16 December 2014
This is the FM Gold
channel of AIR, In the Program NA now we bring you an interview with high
commissioner of Bangladesh Mr. Syed Ali, On the Vijay Diwas of Bangladesh. The
Interview is Mr.Murali Krishnan, senior radio broadcaster.
The war of 1971 was the most significant
geopolitical event in Indian subcontinent since the partition of 1947 and once
loop led to the creation of Bangladesh, Now you are celebration the 43rd
Anniversary of the Birth of the Country. What are your thoughts?
Well 1971 is a
historical era for us. First of all you recon for the first time in the history
of Pakistan, one man one vote principle were obtained and elections were held
in 1970. The parliament was going to meet in Bangladesh on March 1971. Our main
political party Bangladesh that time it is to be called as … secured 167/169 seats allotted to
Bangladesh. So basically they had won 167/300 earmarked for Pakistan. The
party had gotten this mandate on the basis of 6-point Autonomy plan for Greater
degree of Autonomy of the two provinces; because they know the geography of the
region Pakistan was very unique, the two
wings were separated 1500 miles. Unfortunately our democratic aspirations were not taken account and the parliament
quite unilaterally it was decided to
postpone. There after there was some talks and negotiation, our leader
Bangabandhu Sheik Mujiboor Rehman went to the negotiation. But they suddenly
broke-off the talks and started attacks on our people on 25 March Night, so on
26th Morning Bangabandhu distorted provision for the independence of
Bangladesh. So we fought a war from that day until the country was liberated on
16 December 1971. And during this 9 month, we have fought this war shoulder to
shoulder with our Neighbor India under a Joint Commanding force. Individually,
in 1971 I was posted in Pakistan in this same Washington DC, and I have declared my allegiance to the Government of
Bangladesh, we left Pakistan embassy and we were in political asylum in
United States and headed Bangladesh mission in United States and started
campaigning for our cause. For us liberation of our country meant would we be
able to return us to our own homeland, no longer a stateless person.
More of liberation,
what Bangladeshi is termed genocide of
1971 it remains powerful and emotive issues in public psyche, After 3 million people died in the war,
mostly massacre by the Pakistani army
and the local Islamist allies like al-basher forces. The tribunals have
been setup to try and alleged war crimes committed during the country’s
independence war against Pakistan in 1971. How do you see its going?
During this 9 months
period, they have undertaken measures, genocidal operations, these activities
were more in villages where the Pakistan army knew, this won’t be aware from
international media. Even the International
Media, those who have covered this, they never doubted the very genocidal
issues. And they also know more than million people have been killed. They also
don’t abet the figure. So, according to our estimates, it 3 million people were
killed, immediate after deliberation, 35,000
were arrested. But as you know at that time, Bangladesh was totally war
devastated country, even if you want them to tried straight away, we need some
time for the constructive effort before we could undertake an exercise of this
operation. Under the Bangabandhu directive, Bangladesh collaborative act was passed by the parliament, and the
trail has been started. There were two components in the trail to be frank, 1. About
‘195’ Pakistani prisoners were identified to be taken direct part in the
genocide, 2. Local collaborators mentioned, Islamic fundamentalist, not all are
fundamentalist some of them were at that time shop keepers and other people those
who willingly took part in the operation with the Pakistani Army. The ‘195’ Pakistani war criminals were
allowed to repatriate to Pakistan by
the joint decision of India-Pak-Bang on the assurance was given by the
Pakistan, that those 195 would be tried in their own country for the accesses
committed in Bangladesh. As regard the other war crimes offenders, Bangabandhu
had made the declaration, those have committed small crimes, because we had
35,000 people in the jail, so we will led go off anyone who had not taken part
in the any of the five major offences.
Is there a wide spread support for the trails which
kicked off in 2010, when first tribunal was setup?
Elections in 2009 were
held basically on the mandate given by different political parties. Awami
League was the only political party which had given the assurance, that if they
come to power they would roll this trail. And 70-80% of our youth, who voted
for the first time, voted for the Awami league. And they wanted AL to carry out
this war time trail, so there was wide spread support for this. But as you know
after 43 years, when you want to trial someone, obvious by then there are other
pressure group who would like to express their view point. But they are not
majority, the majority of the people still want the trail to take on, sentence
must be carried out.
High commissioner,
coming to the India right now, India has won the first few countries to
recognize Bangladesh as separate independent state and establish diplomatic
relation with it immediately after the independence in 1971. It does it’s much that unite the countries,
and now we have a shared histories, we have a common heritage, linguistic &
cultural ties, passion for music, literature and the Arts. How do you see the
future ties developing?
