Bangladesh liberation fighters say a loud thank you to India

[ARCHON]

Bangladesh liberation fighters say a loud thank you to India​

For the second time in the almost 40 years since its creation, Bangladesh invited a delegation of Indian war veterans who had fought alongside the Mukti Bahini freedom fighters in the 1971 War of Liberation that comprehensively defeated the Pakistan army. The first invitation was extended by the caretaker government in 2007, while the second, by the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government in 2009, could not materialise due to the mutiny of the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) personnel. That aborted invitation was made good last month.

“Without you, we would not be a country” acknowledged the freedom fighters, some on wheelchairs and some on crutches among the many able-bodied. The outburst of sentiment, generosity and plain thank you was moving. Indian war veterans were feted by the freedom fighters, Awami League politicians, and the three armed services. Equally striking was the absence of the leader of the opposition, Bangladesh National Party (BNP) leader Khaleda Zia. She was absent from the official wreath laying ceremony at the national Martyrs’ Memorial, though she did attend after her bête noire, prime minister Sheikh Hasina had left the victory parade.

The arrest by the government of BNP’s standing committee member from Chittagong, the self-confessed Pakistan sympathiser, Salauddin Qadir Chowdhury, on the same day for war crimes merely added fuel to the fire.

This was part of the government’s drive to bring to book those who collaborated with the Pakistani military crackdown in 1971. After Zia’s eviction, following court orders from Army House and her grievous electoral decline in 2008, she was in need of comfort and found no better place for solace than Beijing where the Chinese accorded her honours reserved for state visitors. Khaleda Zia, along with her husband, the late President Gen Zia-ur Rehman, have ruled Bangladesh for almost half of its existence and systematically distanced the country from India.

Bitter rivals, the two begums have divided the country’s politics between themselves. The army-backed caretaker government of 2007-08 had unsuccessfully sought to keep them out of politics in what was called ‘minus two’. What one is observing today is transition from ‘minus two’ to ‘plus two’ — the nurturing of the sons, Sheikh Hasina’s Sajib Wajid and Khaleda Zia’s Tariq Zia.

Bangladesh has seen army rule twice: first under Zia-ur Rehman and later under Mohammad Ershad. The army has a Chinese bias with the US and UK involved in training and consultancy. Conspicuously, India, along with its military, is peripheral to the Bangladesh military’s overall disposition. Its linkages with the Pakistan army and the ISI, despite the genocide of 1971, have not gone away. All three service chiefs in Dhaka are now from the post-1971 Liberation War vintage. Unlike the Pakistan army that seeks revenge against India for 1971, the Bangladesh military does not seem to want to avenge the genocide of Bangladeshis.

In some quarters, India is portrayed as the enemy to help build the primacy of the military as the ultimate protector of the nation.

The military is under civilian control for the present. Last year, the BDR had revolted and targeted their commanding army officers with immense brutality. The hangover of that mutiny is still in the air as the BDR is being overhauled. An army takeover was averted during the caretaker regime, with the international community threatening to keep the Bangladesh army out of UN peacekeeping operations. At an average, every soldier earns one if not two lucrative tenures abroad, which make UN missions the biggest driver of recruitment.

The military, which shares some traits with its Pakistani counterpart, is a potent factor in keeping the country united and the civilian government mindful of good governance. As a professional force, it knows its red lines. Prime minister Sheikh Hasina is also her own defence minister and has inherited an effective military apparatus carved out by Gen Ershad, notably the Armed Forces Division. The head of the AFD reports directly to the prime minister, bypassing the ministry of defence, making it a dream outfit for any military.

From India’s point of view, prime minister Sheikh Hasina has ensured that Indian insurgent groups and leaders thriving inside Bangladesh in the past have no safe havens now. This has been her biggest gift to India and after Bhutan’s Operation All Clear, it has secured India’s eastern flank internally.

With Sheikh Hasina in office, the exchange of war veterans must be institutionalised to initiate defence cooperation, which is virtually non-existent. This will help erase the India bogey and bolster confidence-building measures. New Delhi must cautiously draw maximum mileage while Sheikh Hasina is in power and help replicate the win-win situation of 1971.


Bangladesh liberation fighters say a loud thank you to India - Opinion - DNA

 

[saleen_s7]

such a biased and baseless news report

 

[FNFAL]

such a biased and baseless news report

^^ hmm guess this wont make into the BD defence watch folder since its so pro Indian.Must be tough for you na?

