Bangabandhu's philosophy and foreign policy of independent Bangladesh

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is the principal architect of the foundation of the foreign policy of post-independence Bangladesh. Bangladesh declared Independence on March 26, 1971, and achieved victory on December 16. Bangabandhu returned to Bangladesh on January 10, 1972, after being imprisoned in Pakistan. Bangabandhu was released from Pakistan prison and came to Bangladesh via London and India. Through his return, he clearly indicated Bangladesh's future foreign policy. His speech at Suhrawardy Udyan after coming to the country also hinted at the future of foreign policy. Bangabandhu emphasized two points regarding foreign policy in his various speeches. These were the foundations of Bangladesh's foreign policy. The present government is also implementing the foreign policy followed by Bangabandhu. Bangabandhu has often said that Bangladesh will be the Switzerland of the East. Apart from this, Bangabandhu used to say that the main structure of Bangladesh's foreign policy will be 'friendship to all, enmity to none. Bangabandhu has established the foundation of Bangladesh's foreign policy by establishing friendships with everyone.

Bangabandhu did not just say for the sake of speaking. To make his foreign policy permanent, Article 25 of the Constitution of Bangladesh, enacted in 1972, gives an idea of the nature of Bangladesh's foreign policy or the basis of its foreign relations. The Constitution has clearly stated that the basic principles of Bangladesh's foreign policy are non-alignment, standing by the oppressed people of different parts of the world, and supporting those countries or communities that are being oppressed. In the reality of 1971-1972, global racism was a major humanitarian problem. Opposing apartheid worldwide was also a significant commitment of Bangabandhu's foreign policy. Apart from this, non-interference in any country's internal affairs, i.e., showing respect for each country's Independence, was also an essential feature of Bangabandhu's foreign policy.

These issues of foreign policy are not just lip service. It is included in our state constitution. Non-alignment was an important issue internationally in the 1970s. Bangabandhu gave instructions on the future course of Bangladesh's foreign policy. Bangabandhu has often said, "The world today is divided into two camps. One is the exploited, and the other is the exploiter. I am for the exploited. He has repeatedly said that Bangladesh would be the Switzerland of the East. Bangladesh. However, it would uphold its Independence at all times. In the 70s, such a decisive utterance was complex. As easy as it was to say, it was not so easy to implement, especially in the post-independence era when the world was divided into two.

Bangladesh witnessed opposition and non-cooperation from the Western world during the War of Independence. The United States directly opposed the War of Independence. China's position was also against the liberation war. Even the position of Muslim countries in the Middle East was not in favor of Bangladesh. Bangladesh gained Independence in such a difficult situation. So, it was difficult to formulate a new country's foreign policy then. At that time, it was pretty bold to pronounce friendship with all and enmity with none was a foreign policy. Only Bangabandhu could have uttered such bold words.

Bangabandhu faced the global situation of the time with great courage and intelligence. He never said that because those countries opposed our liberation war, we would not have any relation with them. He formulated his foreign policy with remarkable tact. He never said that because Soviet Russia had supported us in the liberation war, we would join the Soviet Block. Few statesmen in the world could have made such a decision. Bangabandhu made his foreign policy in a downright hostile environment. Bangabandhu personally spoke about foreign policy and included it in the state constitution. Thus, he created a theoretical and philosophical framework for Bangladesh's foreign policy. The foreign policy followed by Bangabandhu is still relevant.

When Bangabandhu went to London after being freed from Pakistan prison, the journalists there asked him what kind of help he wanted in the future or what the role of big countries concerning Bangladesh would be. Bangabandhu replied that the people of Bangladesh have struggled. They have achieved freedom by struggle. It is the moral responsibility of the big powers to stand by us in the oppression that the people of Bangladesh have endured. Bangladesh suffered severely economically during the War of Independence. We want the world to stand by us. But he did not ask for any help by sacrificing his self-respect. From the beginning, Bangabandhu tried to establish Bangladesh as a self-respecting country in the outside world. US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger called Bangladesh a 'Bottomless Basket.' Bangabandhu tried to establish Bangladesh internationally by upholding the country's self-esteem. He was amazingly successful in doing so.

