The Daily Star: Let us start at the start. Is there any connection between this road that will be built and the Asian Highway network?

Dr. M. Rahmatullah: At present this link is not a part of the Asian Highway network, but this is just the first step. For the moment it is merely a bilateral route, but it a route with tremendous potential for Bangladesh. In the first instance it will boost trade and people-to-people interaction between the two countries. More importantly, it will help open up our eastern neighbour to us and help to create stronger ties. This can only be a good thing for Bangladesh.

Why would we want better relations with a country that is an international pariah?
The main thing is that Myanmar is very keen to have better relations with Bangladesh. In fact, they have made offers for Bangladeshis to invest and buy land in Myanmar on very easy terms. They have the opposite problem from us. Lots of land but very few people. So this could be a very advantageous possibility for Bangladesh. Of course, they have internal problems, but this does not mean that we can ignore them.

Is part of the attraction that Myanmar lies on the route to Kunming in China?
Exactly. If we wish to open up a direct road link to China -- and also Thailand -- then we must do it through Myanmar.

Is there interest in Myanmar and in China to develop this road link further, all the way to China?Very much so. Under the Kunming Initiative in 1999, the BCIM countries (Bangladesh, China, India, Myanmar) have been promoting the idea of greater sub-regional cooperation in trade, transport, and tourism. At the 7th BCIM Forum (as the Kunming Initiative is now known), held in Dhaka four months ago, the representatives from Kunming expressed great interest in developing a road link between Kunming and Chittagong through Myanmar.

How far away are we from the development of such a road link?
The distance between Kunming and Chittagong is 2,380 km. Roughly 1,700 km of good quality road between the two points already exists. Basically, it is only about 680 km of road -- in Myanmar -- that needs to be upgraded to a two-lane road of international quality for the entire route to be of international standard.

How long would this take to build?
Realistically, it would not be less than three to four years, minimum. Myanmar would require a great deal of help and financial assistance from China to build the road. Nevertheless, as of now Myanmar is also on board with the project, when earlier there was not much interest from them.

Why is China so interested in this road link?
Kunming is in south-western China, far away from China's ports on the east coast. This direct road, when developed, could provide easy access for Kunming -- and Myanmar for that matter -- to Chittagong port as well as the deep sea port that is being developed at Sonadia Island near Cox's Bazar. And it would, of course, also provide a direct road link the other way, from Bangladesh to China, as well.

How important is this road link for the development of a deep sea port at Sonadia?
It is vitally important. Bangladesh traffic alone is not enough to justify the expense of building a deep sea port. To make it viable, we must service the hinterland, this means not only China and Myanmar, but also Nepal, Bhutan, and the north-eastern states of India. This will be a win-win situation for all countries concerned. All of these countries desperately need access to a deep sea port, and we need their business to make the project viable.

But seeing as a deep sea port will take decades to develop, what is the immediate benefit?
Actually, all these countries can benefit from greater access to Chittagong port as well. Chittagong port's carrying capacity can also be increased to accommodate the expanded trade. What we need is a sub-regional approach, encompassing the neighbouring hinterland all the way to Kunming and Nepal and Bhutan. Chittagong can then emerge as the transport hub for the entire sub-region. The benefits to the Bangladesh economy would be incalculable.

This would require that we enter into some kind of arrangement with India as well, to allow transit through India from Nepal and Bhutan?
India also wants transit or transshipment rights through Bangladesh. The solution is a sub-regional solution. Indian transit/transshipment rights in return for Nepali and Bhutanese transit/transshipment rights through India. It would be win-win for all the countries. India has never accepted a sub-regional solution in the past, but may now be willing to do so, as this would facilitate passage from Kunming to Kolkata.