 

[Al-zakir]

Bharati, 71 and Awami munafiq dogs. Nothing new here. Enjoy Bharti........

 

[BlackDiamond]

^^ It's ok razakar, pakistan is still left on the western side.. partially

 

[Maira La]

Unlike the Pakistan army that seeks revenge against India for 1971, the Bangladesh military does not seem to want to avenge the genocide of Bangladeshis.

Thanks indian fellas, for being more concerned about our country than our army itself.
Wasn't it you guys who saved the a$$e$ of 90,000 Pak soldiers from our forces to calm down your western frontier? And now we are talking about revenge for genocide?

Can I call the attention of a mod to close down this BS thread? Another flaming contest is on the horizon.

 

[Roybot]

[Wasn't it you guys who saved the a$$e$ of 90,000 Pak soldiers from our forces to calm down your western frontier? And now we are talking about revenge for genocide?

I think it was done cause of Geneva Convention?

Besides why would you want to kill surrendered POW's. I mean if POW's were to be killed surely they would have preferred to die fighting, rather than die in captivity after surrender!

Also i agree its not the best article around.

 

[Al-zakir]

^^ It's ok razakar, pakistan is still left on the western side.. partially

Listen Bharti, I rather be Razakar than Bharti dalal, malaun lover and so on.


As I have said, you Bharti enjoy the ride because turbulence is awaiting for Awami dalal league thus be ready to give shelter to some them munafiq Ghaddars in about couple years.

 

[ironman]

Bharati, 71 and Awami munafiq dogs. Nothing new here. Enjoy Bharti........

Enjoy US...

 

[Al-zakir]

In some quarters, India is portrayed as the enemy to help build the primacy of the military as the ultimate protector of the nation.

A strong Islamic rooted army was initiated during last BNP-Jamat regime. It shall be fully assemble next time the BNP-Islamic alliance comes to Power which is about three years unless public throw them out before the time for Bharat dalali.

 

[A1Kaid]

They should be saying thank you. Bangladeshis and Hindustanis are brothers with common interest and culture.

 

[eastwatch]

Bharati, 71 and Awami munafiq dogs. Nothing new here. Enjoy Bharti........

A person from Bangladesh has the right to say whatever he wants to say against India's present-day hegemonistic policy and Awami League's cat-like mew mew respons, but, people should respect our liberation war. People must note that our Bangali military, border guards EPR troops, Police, answers and population all participated in that war against Pakistani domination.

The independence of Bangladesh itself was declared by Ziaur Rahman, when AL leaders failed to give us direction and fled to India. But, I find people of Razakar origin have infiltrated BNP, or are calling themselves BNP-minded in this Forum, and talk against our liberation war as if BNP does not believe in liberation, when its founding father himself was responsible for organizing against Pakistani occupation from the very beginning to the end of that war.

I must ask other posters to note that these fake people are definitely not BNP-minded, they still remain Razakars. We should be careful about them.

 

[Al-zakir]

A person from Bangladesh has the right to say whatever he wants to say against India's present-day hegemonistic policy and Awami League's cat-like mew mew respons, but, people should respect our liberation war. People must note that our Bangali military, border guards EPR troops, Police, answers and population all participated in that war against Pakistani domination.

The independence of Bangladesh itself was declared by Ziaur Rahman, when AL leaders failed to give us direction and fled to India. But, I find people of Razakar origin have infiltrated BNP, or are calling themselves BNP-minded in this Forum, and talk against our liberation war as if BNP does not believe in liberation, when its founding father himself was responsible for organizing against Pakistani occupation from the very beginning to the end of that war.

I must ask other posters to note that these fake people are definitely not BNP-minded, they still remain Razakars. We should be careful about them.

Yes we should be careful about them Bharati dalal acting like patriot time to time. I am with you on this wise one.

 

[jayron]

Listen Bharti, I rather be Razakar than Bharti dalal, malaun lover and so on.


As I have said, you Bharti enjoy the ride because turbulence is awaiting for Awami dalal league thus be ready to give shelter to some them munafiq Ghaddars in about couple years.

what is malaun?

 

[eastwatch]

They should be saying thank you. Bangladeshis and Hindustanis are brothers with common interest and culture.

You are thinking about BD-Indo Bhai-Bhai relationship in terms of 1971 liberation war of Bangladesh. Now, it is 2011 and many things have changed including people's minds. We do not have to dislike India, however, people do not find any reason to like India, too.