Prof Dr Sk Akram Ali: The Bangladesh political odyssey has been considered as a part of fascinating studies for the researchers of social science but there are hardly any good works so far done. What are the political dynamics involved in it? have been our concern. Why does this poor nation become a playground for the international and regional powers? has been a million dollar question. Is there any end to this story? or the people of Bangladesh are destined to suffer for an uncertain period of time. And who are responsible for it? should be brought to the notice of the people of the country.
Let’s go to the background history of South Asia Politics and the Subcontinent.Many scholars are in the opinion that the Partitions of India has been considered as the main cause for the tensions and unrest in South Asia.And nothing beyond the implementation of Nehru Doctrine are likely to settle the present tensions in the region.Indian being the largest populated country enriched with both natural and human resources wants to dominate others in the regions.India could never accept the partition and has appeared as new imperial power in the region.
India has been proved to be hostile towards Pakistan since the partition in 1947 and a staunch enemy of Pakistan.She could never reconcile with the creation of Pakistan and India from the beginning started working against Pakistan. They chose to work with the people of the then East Pakistan finding them as soft grounds and became successful creating a political party party known as Awami Muslim League .The secular leadership in the Awami Muslim League could rename the party as Awami League on the grounds of its communal title. The Bengali language and culture appeared to be good weapons for the Indians to play with the politics in East Pakistan.The Language Movement brought for them a golden opportunity to work in the society without any hindrance.
With the help of the pro -Moscow communist party,the jukta front came to power but soon the coalition government of the jukta front proved very much non-functional and saw a quick fall. Indian hegemonic politics which started in the early days of Pakistan found quiet difficult during the era of Ayub Khan.
But India was again found active during the Indo-Pak War of 1965 and she did not take any attempt to attack East Pakistan.The naive Bengali Muslim Society took it as friendly gestures
of India towards the people of East Pakistan.The people had considered the war periods as most in secured situations and became hostile against the government of Ayub Khan. Although Ayub Khan tried to place arguments through his book “Friends not Masters” said that the defence of the East lies in the West.
Many are in the opinion that Ayub Khan has been found to be true to his security beliefs. The recent four days war between Pakistan and India has proved that Pakistan is superior to India in air power .We can very well deter any Indian military threats if we go for a defence treaty with Pakistan immediately without wasting any more time. At the same time we should develop our military strength with the support of Turkey and Pakistan. Chinese support is very much a necessity but it should be done through the use of professional military diplomacy. We can’t afford to annoy the USA who has saved us from the hands of both Hasina and India as they did in 1975.
In 1971 India for her own interests supported the cause of Bangladesh and took as much as possible and during the last fifteen years of the Sk Hasina regime .India became the only team playing in the political fields of Bangladesh without any rival competitors. Sk Hasina used Bangladesh as her parental property giving dams to the aspirations of the people of the country and other powers of the world. She made the whole western world including the USA annoyed by ignoring human rights and democratic rights of the people ofBangladesh.
It is always better to maintain balanced diplomacy but she failed to do it and became a target of the USA.
Every one looks for political and strategic gains and so is the USA.The present government has been considered as the baby of the USA and can’t simply go against the interests of the USA. Bangladesh has no alternative but to comply with the demands of the USA and it is only a time factor, today or tomorrow.The countries like Pakistan couldn’t regret the approaches of the USA to fight against Afghanistan using the grounds of Pakistan.
Twice in the past we experienced a political odyssey. In 1971, we fought the war but India made it her own victory. Soon our independence turned into a fiasco and people’s aspirations were never met during the last long fifty four years. The second political odyssey that we undertook on 7th November 1975 saw positive changes in the society but it was short lived. Recently the students led July Revolution freed us from the tyrannical rule of Sk Hasina and from hegemonic control of India.The student leaders appeared as the savior of the nation and brought Second Independence of Bangladesh without any doubt.The is the ideal time to open the ugly face of India and to ensure its death.
The mastermind of the July Revolution will never appear in person but we all know her. She has been found to dictate the government from a distance to fulfill her interests.Bangladesh can’t avoid the requests from the USA .We are in great dilemmas either to become a colony or remain as an independent and sovereign country with the support of the USA. The choices are left with us and you have to decide the future course of actions for a safe Bangladesh. The future of the nation largely depends on the mature and wise decisions of the leaders of Bangladesh.
The role of political parties is very important, especially the role of the BNP and Jamat during this transitional period of our national life. The BNP leadership must follow the footsteps of their founder and Jamat and NCP must not see the day’s dream for power. It is the time for the BNP and Jamat to wait for their turn in due course of time.The people don’t want to enjoy any more political odyssey .The nation must work to clean up the house from the dust and dirt as early as possible