India-Bangladesh Federation
Shahinul Khalisdar
Tax Advisor | Business Advisor/ Taxation Expertise/ Enrolled Agent (EA)/Master of Science in Taxation (MST)/ Author
Recent Bangladesh-India relations have been spreading criticism on YouTube and social media, and a movement began in Bangladesh called the “India Boycott.” Let us revisit India and Bangladesh's relationship:
A question has always bothered me: why did I need to hide my father's participation in the 1971 East Pakistan Civil War? I tried to understand this by meeting with many senior Bangladeshi political leaders and visiting numerous political party offices in Sylhet and Dhaka, Bangladesh. I spoke with dozens of Bangladeshi ministers to gain their perspective on the events of 1971.
I found that many people were hesitant to talk about 1971, especially those who were between 60-70 years old in the 1990s. During the 1990s, those individuals were between 20-30 years old. They seemed to care very little for the events of '71, being more focused on pursuits like chasing girls while the girls were attending school or college, like hide-and-seek games, secretly watching "Porn Movies," and engaging in drinking and smoking weed (Marijuana).
During that time, the Chhatra Sangram Parishad (Student Struggle Council) was aiming to eliminate Chhatra Shibir and Jamaat-e-Islami. Although I had good relationships with all groups, I considered criminals as my primary enemies and dreamed of eliminating them from Sylhet. This led to famous criminals from Sylhet wanting to harm me, not due to political ideology. When I visited any political party office in Sylhet or Dhaka, the party members would signal the criminals to leave the office using body language. Because of my family's historical political involvement, I was highly respected by all political party leaders in Sylhet and Dhaka, which the criminals and lower-ranking party members failed to comprehend.
Annually, there have been ongoing conflicts between Chhatra Sangram Parishad and Chhatra Shibir since 1987, when Chhatra Shibir killed three Chhatra Sangram Parishad members in Sylhet. In 1991-92, I, Khandaker Abdul Malik, MP, alongside Sylhet DC and a couple of journalists from Sylhet Bani and Sylhet Radio, took an oath to rid Sylhet of these criminal elements. As a result, a reporter from Sylhet Bani and I faced numerous attempts on our lives by criminals, thugs, and goons.
To the point of 71:
On March 25, 1971, the United Pakistan military initiated the “Search Light Operation” to crush the criminal gangs in Dhaka, East Pakistan. Between 1969 and 1970, the "Criminal Gang" fully controlled Dhaka and was engaged in gang wars, gang rapes, bank robberies, and illegal land grabbing in the name of "Joy Bangla," "Joy Bangabandhu," and "Joy India-Bangladesh Maitree."
However, the East Pakistan government fully recovered before April 1971, and on April 8, 1971, the East Pakistan Peace Committee was officially established. My father, the chairman of the East Pakistan Peace Committee Standing Committee, was elected by pro-Pakistani political parties during the 1971 war in East Pakistan.
General M. A. G. Osmani, who was my nephew within English culture as a second cousin, served as the Commander-in-Chief of the Bangladesh Forces. He organized the Mukti Bahini into 11 geographical sectors to improve command and control the chain of command. By December 1971, the Mukti Bahini forces numbered 30,000 trained guerrillas. The exact number has never been recorded except for the 11 sectors commanding unit who officially submitted the 30,000 trained guerrillas.
However, Bengali people from Bangladesh claim that they all fought against Pakistanis and Biharis for their Bengali nationalism, but M. A. G. Osmani said otherwise in a family conversation. It's important to note that Bangladeshi Bengalis consider me a Bihari despite my family's long and esteemed history in Sylhet for millennia. According to the Bangladeshi Bengali, they all are Muktijoddha, and “Bir Bengali” Muslims and Pakistanis are invaders.
In Bangladesh, there was a desire among Bengalis to remove Razakars from the country. I remember a statement I made in 1995, challenging all Bengalis to ever put a Razakar on trial. I firmly believed it would never happen, as a majority of Razakars came from traditional upper- and middle-class Muslim families, for whom family honor held great significance. This was unlike the 50 million illiterate, ignorant, uneducated, and impoverished Hindu Rajputs and Zamindars’ proza and Lathial Bahini.
I know Bengalis' father Mujib clearly said, “??? ?????? ??????? ????? ????? ?????? ??? ????? ??????? ???????? ???? ???? ?????? ???? ???; ?????? ?????? ????? ?????? ????? ?? ??? ??? ???? ????? ??? (I have no mind to put any Muslim Leaguers on trial except kissing their feet; nobody can pay off the Muslim Leaguer debt even if you sell your skin.)”
The relations between India and Bangladesh in 1971-72.
During the period from 1969 to 1972, there was widespread chanting of the slogan "Joy India-Bangladesh Maitree" among Bengalis.
