New Strategy and Positive Approach for Bangladesh

Clearly, the time has come to extend a hand of friendship towards Bengalis and Bangladesh. We must respond to the call of the overwhelming population of Bangladesh to reestablish ties from where they broke in 1971. It has to be timely and in equal measure. I think we should now come out of “cautious” mode as we must not allow the opportunity to slip by. The bitter feelings of 1971 should be set aside by both sides.

Bengalis have sacrificed over a thousand lives during the Monsoon Revolution to oust India from Bangladesh. We did not have to make any effort or spend anything. The video clip of Abu Sayeed’s martyrdom in Rangpur is still fresh in our minds.

Indians have been made speechless; a shameful retreat. They are still wondering how they could not read the situation. Indian media and intellectuals have tried to suggest that a huge conspiracy was hatched by Bangladeshi extremist Islamic elements in cahoots with some international players to uproot India from its well-entrenched position in Bangladesh. They could not believe that a local “quota movement” led by the students could create a tsunami, targeting not only Sheikh Hasina but also her backer, India. Every day India presents a new justification for its debacle in Dhaka. It seems India’s doors to Bangladesh have been closed for a long time to come.

Interestingly, the Bengalis did not take much time to open their hearts to Pakistan and its people. All of a sudden, they have forgotten the 1971 events and the bitterness, partly real and partly India-engineered. It seems they are willing to accept Mr. Jinnah as their father of the nation again. All this has not happened without divine assistance. The unfair treatment meted out to the Bengalis in the past and their demand for a “formal apology” and compensation should be erased from our diary. Let us build bridges now by taking a positive view of the new situation offered as a consequence of the sacrifices of Bengali youth.

Bengalis have inculcated a sense of fear and shame in the minds of the Indians. Indians feel that they were forced to “surrender” in Dhaka this time, while they tried to keep Pakistan away through trickery, building a false narrative of friendship with Bangladesh, and negative propaganda against Pakistan. They saw Pakistan’s hand behind everything negative. The people of Bangladesh have rejected all nasty machinations and narratives of India. In extreme rage, the revolutionaries demolished the statue of Pakistan’s surrender in 1971, where General Niazi sat with General Jagjit Singh Arora.

This time around, we should establish relations with the people of Bangladesh based on the principle of mutual respect, trust, understanding, beneficial cooperation, and recognition of each other’s culture and language. I would suggest that both sides should show interest in learning each other’s language and appreciate each other’s culture, to pronounce a new broad-minded approach towards one another. These are important elements in strengthening bonds.

In the past, language and cultural diversity were not the only reasons for the disintegration of Pakistan. Though the struggle for separation started with the language issue in 1952, there were complaints about other serious issues: inadequate military and civil jobs, discrimination, political exclusion, economic disparity, and West Pakistan’s dominance in every sphere of life. At that time, some thought in Pakistan, particularly the elite, that the separation of East Pakistan was a “good riddance”.

Over the years, we realized that it was not a wise explanation or justification. Our authorities made a deliberate attempt to forget twenty-four years of our association with East Pakistan and the Bengalis. Pakistan’s school textbooks do not mention anything about East and West Pakistani peoples’ joint struggle for the independence of Pakistan, starting with establishing All India Muslim League in Dhaka in 1906, to the Lahore Resolution in 1940 presented by the chief minister of united Bengal, A.K. Fazlul Huq.

Our youth are not appreciative of the steps taken by the government to erase the entire history of our association with the people of Bengal. Many believe that it is intellectual dishonesty. How could we omit or ignore such an important chunk of our history? As such, there is a need for retrospection.

At the regional level, we lost face due to our defeat in Dhaka in 1971 by the Indian forces. However, we soon regained our lost credentials by developing a nuclear program that ensures our country’s safety and security against all foreign aggression.
Bangladeshi people appreciate us for our achievements. At a time when they are worried about India’s behavior and possible future aggression, Bengali scholars have spoken about their need to emulate Pakistan and seek cooperation with Pakistan. Bangladeshis have given us an opening by defeating India’s mighty power for seeking a regional balance of power which was disturbed in 1971.

Closer to our neighborhood, Pakistan is not in a comfortable position. We are facing challenges from India and Afghanistan. China and Iran are friends, but we have to be watchful in our relations with them because of the apprehensions of Western powers. We need to pursue our national interest vigorously considering our priorities. That is why I am suggesting that Bengalis are willing to embrace Pakistan, partly for their own security, which we should notice and respond to. Such opportunities do not appear often and time is of the essence.

I may suggest some measures that Pakistan should consider: (1) Increase diplomatic presence in Dhaka by providing resources; (2) Propose strengthening of political, cultural, and economic cooperation by setting targets; (3) Visa restrictions imposed by the Hasina government should be eased; (4) A business delegation may be sent to Bangladesh as soon as possible. Bangladeshi chamber delegation may also be invited to identify areas of cooperation; (5) Pakistan’s prime minister is expected to meet Bangladesh’s chief advisor in New York soon. As a follow-up, the prime minister may also visit Bangladesh by the end of the year to give concrete shape to cooperation; (6) A team of musicians, particularly qawwali performers, should visit Bangladesh this year. There is a renewed interest in qawwali among Bangladeshi youth. (7) Sports cooperation should be diversified beyond cricket; (8) A one-day cricket series in Bangladesh may be arranged; and (9) Air flights may be restored.

Ambassador (r) Burhanul Islam is a former diplomat and a senior IPS associate.