Dr. Syed Nesar Ahmad Rumy :
Bangladesh is geographically small country but it has a very big population. In that respect Bangladesh can draw special attention to the other countries. We know we have an area of about 56 thousand square miles of land area including rivers and water bodies inside the country. But nowadays we proclaim that, in fact, we have much bigger area including vast sea area. Legally we have got it by the arbitration of International Court. Successfully, we have settled the sea area disputes with neighboring India and Myanmar. Now the question is how and which way we will protect our international boundary and vast sea area from the potential enemies and intruders. The geographical location of Bangladesh is very delicate and vulnerable.
The other country Myanmar could not influence the mind set of Bangladeshi people in that way. But now the Rohinga exodus to Bangladesh from Myanmar came to the forefront and Bangladesh is severely affected by this problem. Moreover, the big power China is not very far from Bangladesh. The distance of China is about not more than hundred miles from the extreme north point of Bangladesh. Another important characteristic of Bangladesh is that almost 95 percent of people are homogenous in nature and about 90 percent are the followers of Islam religion. The tribal population and ethnic minorities numbers are not that much big but their living areas occupy about 10 percent of total land area of Bangladesh. This situation has also made some significance in Bangladesh politics, defense and foreign policy. The most peculiar characteristic of Bangladesh geography is that Bangladesh is the lone Muslim majority country in the world which is not contiguous to any other Muslim majority countries. All other Muslim majority countries are contiguous to each other. It is important to mention that the only free access to Bangladesh with other countries is the Bay of Bengal. So not only the blue-economy but for the ultimate existence of Bangladesh, we have to protect our land boundary, sea area and free access to the sea so that in time of national emergency, national security we can use our sea route for the materials, logistics help from outside Bangladesh.
It is about fifty three years that Bangladesh achieved independence through a liberation war by shedding blood of millions of people. Apart from this, we got independence in 1947 under the frame of United Pakistan. It was very significant that Pakistan was created on the basis of two nation theory of Muhammad Ali Jinnah. The people of this area (Bangladesh) supported that issue in that time and situation had become such that Pakistan was inevitable. In the long run, historical analysis might say that the significance of Pakistan movement of this area would not be easily discarded. It has got a very important significance in our national history. We all know that disparity, unnatural geographical location (not contiguous), extortions and dominating character of West Pakistani leaders droved the people of this area to the path of independence. The mind-set of the people of two wings of Pakistan started in a different way from the very beginning of Pakistan state. Ultimately Pakistan had been dismembered and Bangladesh was created in 1971. Bangladesh achieved independence on the basis of democracy, non-communality and social justice. The Bengalee mind-set of the present Bangladesh was like that. But one important thing is being bypassed and our national leaders do not look like to address this issue. In the historical perspective it has got some significance. It was true, People of this area wanted Pakistan and they voted for Pakistan in 1946 but it is also true that the same people wanted independent Bangladesh after 24 years. So for creating state policy and foreign policy we have to take cognizance of different events and logical conclusions of creating and dismembering Pakistan. For that reason we need to synthesize the two events of 1947 and 1971for the solidness of our state and nationalism. We are different and our national aspiration is different than any other part of South Asia. It must have to be shown and must have to be vivid. Otherwise, in the long run we might have to face identity crisis in the forthcoming days to come. So solidness and deepness of our country or our state-hood must be upheld and it should be projected in every sphere of our national life.
To consolidate and increase our deterrence Bangladesh should take vigorous initiatives for enhancing the national image. For this the capacity building of three services of our armed forces has to be modernized in such a way that the potential enemies of Bangladesh have to consider at least three times prior to conducting any mission against Bangladesh. The foreign policy of Bangladesh stands on a principle and that is friendship to all and malice to none. We do not want to attack any country but we must have that capacity to foil any attack on us instantaneously. In this regard, the capacity of three services of our armed forces has to be increased considerably.
People of Bangladesh consider the armed forces are their pride and the three services are created during the liberation war. In that respect, our armed forces are different than many other armed forces in the world. Standard training, appropriate research, maneuvering capability should be the traits of our armed forces. Many officers of foreign countries come to Bangladesh to join the different courses every year. And the combination of standard training, appropriate technology, modern military equipment, eternal vigilance and steel-hard determination will increase the deterrence of our armed forces in the forthcoming days so that no country can undermine Bangladesh.
(The writer is a former civil servant).