领英推荐
In 1971, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi traveled to several countries, including the Soviet Union, Lebanon, Belgium, Austria, the United Kingdom, the United States, France, and West Germany, to seek support for the Bengali Genocide in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) during its civil war. She faced opposition from right-wing governments but received backing from left-wing governments. Though she gained international empathy for sheltering 10 million refugees and preventing the Bengali genocide in East Pakistan from Invader Pakistanis, there is no evidence that she provided a list of these refugees and genocide victims to the Bangladesh government or the international community, leading to speculation that the number may have been exaggerated and genocide is a fabrication to win international support.
During this period, Ms. Indira Gandhi had discussions with Tajuddin Ahmad, a key figure in the Bangladesh independence movement. She reportedly offered support for an "India-Bangladesh" federation and warned of a potential third world if Indian military intervention in East Pakistan. If he agrees, she will take the risk of a third world war.? A few prominent figures, including Syed Nazrul Islam, Tajuddin Ahmed, Captain (Rtd.) Mansur Ali and A H M Quamruzzaman supported this idea, while others, such as M. A. G. Osmani, M. A. Rab, and Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad, opposed it.
Ultimately, Indira Gandhi and Tajuddin Ahmad agreed that after Pakistani military forces completely withdrew from Bangladesh, negotiations for a federation treaty with India would take place.
Based on this condition, India recognized Bangladesh as an independent state on 6 December 1971, formally involved in the war and established diplomatic relations with the country shortly after its independence. Bangladesh had implied recognition from India when they established their first diplomatic missions in Kolkata and Delhi in September 1971, but official recognition was formalized two months later on December 6, 1971.
The Indian military occupied East Pakistan from the United Pakistan military from December 16, 1971, to March 12, 1972. On January 10, 1972, Mujib returned to Bangladesh from West Pakistan. During his journey, he made a stopover in New Delhi, where he was welcomed by Indian President V. V. Giri, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, the entire Indian cabinet, and the chiefs of the armed forces. Delhi was adorned in celebration as Mujib and Gandhi spoke to a large crowd. During their meeting, Mujib expressed his gratitude to Gandhi and the Indian public. Ms. Indira Gandhi's personal secretary (PS) informed Mujib about Ms. Indira Gandhi and Tajuddin Ahmad's commitment, to which Mujib nodded.
A few days after Mujib's arrival in Dhaka, M. A. G. Osmani, M. A. Rab, and Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad pressured Mujib to withdraw the Indian military from Bangladesh. After continued conversations between Mujib and Ms. Indira Gandhi and the re-establishment of communication with Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who threatened to go to the "Security Council," both parties finally agreed on the Indian military withdrawal and Ms. Indira Gandhi's state visit to Bangladesh.
The Bangladesh leader praised the Indians for helping the Bengali guerrillas during the nine-month revolution for democracy. “You trained them and gave them arms,” Sheikh Mujib said. Our country had no fighting machine, and you came to our help.” Now, Bangladesh has an army to defend itself (12,000 to 15,000 men, mostly from the former Pakistani Army units of the East Bengali Regiment and the East Pakistani Rifles). It would be best if you left Bangladesh now.
DHAKA, Bangladesh, March 12 (AP)—The Indian Army conducted a ceremonial retreat from Bangladesh today, bidding farewell to the nation it helped to establish.
The Indian army completed its withdrawal from independent Bangladesh as the last contingent of Indian army personnel left Dhaka for India today. The final pull-out commenced on March 12 following a ceremonial farewell parade at Dhaka Stadium.
A Joint Declaration was issued at the conclusion of the visit of the Prime Minister of India, Mrs. Indira Gandhi, to Bangladesh. This occurred in Dacca on March 19, 1972.
From March 17th to 19th, 1972, the Prime Minister of India, Shrimati Indira Gandhi, visited Dacca at the invitation of the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Accompanying the Indian Prime Minister were several officials, including the Foreign Minister Sardar Swaran Singh, Professor S. Chakravarty, Member of the Planning Commission, and others. During her visit, the Prime Minister addressed a public meeting and received a civic reception. Discussions of mutual interest took place at various levels. The Indian Foreign Minister also held separate talks with the Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, Mr. Abdus Samad Azad, on bilateral relations and the international situation. The visit provided an opportunity for substantive discussions on all aspects of relations between the two countries and to review the international situation. Additionally, there were official-level talks on political matters with representatives from both Bangladesh and India present.
Between 1969 and 1972, all Bengalis chanted the slogan "Joy India-Bangladesh Maitree." Most Bengali leaders agreed on the idea of an India-Bangladesh Federation or Confederation, with the exception of M. A. G. Osmani, M. A. Rab, and Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad. However, they have since passed away. Now, discussions about the political formation of an India-Bangladesh Federation or Confederation can be initiated without objection. They all died, and the Muslim League was literally extinct.