Bangladesh supports 'One China' policy; India visit successful, says Army Chief
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    • The Foreign Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury has stated that Bangladesh's support to "One China" policy will remain constant. He reaffirmed Bangladesh’s position when Chinese Ambassador in Dhaka Zheng Qingdian met him at the foreign ministry on March 2. The Chinese envoy apprised Iftekhar of Taiwan's renewed attempt to seek UN membership through a soon to be held "referendum". Iftekhar said, "There is no China but One China, and the People's Republic of China is its name. Bangladesh will categorically reject any attempts by any part of China such as Taiwan to seek UN membership." He further stated that, “Relations with China are at the heart of Bangladeshi's foreign policy. There shall be no change in this now, and I do not believe there can be any change in this in the future.” The Chinese envoy appreciated the support from the Bangladesh Government on the Taiwan issue1.

    Army Chief General Moeen U Ahmed returned home on March 2 after a week-long tour of India, which he termed ‘successful’. During his visit, General Moeen met Indian Defence Minister AK Antony, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Chiefs of the three Indian Services. The General hoped that the proposed Dhaka-Kolkata passenger train service would start soon. "It will be good for all if the train service between India and Bangladesh begins. I hope the train service will be started as soon as possible after settling the issue of security of the two countries," General Moeen said2.

    Meanwhile, the Workers' Party of Bangladesh (WPB) opposed the caretaker government's move to hold local government polls before parliamentary elections. “The government step to hold local government elections before the parliamentary polls seems to be part of certain political scheme,” said WPB President Rashed Khan Menon while speaking to media persons in Dhaka on March 23.

    The International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) has reported that Bangladesh has become the prime transit route for trafficking heroin to Europe from South East
    Asia. "There is evidence that heroin consignments destined for Europe are increasingly passing through Bangladesh," stated the INCB's annual report 2007 that was released worldwide on March 5. It further added that "The geographical nature of Bangladesh, in particular its long borders with India and Myanmar, makes it particularly suitable for heroin trafficking4."

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