Urgency of forming National Security Council
By Mohammad Zainal Abedin
The incumbent Bangladesh government led by Fakhruddin Ahmed undertook a historic and welcome decision of forming a National Security Council (NSC). If it is formed it will be historical milestone in the history of Bangladesh and this government will be remembered by all those our incoming generations. But a section of people seems to misinterpret and question the decision of the government. Having no argument against such welcome decision of the government, they say that a non-elected government has no right to form such a council.
The non-elected government, if could have taken hundreds of decisions bypassing the elected representatives and those are hailed by all quarters why its decision of forming NSC should be left for the elected government. At least 10 elected and non-elected governments ruled this country for the last 37 years, but none formed the council. Every nation has visions, policies and programmes to develop it economically, strengthen it militarily and solidify it politically. People through their mandate change their government, but the vision of the nation remains unchanged and the onward march towards prosperity remains unhindered due to the implementation of those policies.
But in case of Bangladesh it is something otherwise. Successive governments ruled this country without any integrated visions, policies and programmes. The new government abandons the policies of its predecessor that causes the nation seriously for which the country cannot reach its cherished goal. We need consensus national policy on education, defence, human and mineral resources, maritime, water, above all foreign affairs, etc. But all the governments ruled this country without national policy to suit party and personal interest. Party and personal interest got more priority than the national ones. As a result we are lagging behind day by day. An effective NSC could solve this problem. Being a non- party body, it will help the nation formulate impartial policies and the government will implement those suiting the needs of the time.
Other than economic consideration our unique geographical location having border in three sides with an overtly friendly but factually expansionist country throws our security to an awkward position. We do not have any formulated policy how to deal with our giant neighbour. Almost all the governments so came to power were seen extremely submissive to India and did little to minimize Indian influence and pressure. Utter failure of our successive governments to protect our national interest in different sectors, unequivocally unveils the necessity of an effective and strong NSC. The nation repeatedly felt the essentiality of NSC whenever national interests were sold out one after another on several occasions to the foreigners, particularly to India. Due to the lack of national policy, no government could take effective steps when India blockades the waters of the common rivers, floods and damages our country during the rainy season and desertifes in the dry season, kills our people living in the bordering areas, paralyses our campuses and industrial zones and squeezes us in all fronts through sabotage and subversive activities.
When 25-year so-called friendship and peace treaty was signed with India or Beru Bari was handed over to India, the then parliament did not play any role to resist them. Rather MPs okayed the treaty of handing over Berubari Union to India without having the sovereignty over Tin Bigha corridor. None of the MPs opposed it. None tried to resist Sheikh Hasina she when signed controversial 30- year Ganges Water Sharing Treaty with India without consulting her cabinet and the then parliament.
Hasina's government also signed the most heinous and suicidal anti-Bangladesh Chittagong Hill
Tracts (CHT) so-called peace treaty with the Chakma terrorists ignoring the parliament. No debate was held in the parliament on the treaty. No opposition MPs were allowed to pass his opinion on the treaty. Unfortunately the then Treasury Bench MPs were allowed to speak hailing the treaty. Awami League MPs claimed that Sheikh did an historic deed signing the treaty for peace and they even proposed that she should be nominated as one of the candidates for Nobel Peace Prize. It needs no explanation how the suicidal treaty rewarded the Chakma traitors and weakened the foundation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the country, how it degraded the Bengalees living in CHT to the status of 3rd grade citizens in their own country.
Almost all the treaties and agreements signed with India by different governments right from Sheikh Mujib to Khaleda Zia failed to protect the interest of the country. Even the treaties signed with various multinational companies failed to protect our interest. The parliament played no role to save national interest. How can we believe that such elected government or parliament government will form NSC? An effective National Security Council could solve these problems and formulate policies and guidelines how the government should sign treaties any country or multinational company protecting national interest. All the agreements so far signed with the forging companies on mineral resources went in favour of the foreign companies.
It was alleged that some of our politicians and bureaucrats, were bribed by the foreign governments and companies to get contract. It is also alleged that some ministers, particularly ministers for foreign affairs, communication, textile, finance, food, etc., were bribed by India to turn Bangladesh to its bazaar. Presently we are to depend on person, not on policy to deal with the foreigners. So a person can easily be purchased. For this reason, almost all the treaties signed so far went in favour of the foreigners.
