He might add to his perspective such minor concerns as:
1. why a billion dollar smuggling business on our borders in NOT a national security issue
2. why the absence of a fully accountable, fully functional and fully transparent defence minister is NOT a national security
3. why the absence of any transparency and accountability regarding the murder of BDR soldiers held in custody is NOT a national security issue
4. why the absence of even one elected official being held acccountable for the Peelkhana tragedy is NOT a national security issue
5. why our PM can collect a peace prize in Delhi only to see Deshi innocents shot dead at our border the next day is NOT a national secuirty issue
6. why BSF holding meetings in Dhaka and then not honouring understandings the next week is NOT a national security issue
7. why BSF can declare that it cannot stop Indians enetring Desh because it has no instructions from its Government to stop them (?!) is NOT a national security issue
Hold on! Got to say something about the Pakistanis else I'll be lablelled a blind India hater -
8. why only politely requesting a throwaway apology from Pakistan for mass murder and rape in 1971 is NOT a national security issue?
9. why the absence of any comments on the Peelkhana Tragedy by our generals is NOT a national security issue
etc etc
But do lets talk about where we are in relation to the Himalayas.
Bangladeshi men might as well join their women and wear yellow saris on pahela boishakh. I'm off to try out a yellow sari. I won't look pretty but at least it will suit my political heritage.
What a ####### joke!
Ezajur Rahman
Kuwait
--- In alochona@yahoogroups.com, Isha Khan <bdmailer@...> wrote:
>
> *National Security : Bangladesh perspective*
>
> Air Cdre (Retd) Ishfaq Ilahi Choudhury, *ndc, psc*
>
> BANGLADESH, lying between the Himalayas in the north and the Bay of Bengal
> in the south, offers the only land route connecting South and Southeast
> Asia. Any invasion into South Asia from the East must pass through
> Bangladesh; the Japanese tried to do just that in the World War II. The
> British colonization of India also started from Bengal when the Bay of
> Bengal became the point of ingress. Bangladesh's close proximity to both
> India and China, two rising power in the 21st century, adds to its
> geographic importance.
>
> India shares more than 3000 km of border with Bangladesh. The border is well
> demarcated except few stretches totalling about 9 km that remains unresolved
> due mainly to lack of political will. India envelops Bangladesh on three
> sides; similarly, Bangladesh almost dissects the north-eastern India from
> the heartland. Lying only 30 miles north of Bangladesh is the strategically
> important Nathu La pass that connects India with China through Tibet.
> Despite rapprochement with India, the Chinese have not recognized the
> so-called "McMahon Line" or renounced claim on the Indian state of
> Arunachal. Thus, in the unlikely event of an India-China conflict, the
> access to or denial of the use of Bangladesh territory to the belligerent
> forces will be of utmost strategic importance. As India becomes an economic
> powerhouse its need for shorter, faster, and more diverse means of
> communication between the northeast and the rest of India becomes more
> urgent and therefore, the need to transit across Bangladesh. Although
> Bangladesh-Myanmar land border is demarcated, inflow of minority Arakanese
> refugees has been a source of tension for many years. The Bay of Bengal
> spans the vital maritime route between SE Asia and ME. Bangladesh has vital
> interest in the Bay, but its neighbours - India and Myanmar - dispute its
> maritime boundary claim. Unless resolved amicably, the maritime boundary
> issue could be a serious irritant in inter-state relations.
>
> *Water and Energy: Bangladesh's primary strategic concerns*
> While the demand for fresh water continues to rise in Bangladesh, as
> elsewhere in the world, its supply dwindles. Some of the major rivers are
> being diverted upstream in India. The Ganges or Tista, once mighty rivers,
> have reduced to trickles. Lack of information from India regarding proposed
> Tipaimukh dam over the Barak has been a concern for Bangladesh. The Chinese
> government's plan to divert the Brahmaputra could be a major issue affecting
> millions in India and Bangladesh. Unless the riparian countries join
> together to ensure optimum use of water, there is the likelihood of conflict
> and tension in the region in future. Our industrial growth continues to
> suffer due to shortage of electricity. Meanwhile, a regional power grid
> could be established to import power from countries such as India, Nepal and
> Bhutan, which have great potential for hydroelectricity. Water and energy
> could be the two most important areas of regional cooperation or
> confrontation.
