Argentina and Bangladesh, two countries located at opposite ends of the world, have created a fascinating history of bilateral relationship. The relationship which began with a shining example of sports diplomacy, has now evolved into a robust state-level partnership based on mutual interests and values. MIR ARMAN FARUK, goes deep into the unique diplomatic success story between the two countries.
Bangladesh, a small South Asian country with a population of over 160 million, has made remarkable progress in reducing poverty, improving healthcare, and expanding access to education in recent years. Its economy has been growing at an impressive rate of 7% per annum, making it one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. On the other hand, Argentina, a large South American country with a population of over 45 million, is known for its rich culture, diverse natural resources, and advanced industrial base. Despite its recent economic challenges, Argentina has a strong potential for growth, particularly in the agricultural and energy sectors.
The relationship between Argentina and Bangladesh dates back to 1971 when Bangladesh was fighting for its independence from Pakistan. Argentina, along with other Latin American countries, supported Bangladesh’s struggle for independence and played a significant role in the recognition of Bangladesh as a sovereign nation in the international community. During the War of Liberation, Victoria Ocampo, a famous Argentine poet and a contemporary of Rabindranath Tagore expressed her support for the Bangladesh movement. She led her voice to the struggle of the Bengalis alongside other Latin American intellectuals of the time. Argentine government officially recognized Bangladesh in 1973 and opened its embassy in Dhaka in 1974. But unfortunately, the embassy was closed in 1978 when a military regime took control of Buenos Aires. Both countries maintained diplomatic relations, with Bangladesh accredited to Argentina from its embassy in Brasilia, Brazil and Argentina from its embassy in New Delhi, India.
MARADONA AND LA ALBICELESTE FLAMES A PASSION
Prior to 1986, the word “Argentina” likely had little recognition among Bangladeshis. During the Mexico World Cup that year, Bangladesh was under a military rule. Football was the game in the 80s and this was the first time the entire World Cup was live broadcasted in colour in Bangladesh. A short, charismatic fella named Diego Armando Maradona led an unknown team in sky blue and white to the pantheon of football’s supremacy in Mexico. The rest was not only sporting history but also beginning of a love story between two nations.
A large chunk of Bangladeshis adopted Maradona and the team he led as their own. In some pseudo-psychosocial way, Maradona represented Bangladesh with his grit, resilience and an astonishing power to create awe in face of adversity. That match against England, that “Hand of God”, that “Goal of the Century”, not only stuck it to the English for millions of Argentines in the aftermath of Falklands war, it also a triumphant moment for Bangladeshis who had endured two centuries of colonial rule. Bangladesh found itself deeply in love with Maradona and the country he came from. The whole country cried with him after the World Cup final in 1990.
There were protest rallies demanding then FIFA president João Havelange’s neck after Maradona was banned for testing positive in dope test in 1994 World Cup. Havelange’s country of origin, Brazil the arch-nemesis of Argentina, made it a saucy affair in countless debate in tea stalls around Bangladesh.
Diego Maradona eventually retired but the flame of passion he ignited kept burning brighter. Every four years, the Argentina vs Brazil fan base in Bangladesh brought an unseen level of passion supporting their adopted team.
The roofs of every house, every lane of every neighborhood had a display of flags of different sizes. It could be argued that even the most adherent of Brazil supporter would agree that they are no match for the madness the sky-blue and white supporters show. Ariel Ortega, Gabriel Batistuta, Pablo Aimar, Juan Riquelme, Carlos Tevez, the pedestal of false gods kept growing, breaking the hearts of millions of Bangladeshis every four year.
MESSI, QATAR AND CROSS-NATION FRENZY
It seemed Leonel Andrés Messi, another short, good-looking fella, would be another name added to the list of false gods. A lanky teenager mesmerized us in Germany with his substitute appearances, disappointed us in South Africa, came ‘oh so close’ in Brazil and cursed in Russia; finally came to Qatar for one last dance. Argentina, Bangladesh and the World have lost Diego Maradona in the meantime. It felt like destiny, a script written in the stars. Messi and his teammates finally won the world cup after 36 years for Argentina and in a sense for many Bangladeshis.