Vital national interest in most cases remains unprotected since the inception of Bangladesh. No government after Zia tried to speak against Indian occupation in Talpatti Island. None tried to recover Padua from Indian occupation. When it was temporarily recovered by BDR (Bangladesh Rifles), it was handed over by the Sheikh Hasina government to India, which virtually proves that Bangladesh has no claim over the territory. No Bill condemning Indian constant aggression in our border or pushing Indian nationals into Bangladesh was ever passed in our parliament.
As India nurses many of our politicians sitting MPs, ministers and so-called civil societies, they act and speak in such a way so that they get Indian blessings all along. They remain busy in what way they can please India and they do not have moral courage to resist Indian pressure and demand and hence sign such uneven treaties that serve India interest. Government comes and goes, but they do little in reducing the problems the nation faces from our immediate neighnour. If NSC were in existence, it could formulate policies on different issues and government would that could help the government in facing external threats more effectively.
Many countries like America, even India, Thailand, Malaysia, etc., have such councils. These countries do not shift their policies overnight. Governments of these countries are changed, but the policies remain the same. For this reason, developmental activities of these countries remain unhindered and uninterrupted. They seldom bring about any major change in the internal and external policies of their country, as the major policies are formulated by the NSC. Elected parliaments and governments implement those policies.
The proposed NSC will go a long way to secure our overall interest. We should not question or oppose the formation of such an important Council. Let it start and work just now. We have no room to leave for the elected parliament. If the successive parliaments would have done it earlier, the non-elected incumbent government might not have the scope to form it now. There is no room to believe that the elected parliament will do it later. Our adversaries will apply all its influence and power to deter the formation and presence of any effective and Indian influence-free NSC in Bangladesh. So let it be formed and start from somewhere. It may undergo, if situation needs so, through many changes keeping uniformity with demand of the time. Everything is changeable.
Some quarters argue that there is no need of forming a National Security Council, as Bangladesh is not at war with any country or does not face any foreign aggression or internal or external threat. It is indeed a childish and funny argument. Nation may face external or internal threat anytime. None knows when country will face such problem. We should remain ready to face national calamity of any kind. We should not wait for a war to form this council. It is not an acceptable argument that government may form a Security Council when it faces problem. If any national crisis arises whether the government will tackle the problem or form a Council in abnormal situation. Where is the problem if such body is formed in advance? We had to form it far earlier. We should not linger it anymore. The nation lost a lot due to the absence of such body.
Let all the quarters comprehend the reality and extend their support to the government in forming such a vital body to safeguard our country from external and internal threats and ensure its march to prosperity peaceful and uninterrupted .*
-------------------------------
Mohammad Zainal Abedin is a freelance Journalist . Email: noazabd@gmail.com
The non-elected government, if could have taken hundreds of decisions bypassing the elected representatives and those are hailed by all quarters why its decision of forming NSC should be left for the elected government. At least 10 elected and non-elected governments ruled this country for the last 37 years, but none formed the council. Every nation has visions, policies and programmes to develop it economically, strengthen it militarily and solidify it politically. People through their mandate change their government, but the vision of the nation remains unchanged and the onward march towards prosperity remains unhindered due to the implementation of those policies.
But in case of Bangladesh it is something otherwise. Successive governments ruled this country without any integrated visions, policies and programmes. The new government abandons the policies of its predecessor that causes the nation seriously for which the country cannot reach its cherished goal. We need consensus national policy on education, defence, human and mineral resources, maritime, water, above all foreign affairs, etc. But all the governments ruled this country without national policy to suit party and personal interest. Party and personal interest got more priority than the national ones. As a result we are lagging behind day by day. An effective NSC could solve this problem. Being a non- party body, it will help the nation formulate impartial policies and the government will implement those suiting the needs of the time.
Other than economic consideration our unique geographical location having border in three sides with an overtly friendly but factually expansionist country throws our security to an awkward position. We do not have any formulated policy how to deal with our giant neighbour. Almost all the governments so came to power were seen extremely submissive to India and did little to minimize Indian influence and pressure. Utter failure of our successive governments to protect our national interest in different sectors, unequivocally unveils the necessity of an effective and strong NSC. The nation repeatedly felt the essentiality of NSC whenever national interests were sold out one after another on several occasions to the foreigners, particularly to India. Due to the lack of national policy, no government could take effective steps when India blockades the waters of the common rivers, floods and damages our country during the rainy season and desertifes in the dry season, kills our people living in the bordering areas, paralyses our campuses and industrial zones and squeezes us in all fronts through sabotage and subversive activities.
