Threats to the National Security of Bangladesh
Major Faruk Ahmed (Retd)
Introduction
1. We have achieved an independent country through the Liberation War in 1971. Since the Independence, we have been experiencing forceful extraction of our resources, proxy war in CHT (Chittagong Hill Tracts), military aggression on the border, killings of our citizens in bordering areas, deprivation of water and creation of artificial floods every year by inundating larger part of the country, capturing of our market and also conduct of orchestrated hostile propaganda warfare against our nation.
2. Because of the geographical location of our country and hostile attitude of the big neighbor, we need to identify potential threats to our national security so that we can undertake necessary measures to safeguard our national security.
3. Attempts taken in this essay to briefly highlight followings:
a. Meaning of threat.
b. Forms of threat.
c. Identifying external threats faced by Bangladesh.
d. Identifying internal threats and problems.
e. Indentifying own defence potentials.
What do we mean by 'threat' to our country?
4. By 'threat', here we mean - any action or policy of either external or internal force which is likely to:
a. pose danger or cause harm to the lives of our citizens;
b. harm or challenge country's territorial integrity;
c. affect country's independence or sovereignty;
d. hamper country's social and political stability;
e. effect country's nature and environment;
f. obstruct exploration or utilization of natural resources;
g. oppose nation's persuasion of independent domestic or foreign policy;
h. affect nation's culture, morale and communal harmony; challenge nation's internal and external trade, finance and economy;
i. hamper country's production, marketing or infrastructure;
j. affect or challenge nation's peace, socio-economic and political stability etc.
What may be the forms of threat ?
5. Threat may be any one or combination of following actions by external or internal force:
a. conduct of subversion, sabotage, intimidation and propaganda;
b. conduct of physical aggression;
c. violation of country's border and water/air space;
d. killing citizens or assassination of key personalities;
e. occupation of island or bordering areas.
f. damage, destruction, demolition of property/facility/infrastructure;
g. conduct of psychological warfare against our nation;
h. hostile diplomacy by potential adversary against our country's interests or image;
i. deprivation of natural resources, flow of water in international rivers;
j. binding the govt in secret treaties detrimental to national interests.
k. use of own territory, air space and water by external forces.
l. influencing national politics.
m. Causing social crimes by allowing smuggle of drugs and arms.
n. bcapture of own market and laying obstruction to trade.
o. patronizing separatist groups.
p. conducting hostile intelligence operation in our country.
External Threats faced by Bangladesh:
6. Threat to Sovereignty.
a. Killing Bangladeshi citizens at Border. In 2009-67, 2010-60, 2011- 30(+) killed.
b. Use of Bangladesh territory: Another country will use our land, road, railways, rivers, sea ports, airports etc. None knows for how many years this will continue and under which clauses- it will be terminated.
c. Giving pressure to select route for international highway as per other's demand. The proposed Asian Highway cannot be turned into a multiple transit route through Bangladesh. Asian Highway should follow a single route through India-Bangladesh-Myanmar.
d. Kidnapping, abduction, rape and torture on BD citizens. This has become everyday-reality at border area, our govt is unable to protest and protect citizen's lives.
7. Threat to Territorial Integrity.
a. Raid on border posts. Raid on Roumari BDR post.
b. Arming, inspiring and sheltering separatist group. Armed group of CHT's PCJSS got arms, training and shelter.
c. Claim within our maritime boundary and capture of Talpotti Island. India captured this island in the Bay of Bengal which belongs to Bangladesh.
d. Construction at Zero Point. Going on in different areas.
e. Retention of our land occupied. As per Indira-Mujib Treaty, our Tin-Bigha corridor is not returned in exchange of Berubari enclave.
8. Threat to internal security and stability.
a. Creating extremist groups under religious-cover. All extremist so-called Islamist groups are working as agents of outer forces.
b. Creating separatist group in CHT. Hundred of arms were given to JSS terrorists to conduct killings and sabotage in CHT.
c. Facilitating Smuggle of Drugs. Phencidil is allowed to be smuggled into Bangladesh causing addiction to millions of youths and crimes in the society.
d. Facilitating Smuggle of illegal arms. Thousands of smuggled arms are in the hands of criminals.
e. Providing safe-heaven to criminals. Most of the top black-listed criminals have been sheltered in West Bengal.
