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Lahore Resolution

13 January 2004, 18:00 PM
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
By Rafiqullah Bhuyian, Century Plaza, Maghbazar Dhaka
13 January 2004, 18:00 PM
I could not agree more with Mr. S. M. Khalid Choudhury's letter (DS, Jan.05) in which he condemns the disrespect shown by Pakistan Television to Sher-e-Bangla A.K. Fazlul Haque by not mentioning his proclamation of the 1940 Lahore Resolution. And, more generally, they seem to be unaware of the role played by the people and political leaders of East Bengal in the creation of their country, Pakistan, at a time when the Punjabi Muslim elites were enthusiastically collaborating with the British and the Indian Congress. I also agree that this omission is symptomatic of a continuing tendency among many of today's Pakistanis to adopt a patronising tone towards Bangladesh and its citizens, as if we were still under their tutelage and needed their guidance. In this context, the discourtesies shown to the Bangladesh cricketers on their recent tour of Pakistan (not to mention the outright cheating by their captain) is neither surprising nor atypical. Pakistan and its citizens need to learn some humility and there is no better place to start than looking honestly at the disreputable record of their behaviour over the years with the people of Bangladesh.

At the same time we also have to be on our guard against the superiority complex often encountered while dealing with other neighbours. The Indians find it easy to be equally condescending when commenting about Bangladesh's affairs. The truth is that we Bangladeshis have to learn to stand on our own feet, to be self-reliant and devote all our energies to building first-rate institutions in all fields of endeavour, whether political, social, economic or military. We should not run after help or favour from either India or Pakistan, who always have their own interests in mind, but should have the self-confidence to believe in the potential of our own people.

We may welcome the rapprochement between India and Pakistan at this week's SAARC summit, but we should remain vigilant about protecting our vital interests. On at least one occasion in the past the bureaucrats of the two "wheat-belt" nations collaborated to severely damage Bangladesh. I refer to the deal in the 1960's between India and Pakistan to share the Indus river waters which was said to be accompanied by a secret understanding that India would be allowed to build the Farakka Barrage. At a time when Bangladesh is once again facing an even more serious threat to its riverine resources, we should be watchful about what new deals these two countries hatch in their attempt to settle the affairs of the subcontinent on their own terms.

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While remaining a member of SAARC we should never give up our "Look East" policy, formulated at the direction of the government of Begum Khaleda Zia. This will enable us to build on our natural affinities with the "rice-belt" nations of Southeast Asia, and beyond that, China, Japan and Korea.