Experts say Bangladesh should consider all sides before taking a stand in the Qatar crisis, considering that it is the third destination country for migrant labours from Bangladesh.
Arab nations including Saudi Arabia and Egypt on Monday cut ties with Qatar, accusing it of supporting extremism, in the biggest diplomatic crisis to hit the region in years.
Speaking to the Dhaka Tribune Associate Professor of International Relations Shahab Enam Khan at Jahangirnagar University said: “Bangladesh has to be careful in making a decision. Just because the Arab countries are quick to point fingers and take a counter terrorism stance against Qatar does not mean we have to rush to take sides. We have to think about our migrant labour market, remittance and our sources of energy too.”
Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Yemen and the Maldives joined Saudi Arabia and Egypt in severing relations with gas-rich Qatar, with Riyadh accusing Doha of supporting groups, including some backed by Iran, “that aim to destabilise the region.”
Qatar reacted with fury, denying any support for extremists and accusing its Gulf neighbours of seeking to put the country under “guardianship.”
The crisis is likely to have wide-ranging consequences, not just for Qatar and its citizens but around the Middle East and for Western interests.
Shabab does not think Bangladesh has a good foreign policy, critising the country’s inability to stand up to Saudi Arabia, saying: “Why did we make an anti-terrorism alliance with Saudi Arabia? Essentially it is an imposition from the Saudis. They have been able to impose their will onto us because our foreign policy is extremely weak.
“Bangladesh has to be more pragmatic and careful about the Qatar crisis. And Bangladesh has to understand that taking one side will not benefit everyone.”
Qatar is the third destination for the Bangladeshi migrant workers. According to Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training (BMET) statistics, in 2016, a total of 1,20,382 of migrant workers travelled to Qatar.
Just between January to May they have remitted $247.1 million from Qatar.
Currently there are 380,000 Bangladeshi migrants workers living in Qatar, working in different construction projects for the FIFA World Cup 2022.
Ambassador Muhammad Zamir, chief of the Political Division at Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Secretariat in Jeddah from 1991 to 1995, told the Dhaka Tribune that Bangladesh has the right stance regarding this.
“We have to maintain a balance in our foreign policy.
“Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, during her last visit to Riyadh, told the Muslim leaders that we do not support terrorism. And Bangladesh is ready to send its force to defend Mecca and Madina.
“But, Bangladesh will not participate in any war in the middle-east,” Zamir said, quoting the prime minister.
Some are however concerned over the impact of this crisis on Bangladesh. former Bangladesh ambassador, Humayun Kabir doe see some major issues arising in the near future over this.
“If the middle east crisis prolongs, there might be a problem in our labour market. But we hope that this crisis will not last too long,” Humayun Kabir said who is also the vice president of Bangladesh Enterprise Institute (BEI).
“But there is nothing to panic over just yet.
“If Qatar faces an economic setback, our labour market will be also affected,” he added.
Bangladesh has a deal to import LNG, worth $1.5 billion, from Qatar.
According to Bangladesh Bank data, remittance flow has decreased by 2.5% in the 2015-16 fiscal year. In the first ten months of the current fiscal year, the income from migrants workers has dropped by more than 16%. Despite this recession, remittance from Qatar has increased by more than $120 million in the fiscal year 2015-16 comparing to the previous fiscal year.
In 2014, Saudi Arabia took the similar step which was later mediated by US.
But this time, US President Donald Trump seems to support Saudi Arabia’s move to isolate its neighboring country Qatar even though Qatar hosts the largest US airbase in the region.
Thursday, April 25, 2024
