Dr. M. S. Haq
India wants US to take its point on Bangladesh – is one of the front page headlines of an English daily of Bangladesh of today, 31st the headline focuses on, among other things, approach related differences between the US and the India in certain matters of Bangladesh against the backdrop of present day political situation, democracy and upcoming election therein (I mean Bangladesh). Since “India is right next to Bangladesh” it believes its understanding of Bangladesh could be helpful for the US in taking the position that it wants to take in above matters.It will not be out of place to mention here inter alia – the time of occurrence of say above development coincides, in a sense though, with the ongoing diplomatic uneasiness between India and the US on matters pertaining to the arrest of India’s deputy consul general in New York. The reported extension of helping hands – under above situations – to the US by India in matters pertaining to Bangladesh could be part of efforts towards creating enabling environments for a quicker and win-win settlement of the diplomatic row between the two countries, essentially, prior to starting of active general election season in India. Further, it could be that, India might use Bangladesh situations as a bargaining chip for the settlement. Taking into cognisance the above and other developments in the region, here are a few pieces of advice to India. They have been presented not in the order of priority and importance but they are relative to time, space and other variables.
I. India should include China – which is a good neighbor of India and Bangladesh and a major player in the region – in collective efforts towards helping the US, one of the influential friends of Bangladesh and India to help Bangladesh in pertinent areas. Closely relating to that – is the need for better China-USA and USA-China relations for more meaningful and more result-oriented partnerships than those at present in sustainable peace, security, progress and prosperity of people of the region on a per capita, collective and other bases, to the satisfaction of all people of all of the region, as maximally practicable though.
II. SAARC could become a dependable source, as well as force of collective peace, security and development in the region provided that its two powerful members that is, India and Pakistan (nuke weapons countries) could patch up their differences at the soonest in pursuits of say regional stability against the backdrop of for example more solid and more intensified efforts – than those at present – on the part of US towards regional stabilisation including stabilisation of Afghanistan. It implies inter alia India should step up united efforts for region’s welfare via SAARC – a few of its members are right next to India. Strengthening of partnerships with say the regional commission of UN in particular and UN headquarters in general by India, Bangladesh and concerned others could be critical to form critical mass of support base for SAARC activities in pertinent areas.
III. Bangladesh is inter alia a moderate Muslim country. A proper maintenance, as well as continuation of that status is in the interest of India, Pakistan, the US, and concerned others including Bangladesh itself. Hence, India – like the US – should enhance efforts towards: as to how best it could work with all political parties of Bangladesh, whether in power or not, at all time in pursuits of enabling the country to maintain the above status on a sustainable basis. By doing that, it is expected inter alia India will be able to rise on the occasion and command love, as well as respect of all people of all of Bangladesh through future times, as humanly, Gene mechanics wise and otherwise practicable.
Further, India will be able to market the example of Bangladesh as a moderate Muslim country within and outside India. India has at present a large Muslim population.
IV. While India’s concern is, as a neighbor of Bangladesh, valid in many respects – especially in terms of growing global interdependencies, as well as reintegration – Bangladesh remains at present the best judge of its own challenges, opportunities and other things in areas say politics and democracy. Further, it is at present in the right position when it comes to for example planning, organisation, directing, coordinating, controlling and recycling, to mention a few, support and assistance in above and other areas.
V. India’s present day strategies on Bangladesh should focus on inter alia as to how best and quickest it could support efforts of Bangladesh towards dealing with growing divisions within Bangladesh along political and other lines in overall pursuits of transforming Bangladesh into an equal partner in development for mutual benefits of all concerned. No isolation – united we stand. Do not forget – India would not be able to sustain, in an accelerated fashion, its emerging super economic power status in the world without support and assistance from for example its neighbours.
The last word: one of the present day challenges of India from the position “India is right next to Bangladesh” is as to how best and quickest India could support efforts of 18 party alliance under BNP, 14 party alliance under AL, civil society, the media (print, electronic others) and concerned others such as the US, China, Japan, the EU, Canada and the UK in pursuits of a free, fair, credible and inclusive elections in Bangladesh to the satisfaction of for example all people of all of Bangladesh, as maximally practicable though. Let us work towards that. Happy and prosperous 2014. God bless. (The author is inter alia Proponent of Gene mechanics)
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