Today there are 120 member countries, 17 observer countries and 10 international organizations in the Non-Aligned Movement. The movement advocated a middle course for states in the developing world between the western and eastern blocs during the Cold War. The phrase itself was first used to represent the doctrine by Indian diplomat V. K. Krishna Menon in 1953 at the United Nations.
It was Bangladesh’s first participation in NAM conference. Dr. Kamal Hossain, Barrister Amirul Islam, journalist Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury, bureaucrat Rafiqullah Choudhury (father of Bangladesh Parliament’s Speaker Dr. Shirin Sharmin Choudhury), former foreign secretary Faruk Chowdhury and Bangabandhu’s political secretary (state minister) Tofail Ahmed attended the summit too.
Houari Boumediene received only Bangabandhu and Marshal Tito from the airport during that NAM summit. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman brightened Bangladesh’s image on the global stage during his visit to Algiers to attend the NAM conference. Gates with the names and portraits of Bangabandhu and Marshal Tito were seen all over Algiers on that occasion.
Marshal Tito convinced Bangabandhu to participate in the NAM Summit in 1973. Bangabandhu agreed to attend the summit considering the fact that Jawaharlal Nehru was one of the founders of NAM and it would be a good international platform to speak on behalf of Bangladesh to the global leaders.
Tofail Ahmed met Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic during his recent trip to Belgrade. Ivica Dacic is also the President of Socialist Party of Serbia (former Serbian Communist Party) which was founded by Marshal Tito. Ivica Dacic was overwhelmed with joyous emotion when Tofail Ahmed told him about the friendly alliance between Marshal Tito and Bangabandhu.
Tofail Ahmed gave the title ‘Bangabandhu’ to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on 23rd February 1969. Tofail Ahmed has been elected from his constituency a number of times and he is one of the most reputed political figures in Bangladesh. Marshal Tito took Bangabandhu and Tofail Ahmed on a river cruise. The cordial and intimate conversation between Marshal Tito and Bangabandhu amazed Tofail Ahmed.
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was a glorified political leader in the whole world. In the same way in the present time his capable daughter Sheikh Hasina is one of the most applauded leaders globally. Bangabandhu is an imperishable leader of the third world. His towering qualities are still adulated by historians and political analysts.
Sheikh Hasina had to stand tough tests for obtaining all these mammoth goals. Her entire family was murdered by assassins. She herself survived several assassination attempts. Still she is going ahead courageously with patriotism and humanitarian principles in her heart.
Sheikh Hasina has also been successful to tackle religious extremism. The law and order forces of Bangladesh have raided the hideouts of radical terrorists in different parts of Bangladesh under the directives of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Besides, Sheikh Hasina has played dynamic roles in eliminating the separatist groups in northeastern India. Thus Sheikh Hasina has worked a lot for making regional peace prevail.
On the other hand, militancy and radical political fronts gripped Bangladesh when Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) won the election of 2001. However, Awami League came back to power once again in the election held in December 2008 under the caretaker government of that time. Awami League gained a landslide victory in the eleventh parliamentary election too which was held on 30 December 2018.
Bangladesh’s first ever satellite Bangabandhu 1 was launched into space on 11 May 2018 from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, United States of America which is another achievement by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. This is destined to further boost her dream for a digital Bangladesh. Moreover, Bangladesh has successfully achieved all the preconditions to graduate from a least developed country (LDC) to a developing country in 2018.
Different international organizations have awarded prestigious prizes to Sheikh Hasina for her unflinching endeavors to obliterate poverty from Bangladesh and for speeding up the country’s economic wheels. Bangladesh has become a development role model under the firm leadership of Sheikh Hasina. Socio-economic advancement, electrification, expansion of digital technologies and many more achievements have decorated Sheikh Hasina’s profile.
Recently I visited India as part of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s eminent personalities’ entourage. Sheikh Hasina was awarded Tagore Peace Prize on this tour. While receiving the award Sheikh Hasina said quoting Rabindranath Tagore, “Ei monihar amar nahi saje” (This jewel-studded chain is not match for me).
