One of our family friends, who was in Toronto during the Student's Movement, returned last week. He visited our house a couple of days ago and at one point of our conversation, he commented, "So are we pro-US now?" I was dumbfounded! He has always been a blind supporter of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her party but didn't expect such stupid question from a 78-year old person.
I just said, "Why do we have to be "Pro" any country at all? We are an independent country....can't we just stand with dignity as "Bangladesh"? I also referred to the principle of one of our Constitutional Provisions : "The State shall base its international relations on the principles of respect for national sovereignty and equality, non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries"
It has been 53 years since our independence. Yes, we shall remain ever grateful to India for its support, help and refuge during the 9-month war. But we can also claim with pride how generous we have been in our gestures of gratitude towards India. We have been too compromising to the trade imbalance, border killings, unfair deals and undue sense of entitlement.
On the other hand, Bangladesh's relations with Pakistan continued to be hostile despite Pakistan's recognition to Bangladesh in 1974. The two countries are both founding members of SAARC, as well as members of the Developing 8 Countries, the OIC and the Commonwealth of Nations. Though the basic principles of our Foreign Policy is: "Friendship to all and malice towards none" and both countries have diplomatic missions in respective countries, yet, the foreign policy does not seem to reflect this principle. The status worsened since Hasina became Prime Minister for the first time in 1996. She continued to harp on the issues of 1971 to block any bilateral interaction. She found it difficult to 'forget the past, and to make a fresh start' - a commitment that her father Sheikh Mujib himself made at the April 1974 tripartite agreement between Bangladesh, India and Pakistan.
I am fortunate to maintain an excellent bonding of friendship with the former High Commissioner of Pakistan to Bangladesh, Rafiuzzaman Siddiqui. He never fails to mention how emotionally attached he feels about Bangladesh. He cherishes fond memories of the fabulous people he met here and who made him feel valued. In one of his interviews prior to leaving Bangladesh at the end of his tenure, he wrote: "I strongly believe that inter-linkages between Dhaka and Islamabad through exchange of delegations comprising journalists, opinion makers, parliamentarians, artistes, think-tanks, youth, students, bureaucrats etc. with the blessings of the respective governments would help in settling down the dust of misunderstanding, misperception and confusion leading up to the path of normality in our bilateral relations. Can it be argued that its PEOPLE alone who make all the difference on the chessboard of interstate relations?"
Acknowledging my contribution to the High Commission's diplomacy, Rafiuzzaman said: "Being born and spent early years of her life in Karachi, Nazneen connects with Pakistan in a different way. She led a Bangladeshi media delegation in May 2017 to Pakistan, and visited different cities including Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad. The Bangladeshi delegation under her leadership left a deep impact on all the Pakistani Government high-ups and others who came into contact with her".
During my interaction with students of Pakistan, I felt their enthusiasm about Bangladesh. Exchange of students will enable them to know the REAL history and reason why Bangladesh (East Pakistan) separated from Pakistan (West Pakistan). No one can deny the importance of history…..it allows us to observe and understand how people and societies behaved. For example, we are able to evaluate war, even when a nation is at peace, by looking back at previous events. History provides us with the data that is used to create laws, or theories about various aspects of society. It also seeks to explain how people have changed over time. Let the new generation know the truth and then choose to move on.
We are witnessing a radical change after the end of Hasina's autocratic regime on 5th August. Not only experts on politics but many general people are talking 'fearlessly' about boosting up ties with Pakistan. On Sunday 15th September, Professor Dr. Shahiduzzaman, a Bangladeshi academic known for his expertise in international relations, made headlines by advocating for a 'Nuclear Treaty' between Bangladesh and Pakistan!
Speaking at a seminar organised by the Retired Armed Forces Officers Welfare Association (RAOWA) in Dhaka, Shahiduzzaman's proposal hinges on the need to counterbalance India's influence in South Asia. He suggested that a Pakistan-Bangladesh alliance, particularly in the realm of nuclear defence, could serve as a strategic deterrent against Indian hegemony in the region. His proposal has gained traction among some former military officials, especially those with conservative and anti-India leanings, following the ousting of the Sheikh Hasina government.
Shahiduzzaman argued that Pakistan, with its established nuclear program, could serve as a reliable security partner for Bangladesh, offering a means to strengthen its defense capabilities in the face of perceived threats from India.
In fine, I wish to see Bangladesh practicing a 'balanced foreign policy strategy'. It must maintain a middle-ground approach instead of leaning towards anyone too much. Tectonic shifts in geopolitics are happening and every day comes with new opportunities, while every year comes with new challenges. By analysing the present geostrategic reality, Bangladesh needs to find justification for its current status in the global political realm. Exploring new opportunities in this new geopolitical pendulum is crucial to surviving the challenges that lie ahead.
