Poland: the new hub of Europe
Tuesday, 11 November 2008
Air Commodore Muhammad Zakiul Islam ndu acsc (Retd)
WHENEVER one hears of Poland, what is the first thing that comes to the mind? Nicholas Copernicus, Auschwitz, Warsaw Pact, Pope John Paul the II (Wojtyla), Lech Walesa , Telly Salavas of Kojak or the jaw- breaking Slavonic names of people and places like Zbigniew Brzezinski or Swinoujscie or Szczencin ! Poland and the Poles are actually a combination of all these and many other features. While scientists like Copernicus and Marie Curie have expanded the dimension of human knowledge, events of Auschwitz would continue to draw sympathy and remain as a constant reminder of human follies and yet, the memories of Lech Walesa with his leadership of Solidarity movement, and Wojtyla with his humility and humane cause would manifestly influence the thoughts and events in Europe and elsewhere in the contemporary world.
Poland is an ancient country which was conceived in the 10th Century. Its political system attained a refined shape in the 16th century which can rightly be called its Golden Age. Poland was formed into a Commonwealth of Two Nations - Poles and Lithuanians. This Commonwealth was to be ruled by an elected King. The Monarch, so chosen by the gentry, did not enjoy absolute power, rather had to share it with the gentry. In the 18th Century, Poland emerged as the largest state in Europe. The Polish socio-political system became a unique one in a Europe that was ruled and dominated by absolute Monarchies. But this structured political system proved to be its greatest weakness as well. By and time, the gentry became more power hungry and grew more ambitious with larger ownership of land and possession of private armies. Disorder soon ensued as an inevitable consequence and the existing political system could neither rein nor control that instability.
Poland soon had to fall prey to the other powerful nations. Through a series of agreements in the year 1772, the country was divided among Russia, Prussia and Austria and Poland lost one third of its territory. Much of that ordeal is attributed to the last king Stanislaw Augustus Poniatowski who was installed by Russia and was thought to have enjoyed a special "relationship" with, and favour of, the legendary Russian Empress Catherine the Great.
But all was not lost. Something extraordinary had happened even in those days of difficulty. On May 03, 1791, the Polish Sejm (Parliament) adopted a Constitution for Poland. This constitution was the First in Europe and Second in the World, coming into being only after four years of the famous Constitution of the United States of America. No wonder, the Poles are proud of this historic event and ever proudly observe this as The Constitution Day. But the political reforms brought about by the Constitution went against the vested interest of the landowners and, at their behest, Russia and Prussia invaded Poland and the country was partitioned for the second time. Subsequently, the ordinary Poles remonstrated against such a position and reacted with force that resulted in a failed uprising in the year 1795. In the same very year, Poland was partitioned for the third time and it disappeared from the Map of the World for the next 123 years, only to re-emerge as a free country on November 11, 1918 when the occupation powers collapsed as a consequence of the First World War. But this period was to be a brief one too, as Poland was overrun by the Germans and Russians during the Second World War.
After the end of the Second World War, Poland belonged to the Soviet Block and even the name of the Capital was synonymous of the Pact and served as the focal point of many a activities during the cold war, although domestically the Government and the political system were comparatively more progressive and tolerant than many other countries in that Block.
In the later part of 20th century, Poland came to limelight once again. Labour movement under the banner of the independent trade union "Solidarity" came to represent and speak for the political freedom of the Poles. The Solidarity under its charismatic leader Lech Walesa swept the national elections in 1990 and Mr. Walesa became President of the Republic. Bold economic reforms turned the economy of Poland as one of the robust in Central Europe. But such successes were short-lived as high unemployment, undeveloped infrastructure and inherent weakness of an inherited socialist economy could not keep pace with the time. Poles opted for change once again. In the national elections of 2001, the Solidarity of Nobel Laureate Lech Walesa failed to win even a single seat in the Sejm!
