The New Nation - Internet Edition

Shakhawat Hossain

Apart from a brief commercial incursion between the foundation of the Chandernagor (India) bank in 1690 and its capture by the British in 1793, France has never had an foothold in Bengal. However, France was among the first to recognize the independence of Bangladesh after the 16th of December 1971. Its first ambassador was appointed in Dhaka in 1972. We may recall the support brought by André Malraux during the freedom fighters' battle, the visit of Mrs. Mitterrand in 1988 and her plea in favor of a massive international aid after the terrible 1988 floods and also the fruitful State visit of the President Mitterrand in 1990.

France traditionally maintains good relations with Bangladesh. France and Bangladesh defend similar ideas on most international issues (Iraq notably). France always emphasizes the democratic characteristics of the third Muslim country in the world, its development progress (development in the private sector, micro-credit, macroeconomic balance) and its contribution to the peace keeping operation of the UN.

In 1991, France has canceled the national debt of Bangladesh (589 MFF). Since the reform of the French cooperation framework, Bangladesh does not belong to the Priority Zone of Solidarity (ZSP), nor belongs to the list of eligible countries for special assistance. Any development aid from France passes through the European commission and its fund for the development where France's share is about 19%.

The cultural cooperation between France and Bangladesh is mainly channeled through the two Alliances françaises of Dhaka and Chittagong with whom the French embassy works closely. Actually, they are the real French culture operators in Bangladesh.

The cultural service of the Embassy participates also in various manifestations such as the Francophony days or other festivities of French, European or International movies. The last two festivals were "Au Sud du cinéma" in December 2005 and the "International Film Festival of Dhaka, from 15 January 2006. Thanks to the "South Fund", we also help the emergence of artistic movies from Dhaka: the film "Moinar Matir", of Tareque Massud, was made with our help ; it obtained an award and was distributed in France.

Last but not the least, France runs an archeological cooperation program of importance: the French archeological cooperation mission of Mahasthan has been working since 1993 on an important site dating from the 4th century BC till the 14th century, located in the region of Bogra. An intermediate report has been published in 2001 in Dhaka. This program, run in collaboration of the Directorate of Archeology in Bangladesh, goes hand in hand with a number of training of muséologie with the "Institut du Patrimoine français" and the Dhaka Museum.

We have a modest but old university cooperation, centered on the training of elite personnel in the fields of science, administration and technology. In the scientific field, the embassy runs since 1997 a support policy with thesis managed jointly between France and Bangladesh. These days, five thesis are in progress in the fields of health, bio-diversity and international relations. France also contributes to the training of Bangladeshi diplomats with two yearly scholarships in the Ecole Nationale d'Administration in favor of young diplomats. Many high ranked Bangladeshis diplomats are scholarship holders of this program. In cooperation with the Aeronautic and Spatial Institute of Toulouse, we send yearly two executives from the Biman Bangladesh Airlines company for studies in France.

Created in 1984, the France-Bangladesh Association of Scholars and Trainees (FBAST) has 60 active members and a potential of around 200 members. The association is supported by UBIFRANCE, the Alliance française, the Economic Section and the embassy on its cooperation budget. This support since 1996 has allowed the organization of seminars and discussions with local experts and two yearly seminars with the participation of French experts on important issues for the country. The last seminar was held in November 2005 on water management.

France doesn't have a recurrent humanitarian program in Bangladesh, but can intervene from time to time depending on emergencies. After the 2004 floods, we have provided an aid of 100 000€ to the local NGO Friendship for the reconstruction of 500 houses in the region of the "chars" of the Jamuna.

At present, the military cooperation is focused on the linguistic training: the presence of a numerous Bangladeshi contingents in United Nations peace keeping operations and the presence of these troops in French speaking countries in Africa creates a demand from our Bangladeshi partners. We train around 50 officers each year, in addition to the courses the Bangladeshi army subscribes by itself for some of its officers, in particular in the Navy. Regular stops of French Navy Ships in the port of Chittagong helps to maintain good relations.

(The writer is the Attaché de Presse, (Press Attache) Embassy of France, Dhaka)