Speech by Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, Hon'ble Adviser to the Caretaker Government, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment and Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs at Indo-Bangladesh Dialogue on Media and Culture organized by CPD on 08.03.07.

Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen

I am delighted to be able to participate in this track-two process. This method of engaging the non-governmental levels of our two countries, Bangladesh and India, to create an appropriate matrix on which official relationship can be built is a concept whose time has surely come. Indeed, I believe, the situation is appropriate for both tracks, the governmental and non-governmental, to run concurrently, feeding into each other, ultimately serving what is our common interest.

Let me declare unequivocally that it is the intention of the current Caretaker Government to accord high priority to cultivating close relationship with all our neighbors, including India. We sincerely believe that in South Asia, together we are strong and a power to reckon with in the global arena. Conversely, if we are separate, we are weak. There used to be a tendency in our part of the world to perceive the regional pre-eminent actor as an entity that must be countered with by building a web of extra-regional linkages. No longer. Bangladesh is keen to extend the hands of friendship to all countries of the region, big and small, with the confidence that with the dawning of this new era of regional cooperation, it will be warmly grasped. I am aware that there have been times when misunderstandings have clouded the commonality of our values and the similarities of our culture. There must now be a sea change in our mind-set without which, in a world rapidly forging ahead in myriad ways, South Asia will lag behind.

Bangladesh and India share borders, cultural affinities, common historical experience and values that do us proud. We warmly recall the memories of the occasions that had linked our destinies, just like the liberation war in Bangladesh and the creation of SAARC. It is our intention to use these linkages to build a harmonious relationship between us at present. For future we will continue to mark this relationship with cordiality and cooperation.

Ideas that have taken roots in South Asia, our intellectual resources, have made a huge contribution towards advancing global civilization. Some of these have emanated from the soil of Bangladesh. We have taught the world, and this we can say with a modicum of pride that simplest concepts can often effect the profoundest changes. Take micro credit and non-formal education of women for instance. Our Armed Forces from both Asian countries contribute a preponderant component of the UN Peace Keeping operations. They render yeoman's service in stabilizing the strife torn world beyond our shores. Through our policies at home and abroad, we have given globalization a human face.

So let these be the bedrock values of our South Asian home. Let us coexist and cooperate among ourselves. Let us optimize our potentials. And let us deepen and strengthen the bonds that tie us all. India among us is most blessed in terms of size, population and resources. A special responsibility therefore would naturally devolve on her. I have every confidence that she will not shy away from it, and as she grows, she will help us grow with her.

These would entail awarding some special privileges or preferences to those less endowed in trade and other spheres. Such overtures would engender the spirit of greater understanding. It is rare that in relations between nations unilateral gestures are not reciprocated. In other words, one good turn would surely beget another.
At times, of course, there will be differences among us. There will be hiccups in this relationship and pitfalls in the journey to our goals. But we are resolved to overcome all of those and arrive at our destination together in friendship, peace and harmony.

The media has a special responsibility on this score. In South Asia they are an asset that has helped render our societies so intensely pluralist. It is experience culled from observing the operation of South Asian media that led Amartya Sen to famously conclude that a free press and famine are incompatible. Indeed, historically, the media, in erstwhile Bengal in the 19th Century had a major role in sustaining the efflorescence of the "renaissance," that rebirth and revolution in the mindset brought about by the "bhadralok" of Calcutta.

The "bhadralok" were a part of the Weberian status group distinguishable by the way they dressed, spoke, behaved and argued. They challenged the existing mores of their culture and religions by their protestant spirit, refusing to accept without question what they were taught at the feet of the guru. They employed Socratic dialecticism to arrive at their extrapolations. They would agree with Aristotle's retort; " amicus Plato sed magis amica veritas; dear is Plato, but dearer still is the truth!" In many ways, the Bangladeshi media wears the same mantle, speaking for the urges of the "bhadralok" in our contemporary times, upholding their values, acting as the "conscience" of the masses, as a watchdog of the principles that we have always cherished and which have made us nations great.

Therefore, it is obvious that we must create conditions for both our media, to cooperate in the promotion of a common cultural ethos, at the same time, celebrating the distinctiveness and variety that lends it added richness.

In order to be able to do so, the following steps are well worth considering:

· Ensuring free and unimpeded flow of information between our countries
· Up grading of infrastructural facilities especially in the ICT sector
· Promoting networking and syndication arrangements between the press and media of both countries
· Increasing the frequency of contacts and visits by the media people both at the governmental and private level
· Facilitating travel for the press, media people and the journalists
· Increasing usage should be considered of video and teleconferencing facilities for interactive sessions among the press and the media people
· Increasing awards, grants and fellowships for facilitating visits by media people
· Encouraging private sector to fund and promote interaction by the media people between the two countries
· Periodical publication through joint initiatives of supplements, articles, publications on issues of mutual interest such as on poverty, trade and environment.
· Encouraging resident correspondents in both countries for facilitating objective reporting
· Encouraging positive coverage and presentation of perspective of both the sides in reports by the print and the electronic media
· Facilitating the increased usage of radio considering its spread, coverage and economy

The wealth of our culture extends to areas of literature, drama, music, poetry and the performing arts. I am pleased to note young and promising Bangladeshi artistes have availed of this opportunity to learn at Indian centers of excellence such as the Delhi National School of Drama, Sriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra, National Film Institute at Pune and Shantiniketan. Grants and scholarships to facilitate these needs to be increased.

Within the context of SAARC, we have agreed on the elements of an Agenda for Culture. Festivals under its auspices have been organized. The spontaneity and success of these events should encourage us to organize similar ones dedicated to music and culture in our two countries. Competitions in Nazrul and Tagore songs for young and talented artistes from Bangladesh and India could be held alternately in the two countries.

It is felt that a 'Bangladesh Cultural Center ', if established in India could contribute much to the promotion of the Bangladeshi culture. This center can also cater to other educational aspects. It could have a library where Bangladeshi books would be available. A theater hall could be established where Bangladeshi films and documentaries of high quality and standard could be screened.

Another issue that merits serious consideration is increased translation of literary works from India and Bangladesh from Hindi to Bengali and vice versa. They will greatly facilitate mutual understanding and increase popularity of these litterateurs in both countries. Bangladesh and India could jointly embark on a project of anthology of poems, short stories and dramas selected from both the countries.
Our cultural heritage consisting of archaeological sites, historical monuments and relics provides an opportunity for increased people to people contact through Cultural Tourism. Introduction of package tours at reduced rates by the National Tourism Organizations to heritage sites will help.

Our region is a treasure trove of folklores that has been passed on from one generation to another. Each region prides in a distinctive type of folk dance and music. In the realm of dance, the forms and expressions are often symbolic and elemental in nature: to name a few- Katthak, Khasi, Jaintia, Manipuri, Kuchipudi and Bharatnattyam create permanent impressions in our minds because of their expressive nature. In the realm of song, there would be ghazal, bhajan, Lalongeeti and baul songs. Both India and Bangladesh has been home to great exponents of classical music. Through Audio-Visual Exchanges and Live Performances of cultural programs we can assist in building bridges of goodwill and understanding, and create bonds that will sustain.

Allow me to conclude by wishing this track two process every success. I have full confidence that it will help rekindle the torch of hope that will light the path of our march to our goals. Let the flow of ideas from events such as this enlighten us. As the mighty Rabindranath Tagore, a supreme symbol of our common heritage, had said; "

" Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high;
Where knowledge is free;
Where the world has not been broken up into fragments by narrow domestic walls;
……… Into that heaven of freedom, my father, let my country -
or rather, paraphrasing him, our countries, awake !