Bangabandhu participated in four important international summits during his rule. He went to Algiers in 1973 for the Non-Aligned Conference. Through this conference, the world leaders learned what kind of nationalist, uncompromising leader Bangabandhu was. World leaders learned more about Bangabandhu as a leader with human qualities. Through this conference, Bangabandhu could come in contact with world leaders like Cuba's Fidel Castro, Algeria's Houari Boumedin, and Palestine's Yasser Arafat. Through this conference, world leaders learned the history of the struggle of the people of Bangladesh. Bangladesh joined the Non-Aligned Conference. In 1974, Bangabandhu joined the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) held in Lahore, Pakistan. Bangabandhu's attendance at the OIC conference was a very significant event.

Note that Pakistan recognized Bangladesh the day before it joined the OIC conference held in Lahore. Acquiring recognition from Pakistan was, in any case, a critical issue. Bangabandhu's speech at the OIC conference managed to attract the attention of Muslim leaders. In 1974, Bangabandhu addressed the United Nations for the first time in Bangla. It has been a milestone. In this speech to the United Nations, Bangabandhu spoke about the world's oppressed people. And he has mentioned about Israeli brutalities on Palestinians. World leaders witnessed the position of a humanitarian leader that day. Bangabandhu presented his foreign policy beautifully there. He participated in the Commonwealth meeting held in 1975. Bangabandhu gave his foreign policy and thoughts at these international conferences. Bangabandhu successfully implemented his foreign policy during his three-and-a-half year of state duty. He brought Bangladesh to a leadership position. Undoubtedly, Bangabandhu was 100% successful in implementing his foreign policy. He took Bangladesh's foreign policy to the highest heights.

One of the objectives of Bangabandhu's foreign policy was to gain recognition from the world's various countries as quickly as possible. Bangabandhu knew that freedom was more difficult to defend than to achieve. So, he gave the most importance to the recognition of various countries. Bangladesh had to achieve Independence under very adverse circumstances. In the international arena, Pakistan, the United States, China, Saudi Arabia, and other Arab countries were opposing it. In that situation, getting the recognition of different countries was challenging. Establishing Bangladesh as an independent and self-respecting country in the international arena was the primary goal of Bangabandhu's foreign policy, and he accomplished this task in 1973. During this period, more than 50 countries recognized Bangladesh. Due to China's veto, Bangladesh did not become a member of the United Nations, but Bangladesh became a member of many major international organizations. He emphasized recognizing the Muslim world to make Bangladesh known internationally. The Muslim world had a misconception about Bangladesh's independence movement. Bangabandhu was able to break that misconception. Another major success of Bangabandhu's foreign policy was repatriating Indian Allied troops within three months of the war's end. Never in the history of the world has an allied army withdrawn its forces from the country it helped liberate in such a short time. In the history of hundreds of years, there is no such example of an allied force leaving an independent country after only three months. Bangabandhu accomplished this difficult task.

We saw that after World War II, the Allies left the countries they had liberated, distraught. Germany was divided. Korea is divided. The Indian Army had great support in the War of Independence. The support of Indian forces was significant for Bangladesh. India did not withdraw its troops because it was forced to or created air pollution. Instead, the Indian troops were sent back to their homeland while maintaining good relations between the two countries. It was possible because of Bangabandhu's foresight. Bangabandhu showed remarkable diplomatic acumen, ending Indian allied forces home within a very short period. Mrs. Indira Gandhi had immense faith in Bangabandhu. So, he accepted Bangabandhu's request. However, No one can deny Bangabandhu's tenacity and diplomatic skills. Very few statesmen worldwide have had such success in foreign policy in a short time. Bangabandhu has been able to introduce Bangladesh to the world quickly through his foreign policy. At the same time, he got help from various countries in the economic field. Significantly, India, Soviet Russia, and other countries have helped in the economic reconstruction of Bangladesh. At that time, the United States promised to provide food aid but did not provide that food aid. Gaining recognition from the United States was also important. The United States has consistently opposed Bangladesh's liberation war.

