Unity, Fraternity and Harmony Can Further Consolidate Bangladesh’s Progress

 

Bangladesh became independent through the Liberation War of 1971 in which patriotic people of all religions participated irrespectively. Three million martyrs laid down their lives to liberate Bangladesh under the unwavering leadership of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Bangabandhu believed in equal rights for all people of the country. He viewed everyone from an identical angle of vision. Therefore, we are under moral obligations to comply with the values of 1971 Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman taught us.

Back in 1971, fighting for independence was the only choice for Bangladesh. Under those crucial circumstances our closest neighbour India proved its brotherly bonds with us by standing beside Bangladesh on diplomatic, military and humanitarian fronts. Most of the freedom fighters of Bangladesh were trained up in India who moved back into Bangladesh to fight for the country’s liberation. In this way the relationship between Bangladesh and India is written in golden letters. Many Indian soldiers got killed while fighting for Bangladesh’s independence in 1971 under the umbrella of Allied Force.

 Countless number of Indian soldiers got injured in the war too though there is no particular cemetery for Indian soldiers in or around Dhaka. Three million people were killed in the war of 1971 by Pakistan Army using Chinese guns and bullets. More than two hundred thousand women of Bangladesh lost their chastity to the Pakistan Army and their local collaborators. Pakistan has not yet officially apologized to Bangladesh for the war crimes committed by them in 1971 and has not yet returned the assets plundered from Bangladesh. 

The then Soviet Union also supported Bangladesh during the Liberation War.

A complete and accurate list of all the martyrs of 1971 and the war heroines should be prepared so that the new generations get to know about the true history of Bangladesh’s struggle for independence. A monument recalling the Bir Shreshthas (warriors who were conferred the highest gallantry awards) should be built on a conspicuous spot of Dhaka city.

Communal parties and fanatical groups often look for opportunities to destabilize Bangladesh taking advantage of religious misinterpretations. Religious minorities in our country have come under attacks by extremists and bigots several times. Fundamentalist organizations and some other radical outfits hold a very antagonistic attitude towards the minorities around us. In the past people belonging to religious minorities were subjected to violence and tribulations by miscreants during electoral periods. We remember with horror the grim assaults that religious minorities had to face following the election of 2001. Buddhist minorities were assailed and their temples and homes were vandalized by religious extremists a few years ago in Chittagong division including Cox’s Bazar. The severe clash between Hefazat activists and the law and order forces in Dhaka during May 2013 still haunts us.

Bangabandhu did not visit China after Bangladesh’s independence. At present some anti-independence entities are trying to misguide Bangladesh government by embroiling the country with Chinese loans and thus to devastate the economic prospects of Bangladesh.

Former President Ziaur Rahman initiated and augmented Bangladesh’s diplomatic ties with China after the killing of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Ziaur Rahman’s political views were to a great extent identical to the notions of Chinese Communist Party. A great number of politicians who believed in Chinese communism packed hands with Ziaur Rahman and joined Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) after 1975. Thus BNP and Chinese Communist Party are political allies to each other.

China also instigated the Rohingya influx into Bangladesh from Myanmar. China is building up special economic zones in Myanmar’s Rakhine province wherefrom the Rohingyas were driven away.

The US government also opposed us during 1971 but the USA recognized Bangladesh in 1972 while the US people massively supported Bangladesh during the war. The Concert for Bangladesh was held at Madison Square in New York, USA on 1 August 1971 rocked the whole world with its appeal to aid Bangladesh in its struggle for independence. Thus the Concert for Bangladesh has become an inseparable part of our history. We remain ever grateful to the American people for their support for us during 1971.       

US Democrat leader Ted Kennedy visited Bangladesh in 1972. A huge reception was accorded to Ted Kennedy on Dhaka University campus by students and patriotic masses, as told by Its’ known to all that the separatist groups active in several parts of the world like Asia, Africa and Middle East receive arms, ammunitions and money from China and these terrorist outfits are responsible for destabilizing a major portion of South Asia with adverse impact on Bangladesh’s security too as Bangladesh itself is also struggling to get rid of fanatical wings who believe in radical political ideologies. We all know that a number of attacks by extremist groups were carried out across Bangladesh and a great deal of people have been so far killed in such assaults by outlawed terrorist organizations. We sadly recall the assaults on Udichi artistes, 21st August grenade attacks, countrywide bomb blasts during August 2005, Pahela Baishakh celebration, cinema halls, courts and some more places which have taken place during the previous years. Chinese arms and ammunitions manufacturers have sold guns, bombs and other weapons to some more countries leading to civil wars in those nations. For this reason many countries have placed embargo on Chinese weapons and Chinese company Norinco.

Bangladesh and India possess a lot of commonalities in culture, heritage, traditions and social customs and these similarities have been prevailing for thousands of years. Utilizing this friendship with Indian government and the Indian people would be the most powerful instrument for Bangladesh to overcome all challenges. Boosting Bangladesh’s coherence with India on all grounds is the most convenient way for Bangladesh to hold its head high regionally as well as globally.


Mahbubul Islam is a lawyer and former Secretary of
World Peace Council.