Ahoy! The pirates are around
FOREIGN policy issues are seldom raised or debated during an election campaign in a country such as Bangladesh, perpetually caught in the poverty trap and chronic under-development. Such debate is irrelevant for a people engaged in making both ends meet. No wonder that the contestants in the election for the ninth parliament also did not indulge in that luxury. The contesting political parties rather vied with one other with their promises to provide food at affordable prices, ensure uninterrupted supply of power and drinking water, and maintain order in the society.
These basics usually constitute the staple of electioneering in a country like ours. Foreign policy is at the best painted, if at all, with a broad brush in the election manifesto with the familiar cliche "friendship for all and malice to none." Yet, for any political outfit, the moment it assumes power, foreign policy becomes the principal tool for defending national interest, whether in parrying the BSF's reported infiltration into our territory in Sylhet or in foiling Myanmar's attempt to carry out surveys in our exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
Indeed, foreign policy has traditionally been the nation's "first line of defence," and it can hardly be foreign to a nation only because of the state of its development. However small it may be, each country has its own clout, which is invariably counted by all nations, and plays its rightful and responsible role as a constituent of the comity of nations. Look at the way a tiny Bangladesh is courted even by the big and mighty and its elected government is swarmed by carpetbaggers, deal makers and fortune-seekers of bewildering variety, who all want to extract concessions, favours and benefit from this poor country. Some want transit while others are after our Chittagong port!
We consistently refuse to be in the "friendly" embrace of outside power and always favoured maneuverability vis-a-vis our big and small neighbours. Consequently, in the past, we did not fall prey to the carrot of "earning billions of dollars" -- dangled by interested quarters -- just by granting transit or transshipment to India and opening up Chittagong port. Even an India-friendly AL government did not barter national interest for a few lollies. The last regime of Awami League did a great favour to the nation by holding itself back from granting transshipment to India, although tremendous pressure was mounted on it by multiple interest groups both from home and abroad. The same government gave a fitting response to the BSF's border violation at Baruibari in Sylhet.
Even as the AL assumed power seven months ago, a number of issues cropped up between Dhaka and Delhi, which are awaiting resolution. They include sensitive issues like the Asian Highway and the South Asian Task Force in addition to transit, trade and water. India's diplomatic alacrity and pronouncements emanating from Indian leaders officials as well as media outlets suggest that they all have taken Bangladesh's compliance on most of issues for granted.
While it was expected that the AL government would certainly perform as patriotically as before with regard to the newly cropped-up issues, some of its ministers uttered words that betray those hopes. Clouds are darkening the horizon for a clash may be imminent between the authority and the public, which has not given the mandate to the government to ignore national interest in resolving the issues.
No government is empowered to take unilateral and arbitrary decisions on vital national issues. Like in any other country, there must be national consensus before taking decision on them. If required, referendum must be held to determine public opinion on those issues. Even though there is a European Union Parliament, member countries gave their consent on any issue in question through referendum.
The ship called Bangladesh is on an uncharted course through the choppy waters of international politics. The carpetbaggers, like masked pirates, are watching with greedy eyes the vigilance and efficiency of its crew. The nation that won freedom through armed struggled cannot afford to be defeated.
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