Talking of Mr. Boucher, Shri Pranab and Gen Moeen Foreign relations have been the talk of the town as well as the recent book by the Army Chief by Maj Gen (Retd) Syed Muhammad Ibrahim, Bir Protik
One The week beginning February 7-13 has been a busy week for the Government of Bangladesh. US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Mr. Richard Boucher was in Dhaka for a short two-day visit. Mr. Pranab Mukherjee the redoubtable foreign minister of India was in Dhaka for a shorter visit on February 9. For about two weeks preceding the visits, the Bangladeshi media was ripe with anticipation, apprehension and speculation about the outcome of these visits, based on whatever various Bangladeshi ministers were saying in the media and dear readers, believe it or not, the honorable Ministers were saying more than enough. There have been many talk-shows in the electronic media, and columns written in the print media. Readers and viewers are reasonably aware of the interaction between the US diplomat and Indian foreign minister during their respective visits. The outcome is also very well-known. We will dwell on these subjects only as matter of courtesy. Mr. Boucher had discussion with the foreign minister, home minister and prime minister of Bangladesh. He had a courtesy meeting with the leader of the opposition in the parliament and former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia also. Mr. Boucher's visit left behind food for thought on demarcation of our maritime boundary, the protection of Bangladesh's economic zone in the sea, capacity building for anti-terrorism programs in South Asia and trade and commerce between US and Bangladesh. The geographical limits of South Asia were enlarged couple of years ago to include Afghanistan as a member-state and to include few outsiders as observers. Recently the crisis in Afghanistan has been gaining greater attention than before. Pakistan which has been a frontline state against militancy once in the eighties and again after 9/11 in the current decade, seems to be losing the status and instead is becoming and inflicted or infected state itself; of-course from militancy. As the US forces get more and more involved in larger and larger numbers in Afghanistan, observers are apprehensive that the territory of Pakistan adjacent to Afghanistan will also become battle zone. It only means America's involvement in South Asia is on the increase. Further, because one of the two regional powers of South Asia i.e. Pakistan is becoming physically embroiled or to a degree even embattled, only India remains as the regional power. India has not been a frontline state so far, that does not mean "it will hold no line". Chances are that India will be major partner of America in stabilizing South Asia against militancy and terrorism as well as a pro US platform in the struggle or campaign against these phenomena. Bangladesh's prime concern is to have a national, regional and international environment where she can prosper economically. It is a very delicate balance that the Government of Bangladesh has to strike between the demands of national interest and national security on the one side and calls of international security and international cooperation on the other side. The present Government of Bangladesh has inherited congenial foreign policy from the previous two year long Caretaker Government. Shri Pranab Mukherjee visited Bangladesh while he was also carrying the burden of Prime Ministerial duties of his own country. The visit by the Indian foreign minister and that too with an important agenda very clearly indicates the open-hearted attitude of welcome as well as support to the newly elected Government of Bangladesh by the Government of India. Come what may on earth, Bangladesh and India have to live as neighbors. History (political or otherwise), binds these two countries together; but geography or nature as well binds them, albeit far more strongly than history. Men create and write history, but men can only react to nature. The compulsions of nature behold Bangladesh to the call of friendship, peace and cooperation with India. For Bangladesh India looms very large in economic, environmental and political specter where as Bangladesh is a small, mid profile matter of concern to India. This difference is understandable. The land mass comprising India, Bangladesh and Pakistan was once upon a time a single country called Hindustan or Bharat or India, the capital being Delhi. It will take another 20 to 30 years for a totally new generation of citizens and politicians cum businessman to be at the helm of affairs in India, Bangladesh and Pakistan without having any physical linkage to the past. Under the circumstances it is but natural that India and Bangladesh should cooperate for peaceful coexistence. Peace does not come on its own. There could be more but we identify at least 3 ingredients which will contribute to peace among communities. One, mitigation of hunger that is to say enough food; second, mitigation of emotion related self respect that is to say mutual respect for each other; third and last, safety of life and property. The relation between India and Bangladesh must be guided by these 3 ingredients if not more. If either of the parties demands these 3 ingredients to be satisfactory for itself, it must then simultaneously guarantee equal satisfaction of these 3 ingredients to the other party. All agreement between India and Bangladesh whether signed or to be signed need to be critically examined in the light of this hypothesis. Terrorism is a menace for most countries. Cooperation between India and Bangladesh is a must in the fight against terrorism. Indeed, to give this cooperation greater acceptability, the cooperation should be under a South Asian umbrella. Cooperation from countries outside South Asia is a bonus only. Cooperation is a greater compulsion in the areas of business and trade. Unfortunately there are more negative news then positive ones in this sector of India-Bangladesh relation. One example, going by print media reports, spinning and textile industries