Sheikh Hasina's visit to Myanmar, starting Monday, comes on the heels of Hilary Clinton's high profile tour of the country, as the US-China tussle for this strategic Asian crossroads intensifies.
India has also been engaging the mineral-rich, but paradoxically poor, country for almost a decade now, to gain out of its substantial gas reserves. Besides natural gas, Myanmar has considerable deposits of coal and other precious metal and gems like gold and rubies.
The prime minister's Dec 5-7 visit — the first in eight years by a Bangladeshi leader to this neighbouring nation with whom Bangladesh shares a 193-km border in the southeast— is expected to see two agreements.
"One is on furthering bilateral relations and the other to enhance private sector business under government endorsement," said Golam Sarwar, director general of South East Asia at the foreign ministry.
Sarwar would not give any further details "until the deals are signed".
Although Bangladesh had engaged with its neighbour, isolated by western sanctions but leaned towards China, as early as the 1980's, the government's "faltering attitude" has been behind Bangladesh and Myanmar never really 'getting it on', says Syed Mahmudul Huq, head of the Bangladesh Myanmar Business Promotion Council.
"For instance," he says, "we never got around to building a road link but India has already operationalised a 160-km friendship road from its northeast. But interestingly Bangladesh had begun the groundwork much earlier than India."
A businessman, who ran the first Bangladesh-Myanmar joint venture company set up in the 1990s, Huq said he would recommended including India in a tri-nation gas pipeline as well as road or rail link.
"This should be high on the agenda besides resolution of the maritime boundary and a coastal shipping agreement," Huq said, in an interview with .
The country of 47 million has suddenly found itself in an advantageous position, with more active US engagement competing to dilute Myanmar's dependence on China and counter its foothold in the Bay of Bengal, not to mention Indian overtures.
Says Huq: "Given the situation, Bangladesh cannot just sit back. We can still catch the train. Besides we have a long tradition of trade and business relations with Myanmar."
He said the Bangladesh government had failed to take the initiative although it had signed economic cooperation agreement as early as the 1980s, which in fact led to his short-lived fisheries joint-venture.
Sarwar, the foreign ministry official, sought to defend the government. "The prime minister's visit at this time is only a reflection that we understand the importance of engagement."
Huq mentioned that Bangladesh could well offer transit for the gas pipeline connecting India with rights of gas usage too. "We need not merely act as the conduit. Bangladesh could talk about a jointly-owned pipeline from which it could also get gas supply."
He also mentioned a tri-nation rail and road link would enhance mutual connectivity and together with an operationalised coastal shipping agreement could vastly increase the $150 million worth of trade between the two countries.
"This could jump to $500 million easily," he says.
Although Myanmar is a net exporter to Bangladesh, the trade would add to the economy since most imports are raw materials needed for industrial production while Bangladesh exports a host of consumer items, including substantial amounts of medicine.
The prime minister's 90-strong delegation will meet the foreign minister upon arrival and have formal talks with all top leaders.
Hasina's entourage includes a 38-member business delegation led by AK Azad, head of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries.
Myanmar's general-turned civilian president, Thein Sein, who took office after 2010 elections — the first in 20 years — will meet Hasina on Tuesday morning and host a banquet in her honour the same evening.
Hasina is expected to inaugurate the new Bangladesh mission in the Myanmar capital and visit their parliament building. According to her official itinerary, Sheikh Hasina is not expected to be meeting Nobel laureate and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi during the trip although the new regime has relaxed restrictions on Suu Kyi after years of detention in her home.
India has also been engaging the mineral-rich, but paradoxically poor, country for almost a decade now, to gain out of its substantial gas reserves. Besides natural gas, Myanmar has considerable deposits of coal and other precious metal and gems like gold and rubies.
The prime minister's Dec 5-7 visit — the first in eight years by a Bangladeshi leader to this neighbouring nation with whom Bangladesh shares a 193-km border in the southeast— is expected to see two agreements.
"One is on furthering bilateral relations and the other to enhance private sector business under government endorsement," said Golam Sarwar, director general of South East Asia at the foreign ministry.
Sarwar would not give any further details "until the deals are signed".
Although Bangladesh had engaged with its neighbour, isolated by western sanctions but leaned towards China, as early as the 1980's, the government's "faltering attitude" has been behind Bangladesh and Myanmar never really 'getting it on', says Syed Mahmudul Huq, head of the Bangladesh Myanmar Business Promotion Council.
"For instance," he says, "we never got around to building a road link but India has already operationalised a 160-km friendship road from its northeast. But interestingly Bangladesh had begun the groundwork much earlier than India."
A businessman, who ran the first Bangladesh-Myanmar joint venture company set up in the 1990s, Huq said he would recommended including India in a tri-nation gas pipeline as well as road or rail link.
"This should be high on the agenda besides resolution of the maritime boundary and a coastal shipping agreement," Huq said, in an interview with .
The country of 47 million has suddenly found itself in an advantageous position, with more active US engagement competing to dilute Myanmar's dependence on China and counter its foothold in the Bay of Bengal, not to mention Indian overtures.
Says Huq: "Given the situation, Bangladesh cannot just sit back. We can still catch the train. Besides we have a long tradition of trade and business relations with Myanmar."
He said the Bangladesh government had failed to take the initiative although it had signed economic cooperation agreement as early as the 1980s, which in fact led to his short-lived fisheries joint-venture.
Sarwar, the foreign ministry official, sought to defend the government. "The prime minister's visit at this time is only a reflection that we understand the importance of engagement."
Huq mentioned that Bangladesh could well offer transit for the gas pipeline connecting India with rights of gas usage too. "We need not merely act as the conduit. Bangladesh could talk about a jointly-owned pipeline from which it could also get gas supply."
He also mentioned a tri-nation rail and road link would enhance mutual connectivity and together with an operationalised coastal shipping agreement could vastly increase the $150 million worth of trade between the two countries.
"This could jump to $500 million easily," he says.
Although Myanmar is a net exporter to Bangladesh, the trade would add to the economy since most imports are raw materials needed for industrial production while Bangladesh exports a host of consumer items, including substantial amounts of medicine.
The prime minister's 90-strong delegation will meet the foreign minister upon arrival and have formal talks with all top leaders.
Hasina's entourage includes a 38-member business delegation led by AK Azad, head of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries.
Myanmar's general-turned civilian president, Thein Sein, who took office after 2010 elections — the first in 20 years — will meet Hasina on Tuesday morning and host a banquet in her honour the same evening.
Hasina is expected to inaugurate the new Bangladesh mission in the Myanmar capital and visit their parliament building. According to her official itinerary, Sheikh Hasina is not expected to be meeting Nobel laureate and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi during the trip although the new regime has relaxed restrictions on Suu Kyi after years of detention in her home.
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