Bangladesh's Great Independence and National Day was celebrated with great enthusiasm at the Bangladesh Consulate at Sitte in Myanmar. The Rakhine State government leaders and ministers, esdies diplomats from India and the UN, participated in this event organized despite the ongoing civil war and deteriorating law and order situation in Myanmar, besides diplomats from India and the UN. Besides, diplomats of the Indian 

Rakhine, Burmese and Bangladeshi dances were performed at the event. Apart from this, a fashion show of traditional clothes of Bangladesh and Jamdani sarees was organized. For the people of Bangladesh and Myanmar, this is positive news. It appears that the tense relations between Myanmar and Bangladesh are beginning to heal, finally. 

Recently, Bangladesh and Myanmar have launched a bilateral pilot project to repatriate the Rohingya refugees. Myanmar has earmarked 15 villages to repatriate Rohingya refugees from Cox’s Bazar. Initially, Myanmar has said they will take back 1000 Rohingya. A Myanmar delegation has already visited the camps in Cox’s Bazar.  The initiative is largely backed by China. The international community and the big powers did little to pressurize the military junta to repatriate the Rohingya. Prior to the February 2021 military coup, the international community also failed to convince the democratic government there to repatriate the persecuted Rohingya and bring the perpetrators to justice.

Bangladesh has been facing a refugee crisis for six years now. It has tried bilaterally, trilaterally, and multilaterally for the past six years for a viable solution. Now as China is brokering the deal with approval from the UN, Bangladesh eagerly wants to explore the initiative. Moreover, Bangladesh cannot remain indifferent to Myanmar due to overlapping economic and humanitarian issues, Bangladesh has to engage with the authority of Myanmar whoever is in power. 

Rice exports to Bangladesh

According to pro-Myanmar government newspaper, Global New Light Of Myanmar, a dinner party marking the successful export of high-quality rice to Bangladesh was held in the capital Nay Pyi Taw last month. The event was attended by top Myanmarese ministers and officials as well as chairpersons of the Myanmar Rice Federation, Myanmar Rice Miller Association, Myanmar Rice and Paddy Traders Association, and others.

Announcing the rice trade between the two neighbour, Commerce Minister U Aung Naing Oo said the export of rice grown in Rakhine State to Bangladesh will be allowed to be increased. According to the military-controlled newspapers, a shipment of 200,000 tons of rice, including 2,500 tons grown in Rakhine State, has already been exported to Bangladesh and said more will be done in the future.

“Currently the majority of rice produced in Rakhine State is stuck within the domestic market, with most of it being exported to Yangon and regions bordering China. After subtracting general and travel expenses, the profit for Rakhine rice traders is often lower than expected. However, if the rice grown in Rakhine is permitted to be exported to Bangladesh or India, which are closer, stronger business opportunities will emerge, ultimately benefiting Rakhine State. That’s my opinion”, U Khin Maung Gyi, Vice President of Rakhine Economic Initiative Public Co., Ltd (REIC), was quoted as saying. 

The Myanmar government has now expressed interest in importing potatoes from Bangladesh due to low prices. 

Analysts see the rice-potato trade between the two countries as an extension of their stepped-up bilateral diplomacy. Their expectation is that this incipient commercial relationship can play a major role in resolving the Rohingya humanitarian crisis. Despite their history of tensions, the new generation on both sides wants better relations to enhance mutual economic prosperity through trade, tourism etc. 

Ping-pong diplomacy between China and the United States turned around their relationship. Rice and potato diplomacy are small, faltering initiatives but they can be huge if it results in resolving their pressing bilateral issues, including the Rohingya problem.

(The author is a London-based Bangladeshi researcher. Views are personal. He can be contacted at harunurrasid741@gmail.com)