Temporary storms cannot erase India-Bangladesh ties: M J Akbar

Former Indian Minister of State for External Affairs M J Akbar has remarked that even if temporary clouds or storms arise in India-Bangladesh relations, the long-standing bond between the two countries will not be erased. He said there will always be ups and downs in the relationship between the two countries. However, in solving problems, one must not only ask what is possible, but also why something is not possible. Only then can the path to new possibilities open up.

He made these remarks while speaking at the Bay of Bengal Conference held at Hotel Sonargaon in the capital on Sunday.

M J Akbar said both Bangladesh and India are states built on the foundation of their own history, culture and heritage. Language is one of the main foundations of Bangladesh's state identity. The strength of the Bengali language and cultural identity have given Bangladesh a distinct character from others.

Referring to the ups and downs in relations between the two countries, he said there are various questions and problems between India and Bangladesh. In solving these, it is not enough to think only about what can be done. One must also ask why something is not possible. Thinking in this way can create the path to new possibilities.

Highlighting the importance of sovereignty, M J Akbar said if the sovereignty of any country is not respected, the world could move towards further disorder.

Speaking on wars and conflicts in the contemporary world, he said before calling any war illegal, it is important to look into its origin and background. In his view, the twentieth century can be seen as the century of three world wars. The Cold War can also be considered a kind of world war.

He said although there was a Cold War in Europe, its impact was not at all cold in Southeast Asia or South Africa. These conflicts were called world wars not because the entire world was directly drawn into war. Rather, the conflict between superpowers and empires over controlling the world spread to various regions.

M J Akbar also remarked that the nature of war in the twenty-first century is different from before. He said the current conflict cannot be seen as a single world war. Rather, conflicts are ongoing one after another across the world. These wars do not continue uninterrupted; they begin at various times and stop again. But they do not end completely.