Whose side is Bangladesh in the divided world?

Year1974. Father of the Nation is working to build post-war Bangladesh. There is food crisis in the country. It was also important to increase exports again. In both such crises, Bangladesh exported jute to Cuba. And this brought the doom for Bangladesh. The United States cut off wheat aid to Bangladesh under the PL 480 agreement on the pretext of exporting jute to Cuba. That caused in food shortage. PL480 was a food aid agreement from the United States. According to the agreement, the export of goods was banned in some other countries including Cuba. The condition of the agreement was to stop food aid if the goods were exported to these countries. Bangladesh could never imagine that the United State will cut off humanitarian activities such as food aid. But the United States actually did it at the time. The Bangabandhu government had to face an unfavorable situation for that decision of the United States. ‘The food shortage in 1974 was termed as famine. Much later, Amartya Sen showed in his research that there was no real food shortage in Bangladesh, only serious shortcomings in the supply system.’ The artificial famine of '74 was created in the context of the US decision. Associated with this were various conspiracies of anti-independence forces. On the one hand the activities of hoarders and smugglers, on the other hand the terror of the masses and the proletariat. All these set the stage for the worst massacre in the history of '75. The US decision of '74 came to mind in the context of the Russia-Ukraine war on February 24. The United States is at war with Russia. Not just the United States, but the European Union, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom have taken a direct stand against Russia. Every day various sanctions are being imposed against Russia. The Russia-Ukraine war has divided the world. The world seems to be back to the Cold War. A new polarization has taken place in the world. In a cabinet meeting on Monday, the prime minister directed that the war be monitored. So far Bangladesh have not taken anyone's side in this war. A word of hope is that the Bangladesh government and the foreign ministry have been wary of this since the beginning of the war. But the question is, how long will Bangladesh be able to remain in this neutral position? Will Bangladesh be pressured to join? Will there be a call for an end to economic relations with Russia? This question arises because US pressure is now visible on various issues. Bangladesh's foreign policy is very straightforward and clear. This is what Bangabandhu has determined - 'Friendship with all, enmity with none'. But Bangladesh has been the victim of animosity at different times even though it has not been hostile. Everyone knows that the United States and China opposed Bangladesh in the great liberation war in '71. After the victory, China vetoed against Bangladesh so that Bangladesh does not get the membership of the United Nations. The father of the nation regretted this. At the bipartisan council session of the Awami League on January 18, 1974, Bangabandhu said, “When the UN was vetoed against China, people of Bengal used to protest. I myself have spoken many times against Veto. For that veto, China could not go to the UN for 25 years. Sadly, China used its Veto Power against Bangladesh to cast the first veto against Bangladesh. Yet I wish them friendship. I do not want to make animosity. Because I want everyone's friendship.” (Source: Sheikh Mujib is another name for Bangladesh; Atiur Rahman Page: 259)

But many did not listen to Bangabandhu's call for friendship. But many did not listen to Bangabandhu's call for friendship. The countries that opposed the liberation war did not cooperate with the war-torn Bangladesh till '75. Many countries did not recognize Bangladesh till '75. The United States today speaks of human rights; they are outspoken against extrajudicial killings. But why was the United States silent when the Father of the Nation was brutally murdered on August 15, 1975? Where was the flag of humanity when child Russell was killed? The US administration did not take a stand when the pregnant woman was killed. In December last year, the US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on seven law enforcement officers in Bangladesh. The United States has accused them of human rights abuses. But in '75, Bangabandhu and his family were brutally killed by some misguided members of the army. Were any restrictions imposed on them? The answer is obviously no. These murderers have been brought to justice. The convict was reportedly living in the United States. Where are the human rights in the United States, where are the sanctions? Now various western countries including the United States are very concerned about the digital security law of Bangladesh. Occasionally, on the advice of civil society, calls were made to repeal this law. But 21 long years from 1975 to '96 a black law like the Indemnity Ordinance had become a stigma on Bangladesh. Human rights were crushed like a stone in the chest. How many countries have expressed concern against this? How many countries have pressured the governments of Bangladesh at different times to repeal black laws like the Indemnity Ordinance? In 2001, the BNP-Jamaat coalition government came to power. Before the results of the October 1 election were announced violence against minorities began across the country. Minorities fell victim to murder, rape and terrorism. From October 1, 2001 to October 10, there was no law in the country. The BNP-Jamaat was in a frenzy of killing opponents. At that time there was no outcry in the western world about the human rights of Bangladesh. After the BNP-Jamaat alliance came to power, “Operation Clean Heart” started. Extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests began in the name of recovering illegal weapons. Yet in the Western world it is not considered a human rights violation. The United States has observed a period of silence over the legalization of Operation Clean Heart's extrajudicial killings. On January 11, 2007, an army-backed caretaker government took power. The government, led by Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed, said they had come to hold a free and fair election. But after getting the responsibility started the celebration of arresting politicians and businessmen. The terrible details of the demonic torture that led to the arrest of various individuals are being leaked. Dr. Fakhruddin-General Moin U government has taken money from businessmen by force. Arrested whoever they want. At that time, it was a cleansing operation for the United States and Western nations. There was no uneasiness among the westerners about the extrajudicial killings and detention without trial. Even when today's prime minister was barred from entering the country, Europe-America, with the exception of a few British MPs, did not see the issue as a "deprivation of individual liberty" or a gross violation of fundamental rights. The arrest of the two leaders, the trial of their farce through the Kangaroo Trial- the United States has only observed all these. Many of those involved in human rights abuses are now living in the United States but there are no restrictions on them. This is because the definition of human rights varies from time to time in the eyes of the United States and the European Union. The same thing is sometimes human rights violations and sometimes good governance. Allegations of human rights abuses are therefore an infallible weapon in the Western world. They only apply it when they think their interests are being harmed in a particular country. When Saddam loyal to Iraq committed arbitrariness, that was the mischief of the American pet cat. But it was a terrible violation of human rights when Saddam did not remain loyal to the United States. The Mujahideen were a favorite of the Americans as long as they fought the Soviet Union. But whenever they have appeared in their original form, they have become terrorists. Russia's invasion of Ukraine is by no means acceptable. War is unjust in any respect. But what Russia has done in Ukraine, the United States has always done in different countries. As soon as the interests of the United States are harmed, they become the advertiser of human rights and democracy. Bangladesh has been feeling the pressure of US for some time now. The United States did not invite Bangladesh to the Democracy Conference. Seven current and former RAB officers has been banned. Pushing for consent to sign the amended Lehi law. I have brought the previous incidents to the fore in order to understand that the reason for all this is not just a human rights issue. The incidents of human rights violations in Bangladesh in 1975, 2001 and 2007 are not considered as human rights violations by the United States. But now human rights violations are being sought in everything in Bangladesh. There are several reasons for this. One of the reasons is the global context. New polarization in world politics.

