HYDERABAD, Feb 10: Deputy High Commissioner of Bangladesh in Pakistan Saquib Ali has ruled out any meaningful cooperation in rooting out terrorism without taking Pakistan and Afghanistan on board in connection with the Regional Task Force (RTF) on counter-terrorism proposed by the Bangladesh prime minister.

He was talking to journalists at a dinner hosted in honour of the newly-elected members of the executive committee of the Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry by Nazar Qureshi, chairman Sindh Historical, Educational and Cultural Society here on Monday evening.

“On RTF, Bangladesh would like to bring in all members of the Saarc, including Pakistan and Afghanistan. The prime minister of Bangladesh believes that without Pakistan and Afghanistan there can not be any meaningful cooperation to root out terrorism and extremism after all they are themselves victims of this problem,” he said. About a recent press report regarding FIA’s investigation, which has hinted at alleged use of Bangladesh’s soil in Mumbai attack, he said: “We haven’t seen the report of the FIA but there was a news report few days back regarding the alleged link. However, we have not seen any other follow-up reports in this regard. On our official channel we have not heard about it. Our home affairs minister has said that she is not aware of any such link but we await the full report”.

Talking about causes of terrorism in Pakistan and Afghanistan, he said that these were related to a lack of development and a lack of perceived political and human rights in certain parts of the country.

“I think if the northern parts of Pakistan are brought within the human rights enforcement and development area then this problem could be resolved”, he said.

He said that the same also applied to Afghanistan as there were certain historical reasons related to the Soviet occupation.

He said that security was a must for development. He said that ensuring security in FATA and the NWFP was important to ensure uplift of those areas.

Regarding the effects of global recession on Bangladesh’s economy, he said that between July and November 2008 the rate of export was around 40 per cent but later it had fallen to 26 per cent.

He said that Bangladesh enjoyed political, cultural and fraternal relations with Pakistan apart from the close trade ties. He said that currently the trade between Bangladesh and Pakistan was over $300 million of which Pakistan’s export was around $270 million to $280 million while Bangladesh’s was around $80 million.

“We are here to explore other avenues to increase our trade and we have also talked today of setting up Pakistan Bangladesh society in Hyderabad that can help strengthen our trade, cultural and educational ties,” he said.

Earlier, speaking at the dinner the deputy high commissioner said that diplomats of Bangladesh always reached out to Pakistan internationally before taking a position so that there should be unanimity of views on issues related to the common interests of both countries.

He urged the Pakistan’s business community to put forward some specific proposals to be discussed mutually by him and his Pakistani counterpart. He said that there were areas of motorbike manufacturing and bangle’s exports that could be explored. He said that issues of agricultural research, education, culture could also be taken up with their specifics by the two countries.

About trade volume, he said Pakistan’s exports to Bangladesh would touch $300 million soon given the fact that recession had affected Bangladesh’s economy to some extent and after the recession was over this volume would be around $500 million. Besides textile goods, he said, engineering products’ export would also take place. He said that Bangladesh had earned a name as a reliable exporter in the markets of the US and Europe.