>
> *Bangladesh's national security priorities*
> Based on the discussion so far, it can be concluded that the danger of
> Bangladesh getting involved in an armed conflict with either India or
> Myanmar or with a country beyond the border is remote. Bangladesh's
> grievances with India could be addressed if the Mujib-Indira Pact of 1973 is
> implemented. Although the Maritime boundary has not yet been demarcated, the
> negotiation is already on with Myanmar and India, the prognosis so far is
> that a negotiated settlement will be arrived at with the spirit of
> compromise and cooperation. It is important for us to remember that rivers
> are the common heritage of mankind and an equitable share of the resources
> would benefit us all.
> On the non-traditional front, however, there are quite a few challenges. The
> first is the threat of terrorist activities inside the country and across
> the border. All the SAARC countries have recognized this and they have
> signed a number of protocols to that effect. In the past, the Indians
> alleged that separatists from NE states used Bangladesh territory as
> sanctuary and even used our territory to smuggle in arms and ammunition.
> Bangladesh continued to deny their presence here. It is now alleged that
> some top-ranking security officials of Bangladesh were involved in the
> process. That is indeed deplorable, if true. These are the issues that we
> need to take care of for the future. In this respect the suggestion put
> forward by our PM to create a Counter Terrorism Task Force manned by
> security personnel from all South Asian countries will be a step in the
> right direction.
>
> The neighbours have viewed Bangladesh's population as a possible security
> concern. But the good news here is that as the economy prospered and
> education spread, the population growth reduced. Since 1971, the population
> has doubled but per capita income has gone up nearly seven times. Instead of
> being afraid of hungry mass migrating across the border, our neighbours,
> India and Myanmar should invest here and enter into greater economic
> activities to the mutual benefit of all so that the people have no incentive
> to leave. One of our biggest security insurance would be to turn Bangladesh
> into a regional hub of transportation, transhipment, and transit that would
> attract investment and boost national economy. A powerful economy means a
> robust national security.
>
> *Bangladesh military and national security*
> Bangladesh armed forces are to provide a robust response to traditional
> security threats whenever and from whatever sources those appear. Building
> up an army, air or naval force is a long drawn out affair. Just because we
> do not have a threat in sight does not mean we have no need of an armed
> force. The purpose of the military is to ensure that the threat is not
> allowed to develop and nipped in the bud. A standing military provides quick
> response to crush the threat before it gains an upper hand. Our armed forces
> must be able to inflict sufficient damage to an aggressor to deter him from
> launching an attack in the first place, what is called deterrence
> capability. Given the financial resources that are made available now for
> the military, we would be able to further develop our forces to meet the
> challenges that might appear.
>
> In the non-traditional sphere, we already have the threat of religious
> extremists who want to establish an Islamic state by violent means. We also
> have the extreme leftists who in the name of establishing a classless
> society are in fact, looting the countryside. Coupled with these are the
> separatist elements from across the border trying to use Bangladesh as
> sanctuary; arms and drug smugglers use Bangladesh as a conduit. The armed
> forces would be called upon to help the law enforcing agencies whenever
> required. Military's training and operational doctrine, force structuring
> and equipment procurement should reflect these urgent security imperatives.
>
> Bangladesh armed forces had done a great job in peacekeeping missions
> worldwide. Although these do not contribute directly to national security,
> the goodwill that they earn in the international arena helps us boost our
> national image. Moreover, exposure to international arena, dangers and
> hazards of operations under different climatic, cultural and operational
> conditions enhances military professionalism, thus helping national security
> posture. Employment of armed forces in nation building works such as
> construction projects, disaster management, medical emergencies not only
> enhance the forces' professional capability but also contributes directly
> towards mitigating comprehensive security besides bettering civil-military
> relations.
>
> *Conclusion*
> National security is a vital issue for the nation, yet it is not often
> discussed in public. It is considered to be a classified matter best left to
> the military; ordinary citizen would not be privy to it. In the developed
> world research, debates and discussions are carried out in the universities
> and national security issues are in the open for all to participate. Thanks
> to organization such as Dhaka University, BIISS, BEI etc., we now have a
> pool of experts who could make important contribution in the security
> debate. While the issues are debated in civil society, media and on the
> floor of the parliament, the military and other security agencies would
> provide vital inputs so that a correct judgment could be arrived at. As the
> theoretical structure of the national security undergoes revision, we need
> to focus on the security challenges of Bangladesh, now and in the future,
> and prepare ourselves to face those challenges.
>
> http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=128815
>
------------------------------------
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