The fervent support of Bangladeshis for the Argentine football team became widely recognized after FIFA posted a video of their jubilation at Messi’s goal against Mexico. The intense devotion of Bangladeshi Argentina fans was praised by several Argentine media outlets, who were amazed by their unwavering loyalty. Ahead of the finals, Argentines repeatedly expressed their appreciation for Bangladesh’s prayers. During a live match report in Qatar, Argentine fans were seen on T-Sports, a Bangladeshi news channel, asking for these prayers from their devoted Bangladeshi followers, which quickly went viral on Tik-tok.
In response to the kind gesture of Bangladeshi fans towards the Argentine national team, a Buenos Aires resident named Dan Lande took the initiative to create an Argentine fan group for the Bangladesh cricket team. The group, named ‘Fans argentinos de la selección de cricket de Bangladesh’ in Spanish, meaning ‘Argentine fans of the Bangladesh cricket team,’ was established after receiving a suggestion from an Argentine follower on Instagram. Dan Lande’s tweet about the creation of the Argentine fan group for the Bangladesh cricket team gained widespread attention on Twitter. The news was further spread by Tefi Russo, a renowned Argentine author, who shared it on her Instagram account. As a result, a large number of Argentines became aware of the group and started joining, along with Bangladeshi cricket fans, to express their mutual admiration and affection for each other. When the Messi and Argentina team came back to celebrate their victory in Buenos Aires, flags of Bangladesh were seen flying or carried by many Argentines.
ACCELERATION OF BILATERAL RELATIONS AND REOPENING OF EMBASSY
The level of people-to-people connection created amongst the two nations with 17,050 kilometres of distance in such a short period time is unheard of. It showed that sports can be a cornerstone for diplomacy and creating natural relationship between two nations culturally and geographically far apart. The level of people-to-people connection was not unnoticed in diplomatic circles in Argentina. Santiago Cafiero, Argentina’s foreign minister, announced through Twitter that he would start steps to reopen Argentina’s embassy in Bangladesh.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina wrote a letter to Argentina’s President Alberto Ángel Fernández congratulating the latter’s winning the world cup. The letter said “I have pleasantly observed that the affection and love for football, particularly the Argentine football team, profoundly connects our two people. The people of Bangladesh have demonstrated their admiration and love through the spontaneous celebration of winning the World Cup Football Championship of your national football team. The unprecedented love and affection between the two nations have paved the way for solid bilateral relations. To this end, I hope to further consolidate the relations by opening missions in each other’s capital cities in the coming days.” President Fernández replied to the letter in a tweet saying,
“Thank you Sheikh Hasina and the entire people of Bangladesh. The union and mutual affection that we have seen in recent weeks have become inexplicable, and today both flags are flying here as well. Let’s deepen this link.”
Alberto Fernández
President of Argentina
Even before the events of the World Cup 2022 in Qatar, both Bangladesh and Argentina were trying to accelerate the level of bilateral relationship. During an official visit to Buenos Aires in 2011, the former foreign secretary of Bangladesh, Mohamed Mijarul Quayes, held talks with Argentine officials. In July 2022, to mark 50 years of diplomatic relations, the Undersecretary of Foreign Policy of Argentina, Claudio Javier Rozencwaig, led a delegation to Dhaka, Bangladesh, accompanied by the Argentine Ambassador to Bangladesh, Hugo Gobbi. The two sides signed a memorandum of understanding to facilitate further discussions between their governments. The Argentine officials also met with high-ranking Bangladeshi officials, including Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Shahriar Alam, who praised the efforts of Argentine poet Victoria Ocampo for raising awareness about the struggles faced by the people of Bangladesh during the Liberation War.