Situated in the centre of the Central Europe, Poland shares its border with as many as eight of its neighbours like Belarus, Czech Republic, Germany, Lithuania, Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast), Slovakia and Ukraine. Thus, the modern Poland has also maintained its central role as a strategically important country in the region. Once the heart of the Warsaw Pact, Poland joined the NATO in 1999 and became a member of the European Union (EU) in 2004. With its transformation into a fully democratic country and a market - oriented economy, modern Poland is seen to be playing an increasingly audible, visible, active and responsible role in the different Euro-Atlantic organizations.
And much to the decrying and dismay of some of its old allies, Poland has recently signed an agreement with the United States for basing American missiles in the Polish soil. As per the agreement signed by Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski and US Secretary of State Condolezza Rice in Warsaw on the August 20, last, 10 non-nuclear anti-ballistic inceptor missiles will be positioned in a Base to be built by the US. Although the move is slated to be an answer against possible nuclear threat from the so-called "rogue" states, there are rumblings both within and outside about the efficacy and rationale of such an arrangement.
To-day's Poland is busy and basking in the glory of its new found place in Europe and in the world arena. Poles love to host guests. There is a Polish saying: 'Gosc w dom, Bog w dom' meaning 'Guest in the home, God in the home'. No wonder, Poland is hosting many a world class conferences and conventions on a myriad range of interests including mining, global warming, environment, defence and not to forget the Euro-cup in 2012, just to name a few.
Modern Poland is also open, progressive and cosmopolitan. It might appear to be news to many of us. One renowned Physician of Bangladeshi origin Mr. Hubert Costa was elected as a Deputy in the Polish Sejm (Parliament).
First contact between Poland and the Indian sub-continent was probably established in the 18th century when Polish missionaries set their foot on the beaches of Goa. During the Second World War some Polish exiles migrated from Iran to India and settled in Maharastra. After the war, Poland and India have maintained a steady relationship over the years, a relationship which is now witnessing Indian investment in Poland and joint-venture projects in India under the auspices of Indo-Polish Joint Commission for Economic Co-Operation.
Large number of Polish servicemen became surplus in the aftermath of the Second World War and many of whom joined the then Pakistan Air Force, the flying arm of the newly independent country and help start the flying activities. As a matter of propinquity, let us cite the name of one such Polish gentleman, Mr. W J M Turowich, who rose to the rank of an Air Commodore in the Pakistan Air Force, held very important positions including head of SUPARCO (Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission) of Pakistan in its nascent stage. Air Commodore Turowich served with the Royal Air Force in India during the Second World War and after the war he was among those Polish Air Force pilots who opted for Pakistani nationality. He retired in 1970.
The Government and people of Poland gave their whole hearted support to Bangladesh during the liberation war. Poland was one of the very first countries to accord diplomatic recognition to the newly born country and came forward with open arms in the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the war ravaged economy of Bangladesh. Both countries also opened diplomatic mission in Dhaka and Warsaw and signed protocols for cooperation in different areas. Only recently, the Government of Poland has made a handsome donation to the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society for building low cost houses for the SIDR victims.
With an area of 312, 697 sq km and a population of about 39 million, Poland has a GDP of USD 623 billion, enjoying a steady growth rate of 6.6% annually. Although per capita income is somewhat lower and level of unemployment in the higher bracket compared to other European countries, Poland's economic liberalizations has started reaping dividends. With the joining of EU and access to funding, it is expected that the economy will be boosted farther.
Poland is endowed rich mineral resources, main among which are coal, natural gas, sulfur etc. It also has a long legacy of ship building, mining and manufacturing of heavy machineries. The flat plain of Poland is somewhat akin to topography of Bangladesh and is rich in flora and fauna, agriculture, cattle and dairy farming. Like Bangladesh, Poland is also prone to the natural hazards of flooding. Since oil and gas exploration are a major economic concerns of Bangladesh and ship building is emerging as a thrust sector, Bangladesh and Poland can cooperate in these fields to mutual benefit. Other likely areas are the exchange of skilled manpower, tourism, textiles and garments, handicrafts and leather products.
