The Partnership and Cooperation Agreement signed between Bangladesh and the European Union (EU) on Monday last has been hailed as a comprehensive strategic partnership. It is going to replace the earlier EU-Bangladesh Cooperation Agreement 2001 known for its emphasis on development and trade. So far the 2001 agreement has served this country well. Under the Everything But Arms (EBA) provision Bangladesh secured for its exportable goods duty-free and quota-free access to the EU market. But the EBA did not accommodate crucially important issues like investment, climate action, migration, energy, transport and maritime affairs. Now the new deal is going far beyond such apolitical affairs to include regular political dialogue, security and other strategic areas. Report has it that such engagements are necessary in the context of Bangladesh's growing geo-political importance and its strategic Indo-Pacific position. 

Is Bangladesh a big player in the context of changing global geo-politics? It seems that the deal will involve Bangladesh's engagement in the shifting geo-political landscape. Drawing Bangladesh into such affairs should better be avoided. At a time when geo-politics tends to be more aggressive on the archaic principle "if you aren't with us, you're an enemy", the need for staying away from blocs is even overriding. If the country commits to one alliance, it may incur wrath of others. Already Bangladesh's unequal trade deal with the United States of America has come under scathing criticism. The country's interests should prevail over strategic agreements that drag it into the vortex of international politics. 

So far as other areas of engagements are concerned, this nation will definitely benefit if cooperation is taken to its logical conclusion. As the largest trading partner and biggest export destination of Bangladesh, the EU has remained a steadfast partner of this country. Now that overseas aid is shrinking, every nation on the planet is looking forward to secure its commercial and economic interests. The EU is an exception in that the bloc collectively maintains its relations with other nations. That it attaches importance to partnership between it and Bangladesh is indeed gratifying. Now the question is, if the newly initialled agreement will continue to maintain the preferential treatment even after Bangladesh's graduation from its existing least developed country (LDC) status to a developing nation. This is more important than its strategic elevation. Then come the issues such as energy, migration, climate action etc., along with investment and technology transfer to meet the emerging challenges. 

Waxing eloquent will not do. Bangladesh has its usual pressing problems on the domestic front. Additionally, it has sheltered approximately 1.2 million Rohingya refugees. With the donors tightening the grip on aid, the refugee camps in Cox's Bazar is turning into a flash point. Now that the US has drastically cut its aid for the Rohingya, the challenge of feeding the refugees is proving ever more daunting. The EU can increase its aid for the Rohingya before the seething discontent in camps blows up. Bangladesh has its own climate refugees who will grow in numbers with the climate getting ever more capricious. Collaboration and cooperation between this country and the EU on limiting the climatic fallouts will be welcome. Engagements in all such non-political but crucially important issues are more important than the politically strategic ones.