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JS watchdog unhappy with economic diplomacy

STAFF CORRESPONDENT
JS watchdog unhappy with economic diplomacy
The parliamentary watchdog on the foreign ministry yesterday expressed disappointment at the way Bangladesh missions are currently doing economic diplomacy with other countries.
The parliamentary standing committee on the foreign ministry observed that pursuing strong economic diplomacy with other countries is necessary in the current global context.
It, however, observed that Bangladesh's struggling overseas missions could not be strengthened because of inefficiency of staffs and lack of co-ordination.
"There are many anomalies in the foreign ministry and we will discuss the issue in the next meeting," Committee Chairman Ziaur Rahman Khan told reporters after a meeting of the committee held in the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.
Members of the committee at the meeting said they are not happy with the process of appointment of economic councillors whose role in pursuing economic diplomacy is vital.
The meeting formed a subcommittee with BNP lawmaker Manzur Quader as its head to look into the process of appointment of economic councillors, find out weaknesses in the wings of the ministry and analyse how other countries pursue economic diplomacy.
The sub-committee has been asked to submit a report in two months' time.
"We will make our recommen-
dations to strengthen the economic diplomacy through proper recruitment," Ziaur Rahman said.
The committee members observed that the economic councillors in many missions do not get enough time to use their experience, a member said quoting the meeting discussions.
Officials of ministries such as commerce and food are appointed as economic councillors to the missions for two to three years' tenure at the end of which they have to get back to their previous jobs.
The committee also observed a lack of co-ordination among officials in the foreign missions since many of them are drawn from different ministries, who have not worked together before.
The economic councillors send reports directly to their ministries without informing the head of the mission, said the committee chairman.
The meeting discussed the possibility of whether all officers of different ministries working in a single mission could be placed under the ambassador or high commissioner to streamline their functions and ensure their accountability.
The meeting also discussed the staffing strength at the foreign missions and the possibility of increasing the manpower in missions in London, Bangkok, Jeddah and Dubai, where officials spend most of their time on protocol.
Foreign Minister M Morshed Khan was present at the meeting.