Bangladesh's Independence Day: Some Remembrances

 

Bangladesh is on the verge of celebrating her 52nd anniversary of Independence. This year she is completing her 52nd anniversary of this event. The day is no doubt quite significant throughout the nation. It is also celebrated in neighboring India plus other parts of the globe. Independence of Bangladesh was no doubt a hard fought one. It was the culmination of two major events. The Independence of India in the year 1947 on August 15 from tyrannical oppression of ruling British along with partition of the nation on August 14, 1947. On account of the partition, the newly Independent nation was divided into two nations, India and Pakistan. After partition of India, Pakistan was further subdivided into two parts, West Pakistan and East Pakistan. The Language movement of the year 1948 on March 11 along with subsequent language movement of the year 1952 on February 21. The last named is still popular among Bengalis as Aamar Ekushey and later on in the year 1999 on November. The day has been coined by internationally reputed agency United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Ultimately hard-fought Independence of the then East Pakistan was achieved in the year 1971 on December 16. This day is observed every year as Bijay Diwas (in English known as Victory Day). After couple of months on March 25, 1972, a major coup took place nearby to Dhaka University. It was the very next day, the constitution of Independent Bangladesh was promulgated by legendary jurist and legal luminary of the nation Dr Kamal Hossain. There might be another person’s name whose name should not be ignored. He was barrister Syed Ishtiaq Ahmad. After the promulgation of the constitution, this newly Independent nation became Peoples Republic of Bangladesh. Thus in the subsequent paragraph it is my earnest endeavor to evaluate properly the independence of this prominent nation under South Asian Sub-Continent.
It is indeed a difficult task for this Indian writer to properly evaluate about upcoming Independence Day celebration of Bangladesh. Every year the day is celebrated on March 26. 52 years have elapsed for Independent Bangladesh. It is not a matter of joke. Despite various fortitudes in such a long journey of Bangladesh, however this closer and cordial South Asian nation is progressing fast in the tune with international trend. Among the eight South Asian nations, to my feeling India and Bangladesh are standing vibrantly on its feet. It is already known to my elite and revered online readers of both nations that relations are extremely pleasant and cordial. There has been bilateral cooperation in fields like business, trade, economic, scientific, technical, art and culture of both nations. In corporate arenas of both nations, there has been regular exchange of ideas. Along with visits of corporate personnel, there has been regular visits of academic personnel to each nations. This will further bolster pleasant relations between India and Bangladesh.

To further evaluate about Independence of Bangladesh, it is the ethical duty of this Indian writer to throw deep light about the cooperation in various fields between two nations. Now the two nations cooperate on the following fields like, politics and security, defense and border management, nabbing hard dreaded criminals, development of economics, commerce, trade and finance, water resources, power and energy, cultural contact along with that academic cum corporate and professional ones. Also the common people of both nations should have closer and cordial affinity among them.

In the recent past, opening of Padma River Multipurpose Bridge, opening of Dhaka Metro Railway plus other tunnels have opened up economic corridors of the nation with parts as well as with cordial and closer South Asian neighbor India.

As per trading and commercial relations between India and Bangladesh is concerned, India’s export to Bangladesh amounted to $ 14 during the year 2021. Bilateral trade between India and Bangladesh was $ 18.2 billion during the financial year 2021-2022 whereas during the financial year 2020-2021 period it was $ 10.8 billon.

As per the details of items exported by India to Bangladesh are rice, sugar, pulse along with onion, chemicals and fertilizers, accessories, onions, fruits and cereals.

Contrarily details of exports by Bangladesh to India are as such, edible fruits, melons, cotton, jamdani saree, yarns, tweens and cordage. Bangladesh’s export value to India stands at around $ 200 million. It was due to the impact of scourge of pandemic Covid 19, Omicron Virus Russia Ukraine War and very recently severe economic unrest vitiated the economic situations of Bangladesh as well as that of neighboring India. However the recent G20 foreign ministers meet is an eye-opener for restoration of economic situations in both India and Bangladesh.

Apart from Bangladesh’s cordial relations with India, she also maintains pleasant relations with other nations of the globe. It is under the dynamic leadership of Sheikh Hasina Wazed as Prime Minister. She is surging ahead as one of the most powerful global forces as well as that of South Asian Sub-Continent. It is also heartening to note that Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed will be the keynote speaker during the September G 20 Summit at Indian capital New Delhi.

Last but not the least role of diplomats of India and Bangladesh are playing pivotal roles in ushering in bilateral cooperation between these two closer and cordial South Asian nations. So far in this long span of fifty years of Bangladesh’s Independence Day celebrations, there were in all twenty five to thirty diplomats worked in respective nations. Apart from Indian capital city, New Delhi, Bangladesh also opened her diplomatic networks at Kolkata, Chennai and Mumbai. Latest addition is that a new Deputy High Commission is likely to be opened at Bangalore.

In the midst of her upcoming 52nd anniversary of independence, we find that there are many Bangladeshis who have earned wide-ranging laurels in other parts of the globe. Among all prominent among them are Dr Haider Ali Khan, Dr Rehan Saadi and last but not the least Syed Badrul Ahsan. There might be many others, but within this shortest possible time, it is not possible to name all of them. Anyhow Bangladesh will cut across good image in various Western nations of the earth.


Sujayendra Das is a columnist
based in Kolkata, India.