As the people of Poland celebrate their 90th Anniversary of Independence, let us hope that a new chapter of relationship opens up in the Poland-Bangladesh relationship.
WHENEVER one hears of Poland, what is the first thing that comes to the mind? Nicholas Copernicus, Auschwitz, Warsaw Pact, Pope John Paul the II (Wojtyla), Lech Walesa , Telly Salavas of Kojak or the jaw- breaking Slavonic names of people and places like Zbigniew Brzezinski or Swinoujscie or Szczencin ! Poland and the Poles are actually a combination of all these and many other features. While scientists like Copernicus and Marie Curie have expanded the dimension of human knowledge, events of Auschwitz would continue to draw sympathy and remain as a constant reminder of human follies and yet, the memories of Lech Walesa with his leadership of Solidarity movement, and Wojtyla with his humility and humane cause would manifestly influence the thoughts and events in Europe and elsewhere in the contemporary world.
Poland is an ancient country which was conceived in the 10th Century. Its political system attained a refined shape in the 16th century which can rightly be called its Golden Age. Poland was formed into a Commonwealth of Two Nations - Poles and Lithuanians. This Commonwealth was to be ruled by an elected King. The Monarch, so chosen by the gentry, did not enjoy absolute power, rather had to share it with the gentry. In the 18th Century, Poland emerged as the largest state in Europe. The Polish socio-political system became a unique one in a Europe that was ruled and dominated by absolute Monarchies. But this structured political system proved to be its greatest weakness as well. By and time, the gentry became more power hungry and grew more ambitious with larger ownership of land and possession of private armies. Disorder soon ensued as an inevitable consequence and the existing political system could neither rein nor control that instability.
Poland soon had to fall prey to the other powerful nations. Through a series of agreements in the year 1772, the country was divided among Russia, Prussia and Austria and Poland lost one third of its territory. Much of that ordeal is attributed to the last king Stanislaw Augustus Poniatowski who was installed by Russia and was thought to have enjoyed a special "relationship" with, and favour of, the legendary Russian Empress Catherine the Great.
But all was not lost. Something extraordinary had happened even in those days of difficulty. On May 03, 1791, the Polish Sejm (Parliament) adopted a Constitution for Poland. This constitution was the First in Europe and Second in the World, coming into being only after four years of the famous Constitution of the United States of America. No wonder, the Poles are proud of this historic event and ever proudly observe this as The Constitution Day. But the political reforms brought about by the Constitution went against the vested interest of the landowners and, at their behest, Russia and Prussia invaded Poland and the country was partitioned for the second time. Subsequently, the ordinary Poles remonstrated against such a position and reacted with force that resulted in a failed uprising in the year 1795. In the same very year, Poland was partitioned for the third time and it disappeared from the Map of the World for the next 123 years, only to re-emerge as a free country on November 11, 1918 when the occupation powers collapsed as a consequence of the First World War. But this period was to be a brief one too, as Poland was overrun by the Germans and Russians during the Second World War.
After the end of the Second World War, Poland belonged to the Soviet Block and even the name of the Capital was synonymous of the Pact and served as the focal point of many a activities during the cold war, although domestically the Government and the political system were comparatively more progressive and tolerant than many other countries in that Block.
In the later part of 20th century, Poland came to limelight once again. Labour movement under the banner of the independent trade union "Solidarity" came to represent and speak for the political freedom of the Poles. The Solidarity under its charismatic leader Lech Walesa swept the national elections in 1990 and Mr. Walesa became President of the Republic. Bold economic reforms turned the economy of Poland as one of the robust in Central Europe. But such successes were short-lived as high unemployment, undeveloped infrastructure and inherent weakness of an inherited socialist economy could not keep pace with the time. Poles opted for change once again. In the national elections of 2001, the Solidarity of Nobel Laureate Lech Walesa failed to win even a single seat in the Sejm!
