Bangladesh's foreign policy expert: Gowher Rizvi

[Bengal_Tiger]

Former Virginia University professor, Gowher Rizvi is one of the architects of the recent historic Indo-Bangladeshi treaty which dealt with trade, border disputes and other affairs.

This was a deal between the 2nd and 7th biggest countries on earth, and secured a foundation for pan-Asian trade and co-operation as Bangladesh is adjacent to India and close to China and this deal ultimately benefits ove 2.5 billion people (40% of the world).

Here he is in an interview 3 years ago when he was a professor in the USA.

U.Va.'s Gowher Rizvi Speaks to the Importance of International Programs - YouTube[/URL]

NB: I don't agree with everything he says or the globalist agenda.

[Bengal_Tiger]

When he was the vice provost of the University of Virginia.



At an IBM awards ceremony when he worked for a Harvard-connected centre.



At a talk delivered by him on the future of the commonwealth.



With Muslim brother nation Turkey, a country which Bangladesh has always helped and supported.



Delivering a speech to a Bangladesh-Turkish event in Dhaka.



At a BRAC event in Dhaka (on the far left, to his right is the former president of Sri Lanka Chandrika Kumaratunga).



At another awards ceremony when working for the Ash Institute, John F Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.



He was in Afghanistan in the past and was appointed to his current position of advisor to the prime minister in 2009.

Dr Gowher Rizvi, an internationally renowned political scientist, has been appointed adviser to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
“The Prime Minister today appointed Dr Gowher Rizvi her adviser under the rule 3B(i) of the Rules of Business, 1996,” said a handout yesterday.
Dr Rizvi, the immediate past director of the Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government, will enjoy the rank and status, salary-allowances and other facilities similar to a full minister.
Sources said in the recent times he met the prime minister twice. With the latest appointment, now the panel of advisers to the PM is seven strong.
Rizvi was the vice-provost for International Programs at the University of Virginia, USA from August 3, 2008 to 2009.
He was the Ford Foundation's representative for South Asia, New Delhi office from 1998 to 2003 and deputy director, Governance & Civil Society at New York office from 1995 to 1998. He was the director of contemporary affairs of The Asia Society, New York from 1994 to 95.
Dr Rizvi was the United Nations' Coordinator for Afghanistan, Geneva, Islamabad & Kabul from 1988 to 90. He has worked recently as the consultant of UNDP for reforming civil service change management in the country.
He authored a number of books that include South Asia in a Changing International Order; South Asian Insecurity and the Great Powers; Bangladesh: The Struggle for the Restoration of Democracy; Perspectives on Imperialism and Decolonization; and Linlithgow and India.
He is the founding editor of Contemporary South Asia, an academic and policy studies journal published from Oxford.
Rizvi earned a double first in BA honours and MA from the University of Dhaka while DPhil from Trinity College, Oxford, where he studied as a Rhodes Scholar.

http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesig....php?nid=96257

[Bengal_Tiger]

1. He has been criticized as being too pro-Indian by some and the deal though acclaimed by many in the western media is seen as a fiasco by many in Bangladesh, because the essence of the deal, transit for India and a Teesta water deal for Bangladesh, did not go through.

Many in Bangladesh say Bangladesh gave far more to India than they actually got.



New Delhi wants transit through Bangladesh to bypass the longer and more awkard journey through the Siliguri corridor to its north-east and Myanmar.

2. I, and many other Bangladeshis, would either not support him being given a more senior position or would be very suspicious of him as he has lived in America and seems to be close to the American establishment.

Bangladesh is a member of the non-Aligned movement and cannot be too close to any major power and should preserve a certain amount of equidistance e.g. we have refused to give a military base to the US, despite many other Muslim countries doing so e.g. Turkey, Qatar, Pakistan, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia etc.

4. Rizvi is amongst other Harvard and Oxford educated or linked experts working for the Bangladeshi government.

Another major expert and part of the recent major Indo-Bangladeshi deal is Dr Mashiur Rahman.



Mashiur Rahman opens an interntional arbitration centre in Dhaka.

[Bengal_Tiger]

Another reason why I feel uncomfortable with him is he is married to a westerner which per se is not wrong. However I feel he would be too westernized and out of touch with the needs of ordinary Bangladeshis to work for our government in any capacity higher than an advisor.

[asad71]

Is it true that he is a Qadyiani too? He is probably a son of Mr Rizvi, the last Home Secy of E Pak, who had a fatal heart attack hearing Pak Army had launched operation without his knowledge. Rizvis are from Murshidabad and originally Shias.