in Bangladesh are said to be set for destruction for wrong policies of the Government of Bangladesh in the name of cooperation with India. Soap, an item in cosmetics, which Bangladesh can export happily is being barred by various tiers of Indian authority is another example. Bangladesh is geographically far smaller than India, economically far weaker than India, militarily a no-comparison with India but emotionally determined to pitch a tough game. It is a jigsaw puzzle not so easy to solve. The immediate past Government of Bangladesh barely laid the foundation of a new chapter of India-Bangladesh-American relationship, hopefully to be strengthen by the Awami League Government. For various reasons, it was foregone conclusion by, as early as, June 2008 that Awami League should be elected to the power by the people, should be pulled to power by those who can pull and should be blessed to be in power by those who have the charisma to bless. Footnote is, blessing is also a matter of regional and global cooperation. Two The past two weeks have also been notable and busy because of something unprecedented in Bangladesh. To bring the military or the intelligence community under open criticism inside or outside the Parliament was at taboo thus long. This time members of the current parliament as well as past members have been launching almost frontal attacks on the Caretaker Government (CG) as a body, the Chief Advisor and some of the Advisors of the CG in person, the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) as a body, the Chairman of the ACC in person, the Bangladesh Military as a body, officers of Bangladesh Army as a group, the Chief of Army Staff of Bangladesh Army General Moeen U Ahmed in person, the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) as a body and lastly on the immediate past President of Bangladesh Prof. Iajuddin Ahmed for his or their activities in the past two years. The battering started slowly and gradually but a book written by General Moeen U Ahmed acted like fuel to a fire. More on the book, little later. Writing memoirs by elderly politicians, renowned diplomats and veteran generals is nothing new in the world or even in South Asia. Bangladesh definitely lags behind India and Pakistan in this regard. One does not have to be sorry about it, because as a country Bangladesh is the youngest among the three. The heredity and aristocracy among politicians, diplomats and Generals is oldest in India, followed by Pakistan and ends with Bangladesh. As far as military generals are concerned, as of this month, the number of (four-star and three-star) Generals who have retired will be less than ten. (Two-star) Maj Gen including doctors will number around sixty. Till the tenure of Gen Mustafizur Rahman as chief of Bangladesh Army, the present day rank of Brig Gen was known as Brigadier only. The number of Brig Gens leading retired life is more than 150. Among these retired Generals, only few could create a niche for themselves in the intellectual arena or in the elitist academia. Brig Gen Abdul Hafiz who retired as Director General (DG) of BIISS, singly or jointly edited nearly a dozen books mostly in the field of International relations or International Security. Brig Gen Hafiz has been a regular columnist also. Brig Gen Shahedul Anam Khan also retired as DG of BIISS and is currently a senior journalist. He writes regular columns mostly in English though. Brig Gen Sakhawat Hossain took to writing columns gradually after his retirement. He has more than eight books to his credit, most of which deal with international and national security. Maj Gen Manzur Rashid Khan and Brig Gen Shamsuddin Ahmed also write columns and have more than one book each to their credit. Maj Gen Moinul Hossain Chowdhury, BB, Maj Gen Subid Ali Bhuiyan, MP, Maj Gen Abdul Matin, BP also write columns but very sparingly; they have one or two books to their respective credit. Brig Gen Shafaat, Air Commodore Ishfaq Ilahi and Commodore Khurshid also write columns mostly in English language dailies. Maj Gen KM Safiullah, BU, Maj Gen Imamuzzaman, BB, Maj Gen Nurun Nabi, Maj Gen Abdul Wahab. Lt Col Abu Osman Chowdhury, Lt Col SIM Nurun Nabi Khan, BB, Maj Nasir Uddin, Brig Gen Khalequzzman Chowdhury and Maj Rafiqual Islam, BU, MP have all written books reminiscing the War of Liberation. Number of other officers also write columns in Bangla language print media in Dhaka or other major cities of the country and have also written books. Lt Col Mahmudur Rahman Chowdhury is the editor of the second most influential English language daily of Dhaka namely The Bangladesh Today; a rare achievement and credit. As an editor he writes commentaries which are also neat essays on political, social and security matters. I must hasten to apologise to those military officers whose name or names I may have missed, unintentionally. However, among retired military officers it is Maj Gen Ibrahim who could be credited for breaking the ice and almost being the pathfinder in writing columns. He began with and continued mostly in, Bangla language dailies of Dhaka. Ibrahim also had retired from the chair of DG of BIISS. It was in 1998 that General Ibrahim lent his pen massively and intimately to the most circulated daily of Dhaka Prothom Alo, in its first 60 days. In the process, Prothom Alo also popularized him as a column writer. Soon Jugantor made the debut and again General Ibrahim was with it for 36 consecutive days in the first two months. General Ibrahim's first ever book Senabahinir Abhayntare Athash Bachar meaning 28 years inside the Army was published by Mowla Brothers in February 1999. The second book An Evaluation of the Peace Process and the Situation in Chittagong Hill Tracts was also published by Mowla Brothers in February 2001. General Ibrahim's ninth book in Bangla language The Battles of Islam was published by Anannya publishers in February 2009. The narrative in the previous paragraphs gives an idea about retired military officers delving into the world of writings. Among the serving officers also, tendency to write is discernible but