During a state visit by Argentina’s foreign minister Santiago Cafiero, Embassy of Argentina was formally reopened on 27th February 2023. Argentina’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Santiago Andrés Cafiero and Bangladesh’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam jointly inaugurated the embassy. During the inauguration ceremony, Shahriar Alam highlighted that Argentina’s decision to reopen its embassy in Bangladesh was influenced not only by the country’s status as the 35th largest economy in the world, but also by the passionate support of Bangladeshis for Argentine football. He emphasized that the people-to-people connections and mutual admiration have played a significant role in strengthening the diplomatic, economic, and political ties between the two nations. According to Alam, reopening the embassy is not just a diplomatic move, but also an emotional one, that signifies the enduring bond of friendship between the people of Bangladesh and Argentina. Cafiero emphasized that, while trade is certainly a significant factor in the decision to reopen the embassy, it is ultimately the love and respect for people that are crucial, particularly during times of war and economic hardship. In his speech, Cafiero recited verses from Tagore, highlighting the importance of serving others and standing up for the less privileged. During the same event, Bangladesh and Argentina signed several agreements, including a visa exemption agreement for diplomatic and official passports, a pact to promote football training and cooperation, and a memorandum of understanding between their foreign service academies for diplomatic training.
GROWTH IN TRADING OPPORTUNITIES
Last year, the total bilateral trade between Bangladesh and Argentina amounted to $765 million, with Argentina exporting goods worth $742.9 million, while Bangladesh’s imports from Argentina stood at $22.1 million. Representatives from a business delegation from Argentina met with their Bangladeshi counterparts to discuss potential business opportunities. The event was organized by the Argentina Embassy in New Delhi and held on February 28 at the Intercontinental Hotel in Dhaka. More than 30 Argentine businessmen representing various sectors, including food, pharmaceuticals, veterinary medicine, and football teams, were present at the meeting to explore avenues for cooperation and growth in Bangladesh.
Franco Agustin Senilliani Melchior, who heads the Economic and Trade Office and serves as the deputy chief of the Mission of the Argentina Embassy in New Delhi, expressed optimism about the potential for stronger trade ties between Bangladesh and Argentina. According to Melchior, both countries have much to offer each other, with Argentina having a wealth of resources, such as lithium, olive oil, processed food, and raw materials of gold, which are in high demand in Bangladesh. He further suggested that Bangladesh could benefit from importing these products from Argentina.
Pharmaceuticals and medical equipment can be sector that Bangladesh can look to boost its export deficit with Argentina. Argentina have imported $2.4B worth of pharmaceutical products which is its 3.6% of total imports. Dr. Chezhian, who serves as a director at AMBTU LifeScience, stated that Bangladeshi pharmaceutical companies have displayed a keen interest in acquiring specialized minerals and vitamins. He further mentioned that some companies had already expressed their interest in importing the ingredients they offer. Additionally, Dr. Chezhian stated that they were also searching for partners who could provide finished goods.
OPPORTUNITIES GALORE FOR BILATERAL AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
One of the key areas of cooperation between Bangladesh and Argentina can be in the field of agriculture. Both countries are major producers of food, and can work together to improve their agricultural productivity, reduce post-harvest losses, and promote sustainable farming practices. Argentina can provide technical assistance to Bangladesh in areas such as seed production, livestock management, and irrigation systems, while Bangladesh can share its expertise in aquaculture, fisheries, and agro-processing. This cooperation can led to the establishment of joint ventures, such as the Bangladesh-Argentina Agricultural Forum, which can bring together farmers, researchers, and entrepreneurs from both countries to share best practices and explore new opportunities.
Another area of collaboration can be in the energy sector. Argentina is known for its vast reserves of natural gas, which can be used as a cleaner alternative to coal and oil. Bangladesh can explore opportunities to import liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Argentina, as it seeks to diversify its sources of energy and reduce its dependence on fossil fuels. The two countries can explore joint ventures in renewable energy, such as solar and wind power, which can help to mitigate the impacts of climate change.
To conclude, the partnership between Bangladesh and Argentina can be based on a shared commitment to South-South Cooperation, which is a concept that refers to the exchange of resources, technology, and knowledge among developing countries. Both countries have been active members of the Group of 77, a coalition of developing countries that aims to promote economic and social development, and to advance their collective interests in international forums. They have also participated in several UN-led initiatives, such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement on climate change, which require a collaborative approach among all countries. Furthermore, the partnership between Bangladesh and Argentina has great potential to contribute to South-South Cooperation, which can help to address some of the most pressing mutual chalenges, such as poverty, inequality, and climate change. The cooperation in trade, agriculture, energy, and culture can demonstrate the strength and diversity of the bilateral relationship. As both nations move forward, they should continue to explore new opportunities for collaboration, based on their shared values and mutual interests.
