The Islamic world and Bangabandhu

Bangabandhu's magnanimity and belief in the people of Bangladesh was reflected in his optimism. It was also this spirit that would inspire him to overcome many difficulties that he faced in the months after his return on January10, 1972.
A statesman, a gifted orator, Bangabandhu, in his speech delivered on January 10 at Suhrawardy Uddyan did not fail to warn that no one should 'raise' their 'hands to strike against non-Bangalees. At the same time, he displayed his concern for the safety of the 'four hundred thousand Bengalees stranded in Pakistan'.
In another significant assertion in the same speech, he pointed out to the Muslim world (to counter false and contentious Pakistani propaganda that Bangladesh had ceased to believe in Islam) that 'Bangladesh is the second largest Muslim state in the world, next only to Indonesia'. He also drew their attention to the fact that 'in the name of Islam, the Pakistani army killed the Muslims of this country and dishonoured our women. I do not want Islam to be dishonoured'. He also appealed to the United Nations 'to constitute an International Tribunal to enquire and determine the extent of genocide committed in Bangladesh by the Pakistani army'.
The above views demonstrated his determination not only to hold a war crimes trial but also to point out that Islam had been abused by the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. It may be recalled that later, on April 17, 1973, after the completion of investigations into the crimes committed by the Pakistan occupation forces and their auxiliaries, it was decided to try 195 persons for serious crimes, which included genocide, war crimes, crime against humanity, breach of Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions, murder, rape and arson. It was also decided that the trials of such persons and others associated in planning and executing such crimes would be held in accordance with universally recognised judicial norms.
Bangabandhu took keen interest in foreign policy and encouraged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to undertake initiatives not only for obtaining recognition of Bangladesh by other countries and in the establishment of diplomatic relations but also in Bangladesh becoming a member of important international organisations. At every opportunity, he underlined that Bangladesh was determined to maintain fraternal and good neighbourly relations, uphold secularism and adhere firmly to the basic tenets of non-alignment, peaceful co-existence, mutual cooperation, non-interference in internal affairs and respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty.
This smooth process of transition was, however, considered incomplete because of the stubborn decision by some countries not to recognise Bangladesh. The players in this short list included Pakistan and some of its major friends-- the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, People's Republic of China, Iran, Turkey and the then Libyan Arab Republic. Pakistan drew the support of Iran and Turkey on the basis of these two countries having been partners with Pakistan within the paradigm of Regional Cooperation for Development (RCD).
The situation was particularly galling given the fact that the Islamic bloc had watched the tragic genocide in Bangladesh in 1971 from the sidelines and had kept quiet and Bangladesh had spurned indirect offers by Israel offering de-jure recognition. Bangladesh had welcomed recognition from most Muslim countries and naturally felt that its emergence should have been welcomed by all other Arab states.
This state of affairs was predominantly disappointing for the vast Muslim population in Bangladesh, who constituted the majority within the country. Absence of recognition from Saudi Arabia also meant that Bangladeshi citizens were unable to undertake Hajj-- one of the pillars of Islam.
The number of States which recognised Bangladesh, however, increased sharply by the end of 1972 when Bangabandhu was able to persuade India to withdraw its troops from the territory of Bangladesh.
Bangladesh not being a Member of the United Nations did not deter Bangabandhu from seeking the humanitarian intervention of the then United Nations Secretary General Dr. Kurt Waldheim on November 27, 1972 in arranging the repatriation of innocent Bangalees detained in Pakistan to Bangladesh. He did so because Pakistan was trying to politicise the issue and link their repatriation to the release of Pakistani POWs who had surrendered to the joint command of Bangladesh and Indian forces. This concern on his part was an example of his love for his countrymen.
Bangabandhu with his foresight understood that the best way forward would be to seek direct support of Egypt, Iraq and Syria, whose leaders carried great weight in the Arab League and the OIC.