Even as the United States sent the Seventh Fleet to assist Pakistan's forces, the United States expressed interest in recognizing Bangladesh as early as April 1972. Bangabandhu created that environment. Achieving recognition and economic support from the Western world, Japan, and the Muslim world in the Middle East is a rare phenomenon. Bangabandhu was able to demonstrate this success during his short reign. Soviet Russia's assistance in clearing mines in the Karnaphuli River deserves mention. Help also came from the Muslim world. Even informal contact with China started during Bangabandhu's time. It is no less critical to participate in the economic development of Bangladesh, starting from the superpowers. Bangabandhu enacted the Sea Act in 1974. Bangabandhu was able to understand the issue of determining Bangladesh's maritime boundaries.

Bangabandhu's attendance at the OIC conference in Lahore was very significant. However, some in the cabinet opposed it. As mentioned earlier, Pakistan recognized Bangladesh a day before Bangabandhu attended the OIC conference in Lahore. Pakistan would have delayed its recognition if Bangabandhu had not participated in this conference. Apart from this, by following this conference, Bangabandhu established close relations with the leaders of the Muslim world. By participating in this conference, he removed the Muslim world's misconception about Bangladesh. Bangabandhu's participation in the OIC conference held in Lahore was an emotionless and very pragmatic decision. Many in Bangladesh's cabinet may have disagreed with Bangabandhu's decision, but Bangabandhu was steadfast in his decision. The fact that the cabinet members overcame the disagreement and attended the conference shows competent leadership. Bangabandhu always gave priority not only to his own will but also to the will of others, which is the qualification of a true leader. Bangabandhu gave importance to the ideas of others and, at the same time, proved that his ideas were better than others.

One can understand how competent and prudent leader Bangabandhu was by analyzing his foreign policy. Bangabandhu was not satisfied with just gaining recognition in the Muslim world. He took himself to the seat of leadership in the Muslim world. Bangabandhu has always been vocal in international forums on various problems of the Arab world, starting with the Palestine problem. Muslim leaders were also frank towards Bangabandhu. They gave importance to Bangabandhu's voice. Bangabandhu dispelled the misconceptions about the Independence of Bangladesh that existed in the Muslim world and some other countries. Cuban leader Fidel Castro said, I have not seen the Himalayas but witnessed Bangabandhu. This comment of his proves how Bangabandhu's position was in the international arena.

The principle of Bangabandhu's foreign policy was to ensure friendship with all while maintaining self-respect. He vowed to improve relations with countries that supported the War of Independence and those that opposed it. He was remarkably successful in this. Bangabandhu's foreign policy of 'friendship with all, enmity with none' was timely and practical. The present government is also conducting foreign policy, as Bangabandhu shows. Bangabandhu established Bangladesh as a self-respecting country in the world. Bangabandhu highlighted the self-sacrifice of the people in the war for the Independence of Bangladesh. An undercurrent of humanity always ran through Bangabandhu's foreign policy. Bangabandhu's first speech in Bengali at the United Nations in 1972 had humanity in every word.

The success that Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman has shown in foreign policy as the head of government of a newly independent country is truly unique. He was able to highlight Bangladesh as a prestigious country globally. A nation that knows how to protect its freedom and give importance to other countries' just rights. The present government is conducting its foreign policy on the path shown by Bangabandhu. As a result, Bangladesh has established its prestige worldwide.

Author: Professor, International Relations, Dhaka University and member, Public Service Commission (PSC)
Transcribe: M A Khaleque