Diplomacy

Shahriar Kabir, General Secretary, South Asian People’s Union against Fundamentalism & Communalism

This is the 40th year of Bangladesh’s successful liberation war. The government decided to confer Bangladesh Swadhinata Sammanona — the country’s highest civilian honour conferred on any foreign national — posthumously on Mrs Indira Gandhi, the former prime minister of India who played a vital role Bangladesh’s freedom. Indian National Congress president Mrs Sonia Gandhi received the honour on behalf of her late mother-in-law. Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh will visit Bangladesh in September this year.

The Mukti Juddha (liberation war) led by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman four decades back was not only meant to gain political freedom but also to unshackle the country from Islamic fundamentalism and transform it into a secular democratic Bangladesh. But freedom would have remained a dream if India had not supported the freedom struggle. The three-page citation to Indira Gandhi reads: “Indira Gandhi stood by the side of the people of Bangladesh from the beginning of the Liberation War despite various adversities. She provided shelter to about one crore Bangladeshi refugees. She provided courage in the Liberation War by facing different diplomatic hurdles. She played a great role in freeing Bangabandhu from Pakistani jail. Her contribution to Bangladesh’s Liberation War will be remembered forever.”

In fact, India not only sheltered and fed refugees and helped them to live with dignity, but extended all kind of support. The Independent Bangladesh government-in-exile was housed in 29 houses including its headquarters at 8, Theatre Road, where our prime minister and army chief’s offices were housed. That building can become a permanent museum of Bangladesh Mukti Juddha.

This is also the year of 150th birth anniversary of Rabindra Nath Tagore. Tagore spent good number of days at their ancestral Jamindari at Shilaidaha, Sajadpur and Patihal. Tagore was our inspiration during the Mukti Juddha. To commemorate his anniversary, PM Sheikh Hasina Wajed has announced the establishment of Rabindranath Tagore University, utilising Kuthibaris at Tagore family jamindari. The university can go a long way in strengthening Indo-Bangladesh relations. At present, India offers scholarships to 1400 Bangladeshi students studying in India. Bangladesh can in return offer scholarships to Indian students in the proposed university.

To commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Liberation War, a National Committee is preparing a list of those leading foreign personalities who stood rock-solid beside us during that war. Pranab Mukherjee is the only living person in the Indian cabinet. I requested him to pen his reminiscences. Bangladesh will build a descent memorial to honour those thousands of nameless soldiers whose sacrifice see us as a free nation today.

As neighbours, we have several issues to be resolved friendly and amicably. Other than the Ganges, we have 55 common rivers like Teesta passing through both the nations. Teesta River Water Agreement is likely to be inked along with some other treaties during the Indian Prime Minister’s visit. The six-decade old problem of 350 Chhitmahals or enclaves is another problem that needs to be resolved. These are satellite territories within another nation’s borders. People of these Chhitmahals face tremendous hardship to get access to their main land. Transfer of Chhitmahals is being considered actively. If that happens, Bangladeshi Chhitamahals in Indian territory will go to India and Indian Chhitmahals within Bangladesh will be of Bangladesh without displacing any one. Expectedly, a clear cut view on this may take shape during Indian Prime Minister’s visit in September. India has already facilitated Bangladesh’s export by inking a treaty and allowing Bhutan access to Bangladeshi ports through its territory.

Yet, the cloud of anxiety still looms. India thinks bilateral trade relations will continue irrespective of political changes in Bangladesh. This is in fact an international trend in today’s diplomatic relations. But, hard reality is different. World is aware about the sinister design to Islamise Bangladesh. Though Peoples’ Republic of Bangladesh regained her secular character and the ‘Islamic’ word is deleted, but only after compromising to fundamentalist demands. ‘Islam’ still remains as national religion and the use of religion in politics is allowed. I hope India will understand the grave danger and think beyond ritualistic diplomatic relations based on foreign trade. Bangladesh, with its 160 million citizens, is the third largest Muslim populated country. The rise of Islamic fundamentalism in Pakistan and Bangladesh will counter-produce Hindu fundamentalism in India. 

(As told to Chandrasekhar Bhattacharjee )