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman brought us independence in 1971 by virtue of his unmatched leadership. His competent daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is now working hard to materialize the dreams of Bangabandhu to transform Bangladesh into a prosperous country by implementing Vision 2021 and Vision 2041.
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding father of Bangladesh, is often called a “Friend of the World” for his fight for the rights of deprived people and his sacrifice for shaping war-torn Bangladesh as a nation.
This is not just an impulsive observation on the architect of Bangladesh. It is the reality he proves all through his life. While formulating the principles of Bangladesh foreign policy, immediately after his homecoming, Bangabandhu declared, “We are a small country, we want friendship with all and malice towards none.” Since then, “friendship to all, malice to none’ has been Bangladesh’s tagline.
Bangabandhu did not want to usher in any new struggle for the people of the newly-born country or create any more enemies. Thus, he refused to accept Bangladesh’s first prime minister Tajuddin Ahmed’s stance ‘not to take aid from any country which opposed our liberation struggle’.
He wanted this tiny land to be a Switzerland of Asia because the Swiss army did not fight any war since 1847. He said, “I would like it (Bangladesh) to become the Switzerland of the East” (Principles of International Relations, by Md Abdul Halim). Bangabandhu had that vision in mind. Bangabandhu’s foreign policy was always much ahead of its time. That is why Bangladesh still is enjoying the successes of Bangabandhu’s foreign policy.
Bangabandhu travelled across the world envisioned to create friends of Bangladesh. He toured from Africa to Middle East to Europe in his short time existence to characterise Bangladesh’s foreign relations.
Following his release from the Pakistani prison, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was flown to the United Kingdom for medical checkups. It was his first international visit after the independence of Bangladesh. He had a public meeting at the Birmingham on 8 January 1972. At the Birmingham Palace, Bangabandhu met Queen Elizabeth the second and the Duke of Edinburgh. Bangabandhu was greeted there by the British prime minister Edward Heath and held a meeting with him afterwards. Bangladesh’s mission for a peaceful diplomacy was born at that very moment.
Some glimpses of Bangabandhu’s visionary world tour
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman returns to Bangladesh after a successful visit abroad. One of his closest compatriots, Syed Nazrul Islam, is unable to contain his excitement and receives him on the stairs of the airplane itself.
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MARCH 18, 2020
Though Castro had an opportunity to be a lawyer coming from a financially solvent family, he chose hard path for improving the life of distress people. He sold his everything including furniture of his law house for poor people. Fidel Castro was a wonder to the world. He was in favor of Bangladesh Liberation war. The government of Bangladesh honored him with ‘Friends of Liberation War award’ three years ago.
It is astonishing that the United States of America attempted 638 times to kill him in his 90 years’ life. There were members of five groups including Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Home Ministry and Defense members in those killer groups. Channel Four, a UK based channel made a documentary named “638 ways to kill Castro” which was broadcasted in 2006.
In 1952, US backed Batista government occupied power illegitimately. Castro formed a guerilla group against Batista government. He formed a small revolutionary team. This group attacked to Moncada Barracks for uprooting illegitimate government but they failed. He had to go to jail.
Fidel Castro was born on August 13, 1926. His father was a Spanish immigrant and mother was a citizen of Cuba. From his boyhood, he could learn anything easily. He was an expert baseball player. Castro also had a dream to play in US Big League.
The Covid-19 infection is increasing steadily in Bangladesh and nearly 74,865 people are infected with 1,012 having died from the disease at the time of writing. Some unofficial estimate suggests the number of infections might be much higher. The Covid-19 is not only challenging the existing healthcare facilities in the impoverished nation but also have impacted the economy of the country. Like the trend globally, Bangladesh’s economic growth is likely to falter due to outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic. Bangladesh is desperately seeking support of the international community to tackle the challenges because of the spread of the pandemic and the international communities have been offering support to. Neighbouring India has offered medical relief assistance to the country as part of its Covid-19 assistance support to SAARC countries. China offered to provide technical and financial support to Bangladesh to curb the Covid-19 disease, dengue and similar pandemics if Bangladesh agreed on its proposal. China also suggested helping the Bangladesh cities develop like the cities in China once the country accepted its proposal.
