Setting up any country's base camp in Saint Martin is impossible

Professor Imtiaz Ahmed is a renowned expert on international relations in Bangladesh. In the aftermath of the mass uprising, Bangladesh faces a new reality in the realm of international relations. In particular, a fluctuating relationship has emerged with its neighboring friendly country, India, under the current interim government. Professor Imtiaz Ahmed talked to Views Bangladesh about what the future diplomatic relations of Bangladesh with India, the United States, and China might look like. This interview was conducted by Senior Reporter Manik Miazee. The final episode of the interview is being published today.

Views Bangladesh: There has been a planned negative campaign in Indian media about Bangladesh for the past few months. What should be the role of the Bangladesh government and media in this regard?

Imtiaz Ahmed: There is much that can be done to counter the negative campaign in Indian media. One approach could be to invite those, who are criticizing, to come to Bangladesh. The Bangladeshi media should highlight the false information they are spreading. We have seen that a lot of misinformation is being circulated. Now, in the age of Artificial Intelligence, anyone can easily create false content. Therefore, the government should, if necessary, invite Indian media to Bangladesh at the government's expense. Instead of treating these incidents as isolated or political, they should be invited to visit Bangladesh and report the actual events.

Secondly, the truth about the incident can be highlighted through news, discussions, or documentaries. The government can involve certain individuals or organizations that are considered trustworthy. For example, DCAB can be used to hold discussions or seminars, both locally and internationally. I believe this would help reduce negative propaganda. Another aspect the government could have focused on from the beginning is addressing the issue immediately after it happened. The government should reassure all sectors that it is keeping an eye on the matter. It is important to remember that certain groups will always engage in misinformation; this is part of politics and political games. If the right actions are not taken at the right time, it will indicate that the individuals responsible for the issue are not fulfilling their duties.

Views Bangladesh: Dr. Muhammad Yunus invited the Indian media, saying, “You (India) should come to Bangladesh and see for yourselves.” What role can Bangladesh play in countering their misinformation?

Imtiaz Ahmed: The issue here is that when the government invites media, it often shows them what the government wants them to see. A better approach would be to organize such an invitation through a university, think tank, or a trusted organization. For instance, DCAB can be used. It would be better to employ an independent framework that, while aligned with the government, operates through another medium. The key point is that those spreading negative propaganda will likely not cover the truth in their reports. Therefore, organizing a seminar through a university or an organization would lend credibility to the event. Otherwise, they might think that the government is just showing them a specific version of the story. It would have been more effective to use a think tank with good relations with foreign missions, which could conduct a survey and identify who is involved in the negative propaganda.

In this case, business people also play an important role because everything is connected to business. The organizations they belong to could organize seminars as well. They would have the opportunity to highlight the truth in international media. Additionally, academics can also take the initiative. There are many sectors where action can be taken, such as through journalists, think tanks, businesspeople, and academics. Everyone can be involved.

Views Bangladesh: Considering the current government's management, how much do you think there is a lack of experience?

Imtiaz Ahmed: This is probably a major issue in Asian countries. The people in power here often believe that they alone are enough. They might think, "Why should others gain credit?" This kind of mentality can exist. However, they could have involved everyone in the process. In that sense, it can be said that there is a significant weakness here. Let’s see what happens in the future.

Views Bangladesh: Since the independence, capable individuals have been developed in various fields. Is the current government utilizing them properly?

Imtiaz Ahmed: This government has been in power for only four months. They are well aware that their main responsibility is to focus on reforms. Right now, they may be thinking about introducing new aspects in foreign policy. Just as the government is considering foreign policy, they also need to think about the farmers. The important thing to observe is how they evaluate and use the right people in the coming days.

Views Bangladesh: Was the Saint Martin issue the main cause of Sheikh Hasina's fall, or was it entirely a diplomatic blunder?

Imtiaz Ahmed: I view the Saint Martin issue mainly in a symbolic sense. There are several reasons why it is not possible to establish any base camp in Saint Martin. One of the main reasons is India. India would not want any other country to set up a camp there. Additionally, China wouldn’t want that either. Bangladesh’s economic structure makes it reliant on surplus from Europe or America, which plays a role in this situation. More importantly, the raw materials that Bangladesh imports from India and China are crucial for its economy. If we were to source those materials from Europe or America, we would not get the same benefits, and in many cases, we could face losses. This is something that needs to be understood very clearly. Those who may ask why Bangladesh is not fully aligning with the United States need to understand this aspect. Many may argue that if Singapore can do it, why can’t we? But we need to consider that Singapore’s structure is different from ours.

A large portion of my economy is based on agriculture, and we also have the garment sector. The growth of Bangladesh’s garment industry relies on importing 20 per cent of cotton from India and 30 per cent of fabric from Central Asia. Machinery comes from China. Then, we are able to make a profit by manufacturing garments with our workers at lower wages. This allows us to earn more from Europe and America. Now, if we create a security framework that causes countries like India and China to say that they can’t engage with us due to security concerns, that could have significant implications.

Now, the matter needs to be carefully examined to understand what the reality is. For example, the US military industry is massive, and even Trump himself has criticized it. The US economy, without its military industry, might struggle. Now, we need to assess whether we should get involved in such matters, and whether it would be beneficial for us. Those currently in power will be the ones to decide whether they want to get into these issues. As an academic, I would say that we need to carefully consider whether it is wise to get involved in such complications. Meanwhile, the previous government had developed a relationship with India where there was no direct connection with the people. India or Delhi might understand this situation.

Views Bangladesh: If Bangladesh gives the US advantages in the Malacca Strait, how much benefit will it gain in the Indian Ocean?

Imtiaz Ahmed: Given where technology stands today, there is no longer a strong need or appeal for establishing camps anywhere. For example, we see the Republican theme of moving away from Europe. It’s important to note that the US has 119 military bases in Germany, 24 in the UK, and 40 in Italy. Their camps are almost in every country. Trump himself has pointed out that they are providing security to other countries with American funds, while America’s own infrastructure is crumbling. They don’t even have high-speed trains. Some places are deteriorating to the point of resembling third-world countries. Even the subway system in the US is falling apart. The question now is how much Trump can change this policy, considering the massive US military industry and its overwhelming power. It’s unlikely that they will abandon these locations and start rebuilding infrastructure. If Trump can do that, it would be a significant change. The American people voted for Trump due to their frustrations with the status quo. They don’t want war, but not wanting war is different from withdrawing from one. The real question is, why should I get involved in their issues? What benefit do I get? Why should I engage in any conflict with another country?

What we need are relationships where we can economically benefit from everyone. However, one thing is clear: the previous government, in order to win political support and votes, developed a relationship with one country that caused it to alienate others.

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