বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র (দ্বাদশ খণ্ড)/১৪০
| শিরোনাম | সূত্র | তারিখ |
|---|---|---|
| গেট ওয়ার্ল্ড ইনভলবড ইন বাংলাদেশ - ভারতের সাবেক পররাষ্ট্রমন্ত্রী দিনেশ সিং-এর নিবন্ধ। | ‘অমৃত বাজার’ | ২জুন, ১৯৭১ |
GET WORLD INVOLVED IN BANGLADESH
Dinesh singh M.P
(Former minister of External Affairs)
The heroic struggle of the people of Bangladesh has to be seen in the context of the developments in the Indian sub-contiment. The electionals in India, Pakistan and also Ceylon have estabilshed beyind doubt the people’s choice in favour of democracy, chang and stability. In selecting their leaders and parities people have, unmis-takably, expressed their desire for rule by the people even in the face of military domination. The have equally opted tor rapid transformation of their societies peacfully and have given their over-whelming support to those who they thought would be able to realise their aspirations.
It was against this background that India lent full support to the Government of Ceylon, when it felt that an attempt was being made to thwart the express will of the people. Therefore, it was only natural that when a similar situation was creted in Pakistan, India should have taken the same stand. Our Parliament pledge to extend sympathy and Support to Bangladesh was based on the same considerations. The will of the people had to be respected. A society governed by democracy has no other option. Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s bold statement in the Lok Sabha on may 24, 1971 was a continuation of the sympathy and support resolved by parliament and it should be welcomed.
Bangladesh is, therefore, not an exerise in isolation but a manifestation of the aspirations of the people living in this part of the world. It is a reflction of the struggle of the people of Pakistan to throw off the Yoke of military domination. It is a movement for the establishment of democracy and fundamental human rights. This is clear from the results of the elections held in Pakistan not long ago under the martial Law Administration. Out of 313 seats in the National Assembly 169 in Esat and 144 in West Pakistan, Sheikh Mujiber Rahman’s Awami league and its supporters were expected to commend the allegiance of 207 members. A clear majority is in the Assembly.
Their six-point plan was Cretainly not a certainly not a recipe for secession either. Why should a majority want to break away from the minority? And President Yahya khan had acknowledged Sheikh Mujiber Rahman as the future prime minsiter of Pakistan. Besides in the Six-point programme presnted by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman a Federation os Pakistan was the frist point. It was the first point. It was the sudden, Unwarrnated and ruthless attack by the West Pakistani Armed forces in Bangladesh against de fenceless civilians that split Pakistan.
Upsurge
Therefore, it is a case of the upsurge of the people of Pakistan aganist military dictatorship estabilshed by colonialist intrigue. It is a question of our lending support not to a secessionist move as Pakistan is trying to make out but to the upsurge of the people of Pakistan to establish a democratic society.
This has been our traditional approach in foreign affairs. Should we not extend help to those across our borders when they are fighting for the same values we have supported in international forums? When we raise our voice against apartheid in South Africa. When we suport armed intervention against the minority regime in Southern Rhodesia, When we press for the liberation of peoples under Portuguese domination, can we be mute spectators to the unpression, the wanton killings in Bangladesh? Are they not entitled to fundamental human rights? Will not help them? Never since independence have our national interests and our ideals converged so closely as they have done in Bangladesh.
We have the refugees now. Four million today; seven million tomorrow and ten million the day after. No body knows how many will come; how much we shall have to spend on them; and for how long.
How can this be Pakistan’s internal affair? When large mumbers of people are forced out of country’sa borders into another country, it is no longer an internal affair. It is a form of aggression, occupation of the terrtory of another country. If people can be forced out of a country into another without firing a short to case economic Pressures to balance the problem of numbers between Esat and West Pakistan this way? Bangladesh is an intronational issue today. A case of genocide trampling of fundamental human rights and the violation of the trontiers of a neighbiuring Country.
But we are losing time. We have already missed the critical frist three weeks in the euphoria that got built up. It should have been assessed that Pakistani repressioon would send a flood of refugees to India. If we could have assisted the Mukit Fauz to Consolidate its position un the liberated areas, the refusees may not have been forced to come to India. And even if they had come to India, they could have been sent to the liberated areas. The Government of Bangladesh could have sought international support and the pressure would have been on Pakistan to settle the matter. The pressure today is on us. There are on fefugees in Pakistan.
Recognition
The question of formal recognition of Bangladesh and the timing if it must be left to the government to decide. Of course, recognition will give strength to the freedom fighters and there are no legal or constitutional barriers. The question now is of future action.
If the Mukti Fauz could give protection to the people over a substantial area against attaks of Pakistani army the refugges from India could still be moved to Bangladesh. Alternatively a determined effort will have to made to involve the international community in sending the refugees back. They will not want to go back unless their security can be guaranteed - unless they can be protected from artocities of the Pakistani army.
The approach to the world community has to be a positive one. We can certainly ask for more funds. But the response to the appeal of the U.N. Secretary-General has been disappoiniting. May be we shall get some more money. But that will not solve the problem. Pakistan must be made responsible by United Nationas to reimburse us in full the expenditure we incur on the refugees. The international community must assume the responsibility of ensuring the safety of the refugees. Refugees now in India and others that may come later, Till a Settlement is reched to establish Bangladesh on any basis freely acceptable to the people of east Bengal.
The military junta of Pakistan is desperately trying to cover up its ignominious acton by creating an impression of Indo-Pakistan issue or even conflict. We must not allow this to happen. The matter has to be settled between the military Government of Pakistan and the Government of Bangladesh with international good offices as necessary. We must, therefore, give every support to the Government of Bangladesh. There is equally a danger of Pakistan fanning communal feeling. This must be firmly resisted. That is why the refugees must be sent quickly to camps to be established by U.N. in East Bengal.
Pakistan’s diplomacy has succeeded so far in preventing intervention by India: they have successfully kept up China as a counterpoise and they have manoeuvered to keep the United Nations and the big poers out. We need to take a vigorous international initiative to demolish the house of lies built by Pakistan and simultaneously present specific proposals for international action. We must get the world involed in Bangladesh quickly.
No matter how long it takes - whether a couple of weeks, a couple of months or a couple of years, the people of Pakistan are bound to wrest their freedom from military domination and the people of Bangladesh are bound to win their independence or make any other arrangement they choose. We must wish them every success-(INFA).