9. Threat to political stability.
a. Foreign patronization to certain political parties. Even the foreign media (The Economist) recently exposed how a known political party was helped with bags of money and advice by neighbouring country.
10. Threat to Economy and Trade.
a. Capturing our market. Truck, car, motor cycle, CNG Taxi, white cattle, fish, clothes etc have captured our market.
b. Smuggle of Indian products. Goods worth more than 3 billion USD are smuggled into Bangladesh every year.
c. Looting of BD wealth after Independence. All armaments left by Pakistani Forces belonged to Bangladesh but India took away all.
d. Imposing barrier to BD products. By imposing heavy tax and restrictions, India obstructs export of BD products to her.
e. Huge trade deficit. In year 2009-2010, India exported to BD goods worth 3014 million USD, but BD exported to India goods worth only 304 million USD.
11. Threat to Culture.
Dozens of Hindi channels being run in Bangladesh earning more than 1000 crore Taka per year, more than 200 programs organized with Indian artists since January 2009. World Cup inaugural ceremony and Tri-nation Concert demonstrate domination of Hindi culture.
12.Threat to Education Sector. Crores of text books have been printed in India depriving own publishers. Indian writers' books are taught in schools which do not preach our own culture.
13.Threat to Communication Sector. Mobile communication sector is almost taken over by foreign mobile operators. HIS (Hostile Intelligence Service) is easily capable of hacking the conversations of our ministers, intelligence department and military commanders, business and political leaders etc.
14.Threat to History.
a. Distorting our achievement in Liberation War. India claims that she defeated Pakistani Forces in 1971 denying the fact that lacs of Freedom Fighters and 7.5 crore people fought against the occupation forces inflicting heavy casualty and shattering their morale. Defeat of Pakistani Forces was a matter of time only. But India hijacked our victory by making the Pakistani Forces to surrender to Indian Forces.
b. Denying the reality behind creation of East Pakistan along with West Pakistan based on religious discrimination. It is propagated by the vested group that the creation of East Pakistan (today's Bangladesh) in 1947 was not right based on religious issue. Fact is, today we got an independent country based on the separation in 1947 as per Lahore Resolution; otherwise, we would have been mere a state of India as West Bengal.
15. Threat to Environment.
a. Diversion and deprivation of natural water through Farakka Barrage. Most of the River beds are raised due to siltation making it difficult for water transports to ply.
b. Inundating vast land. Released water from Farakka point cannot be contained by rivers and submerges vast land both sides.
c. Creation of new dams at Tipaimukh. Tipaimukh and several other dam construction project is underway.
d. Desertification and arsenic. Due to lack of water, northern part of BD is almost desertified and millions of people are affected by arsenic.
16. Threat to national image. Known vested quarter always propagate that BD is a failed country. They always try to depict Bangladesh as a country full of Islamist extremists.
17.Threat to Diplomacy.
a. 7 Point Treaty. According to Tazuddin Ahmed's secret agreement in 1971, India wanted that new Bangladesh would not have any independent foreign policy and the Armed Forces of Bangladesh shall be an extension to Indian security system. (5th clause of the agreement says: Foreign policy of Bangladesh must be compatible with and conform to that of India.)
b. Obstruction to SAARC. Many a times, India has created obstruction to SAARC by posing different demands.
18.Threat to Media. Editors of our national dailies were invited to India; aim was to brain wash them and gain their support in favour of transit and other demands on Bangladesh. After that, maneuver by some editors in creating popular support to transit and full implementation of anti-state CHT Treaty etc has been observed by the nation.
Internal Threats and Problems:
19.Internal threats faced today:
a.Weakly guarded Border. Phencidil, illegal arms and goods are smuggled into BD due to lack of adequate border security forces.
b. Unguarded Border in CHT. In many areas, there is no demarcated and identifiable border.
c.Vulnerability to subversion, sabotage and intimidation due to lack of motivation. Due to propagation of subverted intellectuals and politicians, people are easily misguided about the impact of transit, CHT Treaty etc.
d.Probable impact of transit on national defence plan. Use of own territory by Indian Forces and transports will seriously hamper imbalance national defence plan.
e. Impact of Indian Army's domination on our Armed Forces. Indian Army Chief was allowed to take salute at newly commissioned Army Officers' graduation ceremony- causing impact on their morale and motivation.
f.Impact of foreign assisted extremists. We experienced coordinated bomb attack in 362 districts, bobm blast at Ramna Botomul etc.
g.Surrendering govt's sovereign rights and people's constitutional rights on CHT. Foreign inspired terrorist group JSS have been awarded ruling power on 1/10th portion of Bangladesh.
h.Geographical location. Vulnerable to be attacked from all directions.
i.Probable invitation by vested political parties for foreign intervention. During Pilkhana Massacre, Indian Para brigade was kept stand by at Agartala for interference if requested.
j.Cultural aggression. Since 2009, more than 200 Indian artists came to Bangladesh and dozens of Hindi channels earn more than 1000 crore Taka per year.
