Bangladesh forcing importers to source goods from Pakistan: Report

In what appears to be an indication of better trade relations between Bangladesh and Pakistan, the government of Bangladesh is “forcing” importers to purchase items from Pakistan. On December 22, the Panamanian cargo ship ‘MV Yuan Xiang Fa Zhan’ made a visit to Bangladesh’s Chittagong port. According to Bangladeshi news agencies, the ship was transporting a “significant amount of 811 containers of vital industrial materials like soda ash, dolomite, and marble blocks, as well as commodities like raw materials for clothing, sugar, and electronic devices.”

With Bangladesh’s independence in 1971, this was the second cargo ship to dock at Chittagong airport. In November, the first cargo came to us. According to a Chittagong Port Authority official, “This was the first cargo ship that came directly from Karachi, mainly carrying raw materials for our textile and ceramic industries.”

The reports were released a day after Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Professor Muhammad Yunus, the head of Bangladesh’s interim administration, met in Cairo, Egypt. According to a statement from Yunus’ office, the two leaders “agreed to strengthen relations between the two countries through increased trade, commerce, and exchange of sports and cultural delegations.”

Certain representatives of Bangladesh’s shipping ministry are now advocating for a reexamination of the shipping agreement between India and Bangladesh, which grants India access to the ports of Chittagong and Mongla. Yunus has attempted to undo the essentially pro-Indian and anti-Pakistan policies of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina since assuming control of the Bangladeshi government earlier this year. He has been trying to strengthen Dhaka’s relations with Islamabad, which is a significant change.