Situated in the centre of the Central Europe, Poland shares its border with as many as eight of its neighbours like Belarus, Czech Republic, Germany, Lithuania, Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast), Slovakia and Ukraine. Thus, the modern Poland has also maintained its central role as a strategically important country in the region. Once the heart of the Warsaw Pact, Poland joined the NATO in 1999 and became a member of the European Union (EU) in 2004. With its transformation into a fully democratic country and a market - oriented economy, modern Poland is seen to be playing an increasingly audible, visible, active and responsible role in the different Euro-Atlantic organizations.
And much to the decrying and dismay of some of its old allies, Poland has recently signed an agreement with the United States for basing American missiles in the Polish soil. As per the agreement signed by Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski and US Secretary of State Condolezza Rice in Warsaw on the August 20, last, 10 non-nuclear anti-ballistic inceptor missiles will be positioned in a Base to be built by the US. Although the move is slated to be an answer against possible nuclear threat from the so-called "rogue" states, there are rumblings both within and outside about the efficacy and rationale of such an arrangement.
To-day's Poland is busy and basking in the glory of its new found place in Europe and in the world arena. Poles love to host guests. There is a Polish saying: 'Gosc w dom, Bog w dom' meaning 'Guest in the home, God in the home'. No wonder, Poland is hosting many a world class conferences and conventions on a myriad range of interests including mining, global warming, environment, defence and not to forget the Euro-cup in 2012, just to name a few.
Modern Poland is also open, progressive and cosmopolitan. It might appear to be news to many of us. One renowned Physician of Bangladeshi origin Mr. Hubert Costa was elected as a Deputy in the Polish Sejm (Parliament).
First contact between Poland and the Indian sub-continent was probably established in the 18th century when Polish missionaries set their foot on the beaches of Goa. During the Second World War some Polish exiles migrated from Iran to India and settled in Maharastra. After the war, Poland and India have maintained a steady relationship over the years, a relationship which is now witnessing Indian investment in Poland and joint-venture projects in India under the auspices of Indo-Polish Joint Commission for Economic Co-Operation.
Large number of Polish servicemen became surplus in the aftermath of the Second World War and many of whom joined the then Pakistan Air Force, the flying arm of the newly independent country and help start the flying activities. As a matter of propinquity, let us cite the name of one such Polish gentleman, Mr. W J M Turowich, who rose to the rank of an Air Commodore in the Pakistan Air Force, held very important positions including head of SUPARCO (Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission) of Pakistan in its nascent stage. Air Commodore Turowich served with the Royal Air Force in India during the Second World War and after the war he was among those Polish Air Force pilots who opted for Pakistani nationality. He retired in 1970.
The Government and people of Poland gave their whole hearted support to Bangladesh during the liberation war. Poland was one of the very first countries to accord diplomatic recognition to the newly born country and came forward with open arms in the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the war ravaged economy of Bangladesh. Both countries also opened diplomatic mission in Dhaka and Warsaw and signed protocols for cooperation in different areas. Only recently, the Government of Poland has made a handsome donation to the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society for building low cost houses for the SIDR victims.
With an area of 312, 697 sq km and a population of about 39 million, Poland has a GDP of USD 623 billion, enjoying a steady growth rate of 6.6% annually. Although per capita income is somewhat lower and level of unemployment in the higher bracket compared to other European countries, Poland's economic liberalizations has started reaping dividends. With the joining of EU and access to funding, it is expected that the economy will be boosted farther.
Poland is endowed rich mineral resources, main among which are coal, natural gas, sulfur etc. It also has a long legacy of ship building, mining and manufacturing of heavy machineries. The flat plain of Poland is somewhat akin to topography of Bangladesh and is rich in flora and fauna, agriculture, cattle and dairy farming. Like Bangladesh, Poland is also prone to the natural hazards of flooding. Since oil and gas exploration are a major economic concerns of Bangladesh and ship building is emerging as a thrust sector, Bangladesh and Poland can cooperate in these fields to mutual benefit. Other likely areas are the exchange of skilled manpower, tourism, textiles and garments, handicrafts and leather products.
As the people of Poland celebrate their 90th Anniversary of Independence, let us hope that a new chapter of relationship opens up in the Poland-Bangladesh relationship.