On December 26, 1991, the Soviet Union officially dissolved. This marked the end of the Cold War. Since World War II, the world has been gradually splitting into two. The capitalist world, led by the United States. And the socialist world led by the Soviet Union. On the one hand, the 'NATO' military alliance of the capitalist countries. On the other hand, the ‘Warsaw’ military alliance of socialist countries. There was a kind of balance in the world at this time of the Cold War. Bangladesh was born on December 16, 1971 in this divided world of the Cold War. With the rise of Bangladesh there was also a global division. The United States supported Pakistan in this war. In 1964, the Soviet Union and China clashed over the strategy for implementing socialism. The socialist movement in the countries became divided. China was also against the rise of Bangladesh in order to oppose the Soviets. The Chinese leftists in Bangladesh called our great liberation war a 'fight of two dogs'. Bangladesh's victory has been easy in a world divided by the Cold War. Also because of the divided world, there was conspiracy after the rise of Bangladesh. The end result of this conspiracy was August 15, 1975. Those who did not want the victory of Bangladesh have conspired to deprive us of our independence even after the victory of the war of liberation. They wanted to make Bangladesh a Pakistan again. After 1975, Zia-Ershad tried their best to bring back the Pakistani trend. They would have been successful if Sheikh Hasina had not taken the helm of Awami League in 1981. After the war of liberation, the father of the nation rightly made 'socialism' one of the basic principles of the state. The father of the nation joined the non-aligned movement. He became close to the socialist world. After the war of liberation, besides India, most of the countries that contributed to the construction of Bangladesh were socialist countries. The Father of the Nation took the final step of building a Bangladesh free from exploitation and discrimination by forming 'Bakshal'. Within seven months of the formation of Bakshal, took place the worst massacre in history. I do not believe that Bangabandhu's assassination is just a domestic conspiracy. It is deeply involved in international conspiracies and global politics. The Awami League, especially the Awami League president, knows this very well. That is why Sheikh Hasina has been adopting a balanced policy since taking responsibility in 1981. From '81 to '91 the Awami League changed its declarations, programs and policies a lot. From socialist economy to free market economy, from nationalization to recognition of private property - all these have been done by Awami League to gain the confidence of the western world. From '75 to '96 the Awami League had to prove again and again that it was a liberal democratic party which believes in free economy. But Sheikh Hasina is a visionary statesman. She did not forget the friends of the hard times while gaining the confidence of the westerners. Bangladesh has also enhanced various economic and trade relations with Russia. Economic development has drawn China closer. Many people think that the United States is a little unhappy with Bangladesh for China. Only when the United States started pressuring Bangladesh on various issues, Bangladesh challenged and signed the agreement of Bangabandhu Satellite-2 with Russia.

In the last one decade, Bangladesh has leaned a lot towards India-China-Russia. Bangladesh has also moved away from economic dependence on the United States or the European Union.  At this time there is a new polarization in the world. Russia-Ukraine war is the outcome of the new polarization in the world. China-Russia has stood in one line forgetting the post-'74 enmity. It is said that the authoritarian rulers of the world have become one. Just like during the Cold War, a non-aligned moderate alliance is being formed in the world. India, the world's largest democracy, is leading those who are not with either side. India has abstained from voting against Russia in the Security Council. India has also demanded an end to the war. Narendra Modi has spoken to Putin twice. Russia is a close ally of India as well as Russia has a long standing relationship with Bangladesh. India has shown a distinct and acceptable position in global polarization. It is also instructive for Bangladesh. A neutral position is safe for Bangladesh without going for or against anyone. But will those who now put pressure on Bangladesh on various issues accept this neutrality? Or they will put any new pressure on the Russian issue?