter-governmental organisations are expected to solve the leading issues of national interest and conflict between the member countries which are part of the organisation – this has been the case since the formation of the League of Nations in 1919. However, like the League of Nations, the UN, SAARC, and ASEAN, any such organisation remains at best a paper tiger – it is completely dependent on the slightest whim or fancy of each of its individual nations to achieve anything remotely of any definite use. SAARC is an example to it.What Bangladesh needs to solve – in order of top priority – are the proper repatriation of water of the major rivers flowing from India, the arbitrary killing of its citizens along the Indian border, the repatriation of Rohingyas to Myanmar, and the reduction of trade barriers between itself and the other neighbouring nations, along with avenue for economic migration for its citizens to its neighbouring countries.An organisation for Multi Sectoral Technical cooperation sounds very promising – but what are its main objectives supposed to be – surely meeting a few times in one and making vague promises of such cooperation should not be the objective of any multilateral organisation – we have had enough of them – it would be a complete waste of time and the taxpayers money which could surely be put to better uses – such as sending our students abroad or making needed infrastructural projects.Another bureaucratic child is born to prove how much bureaucracy-led this unelected government is. There are foreign diplomats to tell their governments what is going on in Bangladesh. The government will have to convince first the diplomats here by delivering successes within the country. Even the diplomats cannot lie as was possible in ages ago. In this digital age and digital Bangladesh within moments news spread to every corner of the world. No country outside has to know what it does know from its own dependable sources. An useless opening has been created for some bureaucrats to waste public money and enjoy lavish style foreign trips.