An opportunity presented itself in the Egyptian- Syrian- Israeli war in 1973. Bangabandhu seized this opportunity to demonstrate Bangladesh's active interest in supporting the efforts of Egypt and Syria. It was this insight on his part that led Bangladesh to proactively engage with Egypt and Syria in this war. Our participation in the Non-aligned Summit in Algiers from September 5 to 9, 1973 also clearly indicated to the Islamic world that Bangabandhu was not afraid to acknowledge the important role that Fidel Castro was playing in Cuba.
Matters came to a head on October 6, 1973 when Egyptian and Syrian Armed Forces launched surprise attacks on two fronts against Israel. The Egyptians seized the opportunity of Yom Kippur, an Israeli religious festival for this action. It had affected Israel's level of alertness and enabled them to build pontoon bridges and cross the Suez Canal into Sinai. Syria also invaded the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and rapidly advanced 15 miles leading to the recapture of Mount Hermon. Israel responded by advancing into Syria proper, ending up within 20 miles of its capital, Damascus. The connotations were becoming critical for a LDC country like Bangladesh struggling to find its feet after a devastating war in 1971.
On the direction of Bangabandhu an emergency meeting took place in his Office on October 18. After lengthy discussion it was decided by Bangabandhu that Bangladesh would dispatch a team of medical personnel from our Armed Forces to help the Syrian army personnel stationed near the Golan Heights and also provide a gift of tea for the embattled Egyptian troops in Sinai.
Bangabandhu pointed out that this decision had symbolic implications and would establish the fact that Bangladesh with its Muslim identity was standing next to Egypt and Syria in their trial against Israel. The Bangladesh Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Civil Aviation were made the focal points. British Caledonian Airways from whom Bangladesh Biman had chartered an aircraft was used for carrying out Bangabandhu's instructions. Four tons of dried Bangladesh tea, in wooden boxes, available medicine and a contingent of medical personnel became passengers of the aircraft with Bangabandhu deciding that this scribe would lead this delegation as representative of the Government of Bangladesh. This difficult task of transporting the tea and the medical team was completed on October19, 1973 with the help of the Egyptian Embassy in Dhaka and the Syrian Consulate in Libya. The plane landed in Ben Ghazi, Libya and from there by road the tea was sent Cairo, Egypt and the medical team was dispatched first to Egypt and then from there to Syria.
This courageous step by Bangabandhu was greatly admired not only by Egypt and Syria but also by Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq and Jordan. It clearly made those Muslim countries convinced that Bangladesh needed to be brought into the fold of the OIC and the Islamic bloc.
This foresight on the part of Bangabandhu and friendly gesture eventually led the King of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Egypt, Algeria and Syria to exercise their influence on the OIC and Pakistan to not only invite Bangladesh to participate in the OIC Summit held in Lahore in February, 1974 but also for Pakistan to recognise Bangladesh on a reciprocal basis. On February 22, 1974, an OIC Member State team led by Sheikh Sabah the then Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Kuwait (currently the Emir of Kuwait) arrived in Dhaka with a delegation and later informed Bangabandhu that Pakistan had agreed to recognise Bangladesh. Bangabandhu and a ten member Bangladesh delegation, that included myself, subsequently went to Lahore, Pakistan on February 23. The mutual recognition dynamics took place there. Bangladesh also became a member of the OIC.
This measure also meant Bangabandhu having bilateral meetings with the leaders from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iran and Turkey. It also encouraged Bangladesh to open its Embassy in Tehran, Iran on July 24, 1974. The Bangladesh Mission was also accredited from there to Ankara, Turkey.
The second half of 1974 also witnessed several other significant moves in Bangladesh's foreign policy initiatives, particularly within the Islamic world.
On September 17, 1974 during its 29th Session, Bangladesh became the 136th Member of the United Nations. This led to Bangabandhu addressing the United Nations General Assembly in Bangla on November 25. During his historic speech he reiterated his belief in friendship towards all and enmity against none. This was greatly appreciated by Member States, particularly the Muslim bloc.
Muhammad Zamir, a former Ambassador and distinguished Fellow, Bangla Academy, is an analyst specialised in foreign affairs, right to information and good governance.
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