When 25-year so-called friendship and peace treaty was signed with India or Beru Bari was handed over to India, the then parliament did not play any role to resist them. Rather MPs okayed the treaty of handing over Berubari Union to India without having the sovereignty over Tin Bigha corridor. None of the MPs opposed it. None tried to resist Sheikh Hasina she when signed controversial 30- year Ganges Water Sharing Treaty with India without consulting her cabinet and the then parliament.
Hasina's government also signed the most heinous and suicidal anti-Bangladesh Chittagong Hill
Tracts (CHT) so-called peace treaty with the Chakma terrorists ignoring the parliament. No debate was held in the parliament on the treaty. No opposition MPs were allowed to pass his opinion on the treaty. Unfortunately the then Treasury Bench MPs were allowed to speak hailing the treaty. Awami League MPs claimed that Sheikh did an historic deed signing the treaty for peace and they even proposed that she should be nominated as one of the candidates for Nobel Peace Prize. It needs no explanation how the suicidal treaty rewarded the Chakma traitors and weakened the foundation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the country, how it degraded the Bengalees living in CHT to the status of 3rd grade citizens in their own country.
Almost all the treaties and agreements signed with India by different governments right from Sheikh Mujib to Khaleda Zia failed to protect the interest of the country. Even the treaties signed with various multinational companies failed to protect our interest. The parliament played no role to save national interest. How can we believe that such elected government or parliament government will form NSC? An effective National Security Council could solve these problems and formulate policies and guidelines how the government should sign treaties any country or multinational company protecting national interest. All the agreements so far signed with the forging companies on mineral resources went in favour of the foreign companies.
It was alleged that some of our politicians and bureaucrats, were bribed by the foreign governments and companies to get contract. It is also alleged that some ministers, particularly ministers for foreign affairs, communication, textile, finance, food, etc., were bribed by India to turn Bangladesh to its bazaar. Presently we are to depend on person, not on policy to deal with the foreigners. So a person can easily be purchased. For this reason, almost all the treaties signed so far went in favour of the foreigners.
Vital national interest in most cases remains unprotected since the inception of Bangladesh. No government after Zia tried to speak against Indian occupation in Talpatti Island. None tried to recover Padua from Indian occupation. When it was temporarily recovered by BDR (Bangladesh Rifles), it was handed over by the Sheikh Hasina government to India, which virtually proves that Bangladesh has no claim over the territory. No Bill condemning Indian constant aggression in our border or pushing Indian nationals into Bangladesh was ever passed in our parliament.
As India nurses many of our politicians sitting MPs, ministers and so-called civil societies, they act and speak in such a way so that they get Indian blessings all along. They remain busy in what way they can please India and they do not have moral courage to resist Indian pressure and demand and hence sign such uneven treaties that serve India interest. Government comes and goes, but they do little in reducing the problems the nation faces from our immediate neighnour. If NSC were in existence, it could formulate policies on different issues and government would that could help the government in facing external threats more effectively.
Many countries like America, even India, Thailand, Malaysia, etc., have such councils. These countries do not shift their policies overnight. Governments of these countries are changed, but the policies remain the same. For this reason, developmental activities of these countries remain unhindered and uninterrupted. They seldom bring about any major change in the internal and external policies of their country, as the major policies are formulated by the NSC. Elected parliaments and governments implement those policies.
The proposed NSC will go a long way to secure our overall interest. We should not question or oppose the formation of such an important Council. Let it start and work just now. We have no room to leave for the elected parliament. If the successive parliaments would have done it earlier, the non-elected incumbent government might not have the scope to form it now. There is no room to believe that the elected parliament will do it later. Our adversaries will apply all its influence and power to deter the formation and presence of any effective and Indian influence-free NSC in Bangladesh. So let it be formed and start from somewhere. It may undergo, if situation needs so, through many changes keeping uniformity with demand of the time. Everything is changeable.
Some quarters argue that there is no need of forming a National Security Council, as Bangladesh is not at war with any country or does not face any foreign aggression or internal or external threat. It is indeed a childish and funny argument. Nation may face external or internal threat anytime. None knows when country will face such problem. We should remain ready to face national calamity of any kind. We should not wait for a war to form this council. It is not an acceptable argument that government may form a Security Council when it faces problem. If any national crisis arises whether the government will tackle the problem or form a Council in abnormal situation. Where is the problem if such body is formed in advance? We had to form it far earlier. We should not linger it anymore. The nation lost a lot due to the absence of such body.
Let all the quarters comprehend the reality and extend their support to the government in forming such a vital body to safeguard our country from external and internal threats and ensure its march to prosperity peaceful and uninterrupted .*
-------------------------------
Mohammad Zainal Abedin is a freelance Journalist . Email: noazabd@gmail.com
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