Sister-cities are formed with the signing of agreements between cities of two countries to promote the cultural and commercial relationship. US President D. Eisenhower is claimed to be the first to introduce the concept of sister-city. The core motivation behind the sister-city is to promote people-people to connectivity or ‘citizen diplomacy’ between the two countries. Traditionally, sister-cities are considered to have been helpful in developing understanding and a sense of bonding among the people of the two cities who ally.
Recently, apprehensions are expressed about Chinese intention for pursuing countries to enter sister-city alliances. The Chinese motivation exceeds the promotion of cultural ties and it has a larger geostrategic objective. In 2019, China Daily reported about Li Xiaolin, president of Chinese People Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries mentioning that “sister-city relations play an important role in boosting cooperation and exchanges among Chinese and foreign cities under the framework of the BRI.” This statement coming from the head of the nodal organisation managing the country’s ‘sister-city’ relationship sent out some whispers about the motives. BRI is the abbreviation of the Belt Road Initiative, which is China’s flagship foreign policy initiative under which large infrastructure projects are developed in the countries across the globe and have geostrategic underpinning. China is emphasising on developing sister-cities in the countries that joined BRI and is estimated to have already established sister-city relations with around 700 cities in the countries joining BRI.
Linking BRI to the sister-city arrangement raised suspicions about Chinese intentions, primarily at the time when the global geostrategic order is facing strains because of its rising competition with powers like the United States of America. Countries in Europe are expressing reservations over the Chinese sister- city initiative because of its explicit connection with the BRI. Many European cities that have had sister-city arrangements with China are showing reluctance in pursuing such ties. The Swedish cities of Linköping, Lulea, and Vasteras have ended official cooperation deals with Guangzhou, Xi’an, and Jinan.
Bangladesh is an important partner of China in South Asia. China has offered to invest around $24 billions in Bangladesh, which is one of the highest assistance promised to a country under BRI. A large portion of the committed assistance will be in the form of credit. With the unfolding of BRI, Chinese engagement in Bangladesh will increase and this is driving the Chinese desire and necessity to expand understanding of the communities locally there. The sister- city arrangement allows China to penetrate deep inside Bangladesh’s society locally.
Notably, Bangladesh and China today enjoy a warm and friendly relationship and have formed a strategic partnership. The two countries share a close military and economic relationship. China is Bangladesh’s biggest trading partner with the trade favouring China. However, the difference in culture between the two countries is considered a lacuna in this relationship. For bridging this gap, China is persistently enhancing its public diplomacy to foster people-to-people connectivity through measures like — encouraging educational and cultural exchanges, organising visits of media and political parties’ delegations, establishing Chinese language institutes, organising interaction among the trade bodies, think tanks and many other activities.
China’s public outreach has paid a dividend in forming a favourable public opinion in support of the relationship. In Bangladesh, rarely any negative sentiment about China is voiced in public. Despite the presence of trade imbalance with China, the issue is hardly highlighted and recognised as a problem in the bilateral relations. Also, media and civil societies barely express resentment against China for not adequately pressurising Myanmar for the repatriation of Rohingya refugees. Interestingly, media and people in Bangladesh are however vociferous in expressing disappointment about India for not doing enough in resolving the Rohingya crisis. Again, the trade imbalance with India is repeatedly highlighted as a major irritant and there is limited acknowledgement of Indian efforts in addressing Bangladesh’s concerns. For instance, India provided duty free access to Bangladesh products (except few narcotic substances) in order to adjust the trade gap. Following this measure Bangladeshi export to India witnessed a significant surge. In 2019, Bangladesh’s export to India touched US$1 billion. It’s mentionable that any small gesture by China is highlighted widely in Bangladesh media.
Perception of China being non-interfering in the country’s domestic affairs have favoured shaping of public support to the relationship. In a transformational world, global geopolitics becoming confrontational Chinese behaviour is expected to change. Rising influence will make China assertive and will be dictating terms of policies in the country including in internal affairs.