20.Our internal problems:
a.Poor combat efficiency. Poor logistics (arms, ammunition, equipment, ration, transport facilities and production capabilities etc.), lack of modern anti-Tank and anti-Aircraft defence system, incompatible arms and training, lack of intelligence about potential adversary, affected morale and lack of national defence strategy etc are causes of poor combat efficiency.
b.Weak Intelligence. Weakness in Intelligence sector has been displayed during: 21 August Grenade attack on the then opposition leader Sheikh Hasina's meeting; 10 trucks arms smuggling; Pilkhana conspiracy and execution of the massacre; 1/11 coup plot etc.
c.Weak Counter-Intelligence. Where intelligence capability is weak; counter intelligence capability is unthinkable. Our lackings in this aspect is displayed: In countering the bomb blast at 62 districts coordinated by foreign intelligence agency; In countering the BDR conspiracy inspired by foreign intelligence.
d.Shattered morale of Armed Forces. Due to Pilkhana massacre.
e.Poor weaponry and weak training
f. Dependence on imported arms ammunition for continuing prolonged war.
g.Lack of modern anti-aircraft and anti-tank defensive weapons.
h.Training strategy leading to surrender ultimately.
i. Wrong defence plan based on Dhaka Bowl.
j.Absence of offensiveness and proxy war policy.
k.Absence of motivation and training for incorporating millions of youths in national resistance.
l.Confusion in identifying perceived enemy for conducting motivational training.
m.Government's attitude of surrendering national interests.
n.Influence of Govt's surrender attitude on the Armed Force's morale.
o. Difference among political leaders on ideas of sovereignty.
p. Political leaders' motive for foreign awards. We must guard against surrendering country's interest by any leader for the motive of gaining any foreign award.
q.Dependence in educational sector. Our text books are printed in India depriving own publishers.
r. Dependence for daily commodities. What Not is imported from India ?
s.Lack of patriotic values and poor media. Patriotism and use of own product is not promoted strongly by our media. Maximum women from middle class families are addicted to Hindi programs for entertainment. Indian Lehengas are sold from 3000.00 to 35000.00 Taka in our modern markets and shops.
t.Subverted Intellectuals. Many of our intellectuals' allegiance is not towards BD but another country. Their writings and speeches are not to preserve national interests but surrender it to another country.
u.Poor motivation in the Armed Forces. When military profession is taken as career building opportunity rather than a dedicated service for defending national security.
v. Subverted political leaders. Our national vital infrastructure such as sea-ports, river route, highways and railways can be leased in exchange of 'Kichu Ekta'.
Defence Potentials of Bangladesh
21. In spite of all the above mentioned problems and limitations, Bangladesh remains a 'Paradise for Defence' because of the following factors:
a. Few lacs of trained military and para-military persons.
b. Vast number of youths dedicated to defend.
c. Ideal land for prolonged defensive operation.
d. Proximity to vulnerable territory of potential adversary. If invaded, this will facilitate extension of operational area beyond own border.
e. Religious motivation on sacrifice for motherland.
f. Proximity to 3rd country and the sea
g.Support of friendly countries.
h.Support of international organizations/forums.
i. Nation's experience in war of resistance during Liberation War.
Conclusion
22. Once the external and internal threats are identified, necessary measures need to be undertaken to counter and foil those threats. Accordingly, internal problems also need to be solved as those are working as security holes.
23. Though, territorially Bangladesh is a small country, but we are the 7th largest nation in the World due to our huge population. In spite of all the threats and problems we are facing to-day; by the blessings of the Almighty, our strong patriotism, resilience and the defence potentials (mentioned above) will work, more than a nuclear defence shield, against any potential threat to our national security.
Email: farukbd5@yahoo.com
Dated: 11 August, 2011
http://www.voiceofbangladesh.info/mdetails.php?id=90
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