The MoU was signed during a visit by Begum Khaleda Zia to Myanmar in 2004. This direct road-link will improve bilateral relations and also facilitate Bangladesh's access to the Asian Highway down to east Asia. In fact, the road may be used by Bangladesh to drive upto China. An initiative has been taken to develop the road-link system connecting Chittagong port with Kuming in southeast China.

A joint action plan will be made to process formalities and give approval to the various steps for implementing the project. The 25 km link-road includes two kilometers on the Teknaf side, and the remaining 23 km stretches from Gundum to Gualibazar inside Myanmar. Bangladesh will bear the cost of construction of the project. It is expected that the groundwork will start by the end of the year.

The road is very significant for both Bangladesh and Myanmar. It will create the possibility of a greater road network between Bangladesh and south east Asian countries including Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore, apart from Myanmar and China.

It may be pointed out in this regard that Bangladesh should have tried to develop closer relations with Myanmar during the early period of its independence, because Myanmar had shown a friendly attitude toward our struggle for independence. Instead of friendly ties, some unfortunate border clashes during Ziaur Rahman's regime resulted in a strained relationship.

Though the importance of this link-road was appreciated by the BNP-led government, progress was disappointing. The quick movement of the CTG appears to be timely.

Strategically, the road is important because of our growing relationship with China. Needless to say that for achieving growth rate of 7% to become a middle-income country by 2016, we shall have to concentrate on expanding our trade.

Bangla-China trade must grow rapidly. In fact, some of our neighbours, including Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia, have already been benefited immensely by bilateral trade with China.

Apart from trade, there may be more fruitful interaction among the peoples of Bangladesh and Myanmar. Leasing of 50,000 acres of farming land has been offered by Myanmar to Bangladesh commercial enterprises. Such an offer will no doubt promote better relations between the two countries.

It may be pointed out in this regard that Myanmar allows each enterprise up to 5000 acres of land for plantation, 3000 acres for orchard, 1000 acres for seasonal crops, and 2000 acres for aquaculture. In the case of livestock, it is 5000 acres for buffalo rearing, 1000 acres for sheep and goat, and 500 acres for poultry.

Among the importable items from Myanmar are mainly timber, fish, maize, livestock, pulses, and some handicraft items. We may concentrate on export of items like leather products, finished leather, readymade garments, and some cottage industry products such as clay, straw, cane and jute products.

Our exporters may be encouraged to visit Myanmar and develop closer cooperation with the traders of that country. It may be pointed out that Bangladesh-Myanmar trade-link is historical.

During the British regime a large number of traders used to import rice from Myanmar but, because of reduction of exportable surplus of rice in Myanmar, the country does not export the item in large quantities now.

Bangladesh needs rapid increase in production of electricity to meet the deficit, and sharp increase due to industrialization and urbanization. We are aware of the possible exhaustion of our existing gas reserve by 2015.

As such, we should start negotiation for import of gas from Myanmar at an acceptable price. With regard to the prospect for establishing joint venture for generating electricity, it is heartening to know that the CTG has already started exploratory talks with Myanmar.

Closer trade relations with our neighbours, particularly smaller neighbours, are necessary because of the following factors:

• As a relatively small, poor, and least developed country, we should prefer smaller neighbours to bigger and developed countries because of fewer possibilities of ultimate loss.
• Strictly speaking, the Asean countries are not actually tough competitors of Bangladesh in the field of export. Thus, trade relations with these countries may be profitable for Bangladesh.
• We may acquire newer (maybe better) technologies from these countries at cheaper cost.
• With the development of a road network in the region (Sea) our trade will be more cost effective in future.

This is an age of interdependence. We are living in a global village. Through greater cooperation, we may assist each other to grow and prosper. Because of our increasing cooperation with China the link-road may prove to be a milestone not only for Bangladesh and Myanmar but also for Bangladesh and China.

A. B. M. S. Zahur is a former Joint Secretary.