Interview with the Ambassador of Bangladesh<\/p>\n
Bangladeshi Ambassador to Indonesia Dr. M. Afsarul Qader sat
\ndown with The Jakarta Post to discuss his country's bilateral
\nrelations with Indonesia as Bangladesh marks the 28th anniversary
\nof its National and Independence Day.<\/p>\n
JP: Please trace the history of relations between Bangladesh
\nand Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Ambassador Qader: The Indonesian people and government have
\nalways shown great sensitivity and deep understanding to the
\naspirations and suffering of the people of Bangladesh, right from
\nthe beginning of our liberation struggle. A concrete example was
\nthe prompt recognition of Bangladesh as a distinct country on
\nDecember 20, 1971, four days after our country was physically
\nliberated on December 16, 1971. While celebrating our 28th
\nanniversary of National and Independence Day on the friendly soil
\nof Indonesia, we recall that event with special appreciation and
\na sense of gratitude. That was the beginning of the formal
\nrelationship between our nations.<\/p>\n
JP: Much has changed in Indonesia in the past year. In what ways
\nhas this affected Bangladesh's relationship with the Indonesian
\ngovernment and people?<\/p>\n
Ambassador Qader: Our histories as South Asian and Southeast
\nAsian nations go back deep into the past. Separately, we almost
\nfollowed and went through similar phases of political and
\nreligiocultural experience. Like Indonesians, Bangladeshis have
\npast connections first to Hinduism, then Buddhism and followed by
\nIslamic civilizations. In this century, like Indonesians, we fought
\nhard for our freedom and liberty to overcome centuries of colonial
\nrule.<\/p>\n
Today, Bangladesh is the third largest Muslim country with a
\nvery strong sense of interreligious culture. Bangladesh and
\nIndonesia enjoy a cordial and flourishing relationship based on
\nhistorical bonds and shared views on international issues. As
\nactive members of the Non-Aligned Movement, G-77, OIC, D-8 and
\nthe United Nations, together we look forward to a future of rapid
\nsocioeconomic development in a world which acknowledges common
\nbut differentiated responsibilities for its members to deal with
\nattendant problems.<\/p>\n
JP: Are there concrete ways Bangladesh and Indonesia are working
\ntogether in overcoming the economic crisis?<\/p>\n
Ambassador Qader: Based on these historic commonalities and
\nshared experiences of anticolonial struggle and suffering,
\nBangladesh and Indonesia, within the limits of their respective
\ncapacities, are collaborating and cooperating whenever possible in
\nthe fields of exchange of ideas, skills and know-how in our quest
\nfor modernization and economic development with a human face.<\/p>\n
Our leaders are maintaining close personal contacts and our
\nfield workers, officials and leaders are learning from Indonesia
\nthrough its successful experiences in areas such as population
\ncontrol. We, in turn, share our innovativeness on poverty
\nalleviation through the microcredit program pioneered by the
\nGrameen Bank of Prof. Yunus.<\/p>\n
This has also helped us to empower women and remove gender
\ndiscrimination and backwardness. Being primarily an agrarian
\ncountry, we are taking concrete steps in putting the integrated
\nrural development concept into practical schemes.<\/p>\n
The recent economic and financial difficulties faced by
\nIndonesians recently convinced Bangladeshis to assist the
\nfriendly people and country of Indonesia in any manner possible
\nto us and also to learn from the Indonesian experience. Although
\nthere is a huge gap in favor of Indonesia in trade with
\nBangladesh, we are even buying more and selling less to
\nIndonesia. We would like to see Indonesia recover from the
\nfinancial trauma speedily. And after the respective chambers of
\nthe two countries signed a cooperation agreement in September
\n1997, we hope we can all sit down and put the entire commercial
\nrelationship on a broader and more sustainable basis for mutual
\nbenefit.<\/p>\n
Aside from cooperation in economic, social and trade sectors,
\nthe two countries need to cooperate in cultural and educational
\nfields as this will help foster genuine people-to-people
\ncooperation. So far, resource constraints and different
\nlinguistic backgrounds have not allowed us to develop a
\nsatisfactory pace and level of cooperation, but we are optimistic
\nthat these road bumps can be smoothened out sooner rather than
\nlater.<\/p>\n
And Bangladesh's transition only a decade ago from an
\nauthoritarian form of government to a democratic system with a
\ncompletely free press and strong independent judiciary may come
\nhandy as a recent case history for other countries in a similar
\nsituation. As Bangladesh's Ambassador to Indonesia, I feel
\nprivileged to witness the historic transition of this largest
\nMuslim nation into a genuine democracy. I wish it all success.<\/p>\n
The 120 million people of Bangladesh have an abiding sense of
\nhope and faith in the ability and capacity of 200 million
\nIndonesians for speedy renewal of their country, and in
\novercoming all adversity they may encounter in their legitimate
\nquest for a due role under the sun. May God help us all!<\/p>",
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