Let’s ring in the new year with forward looking news.
Bangladesh and India are moving closer to politics in concert. The cabinet approved a memorandum of understanding that Dhaka and New Delhi would import and export electricity from each other over the long term.
The Daily Star reports:
“A meeting of the cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also approved a proposal to amend policy guidelines for expanding private sector’s participation in generating power.”
“Hasina asked the authorities concerned to increase scopes for the private sector to generate power to meet the growing demand of electricity. She also directed them to fix the price of electricity on the basis of production cost.”
The move puts together a set of policies that mechanically induces greater opportunities for cooperation. For example, setting up this deal requires that a new electrical grid be put in place to deliver connectivity between the countries.
Moreover, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has instructed the Bangladesh Police to move toward becoming a policing force that is capable of dealing with Islamic militancy and terrorism. She stressed the need for meritocratic values and public spiritedness of police conduct. This is promising news. It might imply that the Awami League is paying attention the the United Nations and NGO’s like International Crisis Group. Secondly it implies that Sheikh Hasina views terrorism as a police matter, not an issue that might require military mobilization. Both implications are worthy of attention and quiet celebration.