Dhaka wants BRICS
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“It should be win-win for all countries. Some people speak more about the geopolitical tension for some reason or the other. There should not be any such tension. In the long run, it [the tension] will possibly go away,” Momen said.
Hasina will fly for Johannesburg at the invitation of South African President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, the current president of the alliance comprised of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS). Some 70 countries will be attending.
Russian President Vladimir Putin will join the summit virtually.
BRICS is considered an alternative to the western-influenced the World Bank and the IMF. Analysts think that China and Russia are considering BRICS as a way of exhorting geopolitical influence amid the rising global polarisation since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
There are also efforts of de-dollarisation. Asked about this, Momen said there have been talks on it but nothing at the official level.
He some countries are facing difficulties as many banks have been expelled from SWIFT, a bank messaging system for transactions with dollars.
“Many speak about de-dollarisation, but it is not easy. We don’t have much to comment on this,” he added.
Traditionally, the developed countries have been supporting the developing world. They also had pledged 0.7 percent of their gross national income but only a few could deliver. The developing countries, like Bangladesh, need funding for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
“So, if the emerging countries support us with funding, the developed countries should be happy. In that case, their responsibilities will be shared,” he said.
Since 2021, Bangladesh has been a member of the New Development Bank established by BRICS, but the issue of Bangladesh joining the alliance came under the spotlight recently when Hasina called on South African President Ramaphosa in Geneva on June 14.
The issue of membership is now hanging as the BRICS members say they need to fix the criteria for issuing membership.
PM’S VISIT
During the visit to Johannesburg, PM Hasina will attend the “Bangladesh Trade and Business Summit” organised by the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) on August 23. She will also attend the “Regional Envoys Conference” of the Bangladeshi envoys in Africa.
She is scheduled to make a courtesy call on South African president and the heads of the states and governments of BRICS. She will attend the banquet to be hosted by Ramaphosa.
On August 24, she will participate in the BRICS-Africa Outreach and the BRICS Plus Dialogue and address there as the member of New Development Bank. In the evening, she will address the Bangladesh expatriates living in South Africa.
A number of African leaders have sought to call on Hasina during her stay in Johannesburg. A separate group of businessmen will also visit there under the arrangement of the BSEC.
Momen said Hasina would also use the visit to South Africa to explore new avenues of strengthening relationship with the African countries in terms of trade and investment.