Not interested to sign FTA now
In 2015, China, Bangladesh’s largest bilateral trade partner, offered various LDCs extensions on the trade benefits for up to 97 per cent of their goods. However, nations that took up the offer were no longer allowed to enjoy the benefits under the APTA.
However, Bangladesh is close to signing an FTA with Indonesia and the deal could be finalised this year if normalcy is restored after quelling the coronavirus outbreak.
The export of various merchandise, especially apparel products, from Bangladesh to China has grown rapidly in recent years following increased demand while preferential trade benefits are given to local exporters.
“We still import more than export from China, it will create more possibilities to minimize the trade deficit,” Md. Obaidul Azam, an additional secretary at the Bangladeshi Commerce Ministry told Anadolu Agency.
Stakeholders concerned believe this opportunity is expected to give a boost to Bangladesh’s exports to the Chinese market and attract foreign investment into Bangladesh.
Bangladesh Tanners’ Association President Shahin Ahmed said Bangladesh could previously export over 3,000 products to China without facing tariff barriers by adding 35 percent value to those. However, since the more prominent export items were out of the list of products under the facility, Bangladesh could not get the facility on most of the potential export items.
Commenting on this, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Owners Association President Rubana Huq told The Business Standard, “China used to provide us duty free access for 60% items of all the tariff lines under its LDC scheme through WTO notification, and I think this has been extended to 98% since the formalities were going on for quite some time.”
The commerce ministry said all potential Bangladeshi export products will get duty-free and quota-free access to China from July 1 this year, but Bangladesh will not have to offer any facility to China for this.
Currently, 3095 Bangladeshi products enjoy duty-free access to Chinese market under Asia – Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA).
With Bangladesh’s exports to once its biggest market, USA, bordering on the erratic lately, and the long-term repercussions of Brexit on the UK and European Union markets open to conjectures still, Aminul’s views on China playing the balancing act, seem pertinent.
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This year marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and China.
Over the past 45 years, he said, the two countries have shown mutual respect, understanding, and support in their relationship.
Solidarity and cooperation
He said the COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented crisis facing the mankind, and thus every country shares the same destiny.
The government of China has decided to assist Bangladesh in fighting the outbreak of novel coronavirus in the country.
In curbing the epidemic, China has always been and will be Bangladesh’s most reliable partner, it added.
During the conversation, President Xi reaffirmed China’s firm support to Bangladesh in fighting COVID-19 and its readiness to help where it can in light of the actual needs of Bangladesh, including sending a medical expert team to Bangladesh. And this very team will arrive in Bangladesh today, with hands-on experience and critical medical supplies for curbing the COVID-19 transmission and treating the patients. It is believed to be the first official foreign medical team in Bangladesh to assist in the fight against the COVID-19. This is also a vivid example of the fine tradition of mutual assistance between Bangladesh and China.
This year marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Bangladesh. As a Chinese proverb goes, “Only friendships built on sincerity can last long.” Over the past 45 years, the two countries have shown mutual respect, understanding, and support in their relationship. Pragmatic cooperation in a wide range of fields has been greatly expanded. The economies of China and Bangladesh are closely linked and highly complementary to each other. There are huge spaces for cooperation in public health, trade, investment, and engineering contracts between the two countries. The cooperation between China and Bangladesh not only benefits the peoples of the two countries but also benefits regional development and stability. China will always be the most reliable partner of Bangladesh and a firm builder and implementer of major infrastructure projects for the Belt and Road connectivity.
The discussion lasted around two hours, according to DNCC Mayor Atiqul Islam.
Medical equipment from China | Dhaka Tribune
Photo: Courtesy
The Chinese medical experts will provide consultations of pandemic control, patients treatment and laboratory tests, and guide and train Bangladeshi medical professionals.
Mutual understanding and support between China and Bangladesh since the onset of the pandemic has shown the pragmatic cooperation of the two countries, he said.
Ehsan Abdullah
BANGLADESH - Audacity of Hope 