The foreign minister's fury

The timing of the remarks makes us wonder as to what has changed of late in respect of our bilateral relationship that has provoked the country's top diplomat to react in the way he did.

We recall that the BNP government considered the coming to power of the Congress-led coalition government in New Delhi as a window of opportunity. The visit of our foreign minister to India and his comments thereafter had all the indications of a new beginning in the Indo-Bangladesh relationship.

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What could have occurred in the recent past that could instigate such an outburst by the foreign minister? One, he has perhaps taken umbrage at the fact that, while the Indian prime minister called up Sheikh Hasina to express his sympathy following the August 21 incident, he did not call the Bangladesh prime minister, as was done by the US Secretary of State Colin Powell.

This could have been construed as India's bypassing of the government in Dhaka and siding with the Awami League. The protocol given to Sheikh Hasina, and the level of meetings arranged for her during her visit to India, before any meeting with PM Khaleda Zia, was also not lost on the BNP coalition government.

Certain comments in a section of the Indian press that were published following the attack on Sheikh Hasina, which were critical of the BNP government, also could have added to the foreign minister's chagrin.

Even if, for the sake of argument, the Indian prime minister's not telephoning our prime minister immediately following August 21 was a breach of protocol, then could it not have been better and more effectively communicated through the normal diplomatic channels? Did it call for such a public outburst?

It is common knowledge that diplomacy is conducted away from the public glare. Even at the worst of times, the harshest of sentiments and strongest of objections are conveyed secretly. In fact, the harder the line the more secretly it is done, unless of course Bangladesh has concluded that our bilateral relations have degraded to such a level that no-holds barred public denunciation is called for.

So the question is, is that the case? Has our relationship with India come to such a pass? If so, why? We think the people have a right to know, and the government has a responsibility to tell us, simply because the government needs to carry the people with it, if such a drastic change of policy towards India is to be pursued.

If, on the contrary, the foreign minister's outburst does not reflect the policy of the government, as indicated by other senior ruling party policy-makers, then an immediate damage control move should be set in motion.

Given the importance and sensitivity of Bangladesh-India relations we should avoid such amateurish outbursts in the future.

Diplomacy must be conducted in a more temperate manner.