Well Bangladesh &
India are two main countries in our region and we have a very long border with
the two countries. Of course Indian has its longest border with Bangladesh
which is about 4000 km and this border is you know highly porous, because it is
Radcliff line, which separates the border, there are not natural boundaries. So
there are very many places in India Bangladesh Border while you see the line
have gone through individual house, half of which in Bangladesh and the other
half in India. So there are huge amount of exchange in population every day
between two nations. We have to have a cooperative relationship, we not only
share the land, we share the air, water, and we share everything…some time we
even share pandemic diseases. If we have a pandemic diseases in time goes to
Bangladesh... Sometimes we joke, that we have even share mosquitoes, because
there is no way how the Radcliff can stop the mosquitoes from going from one
side to other. So we have to have joint
cooperative relations, particularly at this time when India is fast emerging as an Economic power. And we are self also
may registered in good economic growth, so our long time goal is to develop,
close cooperative ties; basically our line is to develop together. Because, sooner we develop together, there will
be more peace and stability in our
region.
We also hold key strategic position vis-avis, India’s
connectivity to South East Asia and China.
Bangladesh has a very
strategic location, is a landmass connecting South Asia with South East Asia
and it is a landmass connecting South Asia with China via Myanmar. And these
are three very important major trading blocs between South Asia, South East
Asia and the china. Prime minister she has given 100% interest in the question
of increasing inter-regional connectivity which involve India-Bangladesh,
India-Myanmar, Myanmar-China and on the other hand Asean Highway all the way to
South Asia. Once we have physical facilities connecting all there region,
certainly it become very much manipulation to the both sides. Given that in last few decades, both
countries have continued to consolidate with political, Economic, Trade &
Cultural Relations. And also has built a comprehensive institutional framework
to promote bilateral cooperation. How would you likely to see the key agreement
on Border Demarcation and Water sharing?
On Border demarcation
we took the Initiative as early as 1974 when the historic Bangabandhu – Indira
Gandhi Border Agreement was signed here in India. In Bangladesh, had also one of
the enclaves which was physically connected with India ‘Berubari’ and the
Border demarcation issues, remain suspended for a long time as it was under
judiciary process. I understand the process is almost complete, I do hope that
the land boundary agreement which was also initial during the Manmohan singh’s
visit to Bangladesh 2 years ago. Second issue is the water sharing, it is an
most important issue for us, as Bangladesh is a Riverine country and we really
need more waters for all its culture, Agriculture, particular dependent during
lean months the water table goes down. So, there is a proposal now to go for Inter-Basin management which is in
India-Bangladesh and as well as contestation with other neighboring countries
of the region like Nepal, Bhutan, Necessarily with Myanmar…
Coming to Trade, High
commission, Bangladesh is an important trading partner for India, two way
trades during 2012-13 was 5.34 Bn with India’s Exports to Bangladesh accounting
for 4.7Bn and imports 0.56 Mn. Are we going to see more trade happening?
We
all express our expectation that is; Bilateral Trade figure will cross $6Bn
mark soon. India has offer us Duty free, quota free access for most of our
products... But There are some para-tariff, in non-formal tariff barriers. We
are closely examining these issues, so that we can eliminate non-tariff
barriers, and we can promote more two-way trades between our two countries. Bangladesh export-Basket is rather limited,
we would like lots of sound such industries in India which actually no longer
economically viable to you, to be physically transported to Bangladesh. So that
we can also pilot kind of project, Bangladesh will reproduce those and bring it
back to Indian Market that is the way how we can develop a Trade and Economic Cooperation. And my basic summation is, once we have all
round economic cooperation, then it benefits the common person. When it benefits the common person, the
relationship between the two countries becomes universal. So my goal is as
soon as we can restore our inter-regional connectivity and as soon as we get
consolidate in our trade, commerce and economic ties. Then we can develop both
the countries’ economies simultaneous, we have a very substantial degree of
cooperation with India now in the energy sector.
Illegal immigration and rampant
smuggling along the border, besides Insurgency are security issues dominating
India-Bangladesh Border talk for long. Can there be a resolution?
After PM sheik Hasina
govt. came to power, she made it clear to everyone that Bangladesh would not
allow its territory to be used for any Terrorist
activity from undertaking in our soil against any country. She had taken a
firm position on this, and which the India side fully appreciates. So there is
Joint patrolling honour of order, on the question of putting this
Anti-Terrorist activity to complete halt. As regarding the question of smuggling once we had free trade
between the two countries, the question of smuggling will no longer be valid.
Because in that case if goods can go from one side to other side more freely,
and I hope that once you follow the EU model, there will be some day the
Bangladesh good and Indian goods can be exchanged quiet easily between two
sides. As regards the Illegal migration
as you mention, the present Infrastructural facility that available is not
enough for millions of people those who cross the border form one side to
other. Because the Indian High commissioner or Bangladesh High commissioner
here or in Calcutta they cannot issue
VISA to every aspirant to cross the border. It would to go to Dhaka to get
a VISA to go from 10miles away from your home to other side.
We wish you happy
victory day. And it is pleasure talking to you, High commissioner!
I as a freedom fighter,
16th of December, Always come with new message of hope. I am very
hopeful with this brotherly country
where I have been assigned. I will be able to see greater degree of
concentration of our friendly ties
between two countries.
The Interview came to
you in the program News Analysis produced & presented by News services
division on All India Radio.
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