the process of getting a book written by a serving military officer published, is time consuming and laborious. I will talk of them sometime in future, except for the book written by the Chief of Army Staff General Moeen U Ahmed, and published recently. Three At the very outset I must clarify that like most of the retired officers who had been senior to Gen Moeen U Ahmed we maintain mutually respectful professional relationship. At the end of the nine-month training, I was commissioned in September 1970 from the Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) Kakul as the best all-round cadet of the course (or the first boy of the class) and was awarded the prestigious 'Commander-in-Chief's Cane', which was the coveted prize for the first boy. In PMA the first boy of a two year long regular course would be awarded the 'Sword of Honor', while the first boy of a short or war course would be awarded the 'Commander-in-Chief's Cane'. The Bangladesh Military Academy (BMA) was established in 1974, in Comilla. It moved to Bhatiary 10 miles north from the city-centre in Chittagong in early 1976. The BMA ran seven short courses before beginning with long or regular courses. I was a group testing officer (GTO) in the Army Selection Board (forerunner of ISSB) which selected cadets for the first and second short course ran in the BMA. The one year long first short course in BMA began on 9th January in 1974 and the participants or cadets were commissioned on 11th January 1975. The first boy of this course was one ATM Zahirul Alam, now a Lieutenant General and serving as an ambassador abroad. The system of PMA Kakul was changed for the better and Zahir was awarded the 'Sword of Honor'. The second boy of the course who was awarded the 'Commander-in-Chief's Cane' was one Moeen Uddin Ahmed, now the honorable Chief of Bangladesh Army and a four star General. Sometime after 1994 the name got of the respected General got abbreviated in the American style to Moeen U Ahmed. Gen Moeen has maintained his professional distinction all along. I myself attended The Royal Staff College in England and upon return joined the defense services command and staff college (DSCSC) in Mirpur Cantonment in Dhaka as an instructor (in army's jargon : Directing Staff or DS) where I served between January 1984 and January 1987 for 37 months. It was a pleasure having the-then Maj Moeen Uddin Ahmed as a student in 1985. He was bright and excelled many others. Upon return from America where I attended an eleven month long course in the US Army War College, I was immediately appointed the Director of Military Operations in the Army Headquarters of Bangladesh Army, in June 1989. My immediate subordinate colleagues were two Lt Cols as general staff officer grade one. The-then Lt Col Moeen Uddin Ahmed was number two in order of seniority between the two, but was in-charge of the most important section. He was a meritorious colleague who contributed much to the successful working of the Military Operations Directorate. Having said this much, I venture to comment on the book written by Gen Moeen and published only few days ago. The name of the book is Shanteer Shopne Shomoyer Sriteecharon. The book has been written very well, printed very well, bound very well and launched very well. The book has three major sections and fourth one is a very tiny section. The first section has six chapters, the second section has twenty two sections and the third section -- titled one eleven -- has seven sections. The third section talks of the most contemporary politico administrative matters of Bangladesh namely 'how did Bangladesh Army get involved in the twenty four months long Caretaker Government under Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed.' As a citizen witnessing the events of the country unfold, I can appreciate that all the truth may not been told; on the other hand only witness and close colleagues of the General can say whether all that has been told is THE TRUTH. In my view February 2009 is too close on the heels of the past Caretaker Government for all the truth to be told, at least in terms of information; and in that logic, my remark is that the General should not have included the third section or at least the first chapter of the third section which talks of the background to 'one eleven'. Now that the book has been published, it has opened the door for readers of the book and other citizens to come out critically about not only the contents of the book, but also the writer of the book. Only as example two references out of many are mentioned: Bangla language daily Amader Shomoy dated February 10 and 11. The unpleasantness is that, General Moeen as a man is less important; the chair of the Chief of Army Staff which he holds is important and honorable. The book has rendered the Chief as well as the Army of which he is the Chief vulnerable to avoidable criticism. The matter is like stirring up a hornet's nest. Field Marshal Mohammad Ayub Khan while the President of Pakistan wrote a book titled Friends Not Masters but that was almost eight years after he had taken over as the Chief Martial Law Administrator of Pakistan. (Four star) General Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan wrote a book titled In the Line of Fire while still serving simultaneously as the President of Pakistan as well as the Chief of Army Staff of Pakistan Army. Readers of this column are welcome to read General Moeen U Ahmed's book and acquaint with information hitherto unknown!! We will also continue to read the book. n Maj Gen Ibrahim has been writing columns for almost a decade, mostly in leading Bengali-language newspapers and magazines. He is a valiant decorated freedom fighter of Bangladesh War of Liberation 1971. He is a graduate of The Royal Staff College UK, The US Army War College and holds Master Degree in Defense Studies. Since December 2007 he is in politics too. He has authored and as edited number of books and is currently a PhD researcher in the University of Dhaka. Interaction: mgsmibrahim@yahoo.com
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