By Sajjad Shaukat
Famous political thinkers, Hobbes, Machiavelli and
Morgenthau opine that in international politics, rulers act upon immoral
activities like deceit, fraud and falsehood which become the principles of
political morality. They follow these tactics in order to obtain the interests
of their countries. But, in case of Bangladesh, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina
Wajid has been acting upon these techniques against her own country so as to
appease India, while the latter has entrapped her by exploiting her pro-Indian
tilt to fulfill its strategic interests.
It is notable that Hasina Wajid had already
directed her staff to close the chapter of water and border conflicts with New
Delhi. Besides, she has given transit trade facilities to India—a move which
has been resisted by the Bangladeshi patriots for the past several decades. In
this context, a writer has rightly said, “Hasina Wajid again started Honey Moon
Period of relationship with India.”
In this respect, maritime boundary dispute between India and Bangladesh (BD)
in Bay of Bengal was referred to Permanent Court at Hague. On July 7, 2014, the
Court of Arbitration gave its verdict, awarding 19, 467 square kilometers, out
of disputed 25, 602 square kilometers area to Bangladesh. Law experts and
technocrats from both India and Bangladesh contested the case. Whereas the
government of Bangladesh termed the court decision as ‘Triumph of Friendship’,
the opinion builders of the country observed it as ‘Sacrifice of Friendship.”
Sanity prevailed upon loyal Bangladeshis
who were driven by their sense of rationality, and were prompted to hold
seminar on the subject. The speakers, while protesting with concerns said that
Bangladesh government failed to project its case before the Arbitration Court
at Hague to get Talpatti, a gas rich island. They also pointed out that
government’s weak foreign policy and ignorance of anti-Bangladesh agents resulted
in a staged drama in which their country got one-third of the bay, while India
received two-third of it.
Similarly, the court verdict also
decided dispute with Myanmar regarding Saint Martin’s sovereignty which has
been favorable to Dhaka. The
court verdict will make Bangladesh to lose its rights to freely enter into deep
sea.
As the Bangladesh government has hidden facts about
the verdict so as to please India, but patriot leaders and people of Bangladesh
have been protesting against the government in one way or the other. In this
regard, speakers were of the opinion that
the rulers were befooling the public in Bangladesh by projecting the judgment,
as triumph, hiding the real facts. They rejected the fabricated and deceitful propaganda
of the government that Bangladesh got more sea area than India.
As regards the details in relation
to the protesters, to sensitize the public in Bangladesh about reality of the judgment,
Liberty Bangladesh organized a seminar in which anti-government and anti-Indian
themes were raised by all participants. The participants also included specialists
of Bangladesh, having strong credentials in maritime border issue which enabled
them to express their candid opinions.
In this
connection, ANH Akhter Hossain
said, “Bandladesh’s Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajid is a master
of elusive dance. How can Sheikh Hasina receive recognition for her achievement
when Saint Martin’s sovereign status (maintained since 1974) has been
diminished? After losing Talpatti to India, she is telling us that there is no
land under the water, and Talpatti Island does not exist. If you think
otherwise, then go ahead and find it. He added, “These lies will not save the
government—the people should take steps to claim Talpatti Island and take the
case to the international court.”
Dr. Sabbir
Mostafa Khan stated, “There is no question that we
have gained maritime border from both disputes, but when it comes to
arbitration, we always lost. We are incapable of claiming our rights in the
court. We have a tendency to ask for less than what rightfully belongs to us.
Government should move away from false promises and propaganda.” He appealed
for the formation of a committee, comprising experts to take necessary steps.
Abdul Hye
Sikder remarked, “Awami League led by Prime Minister
Hasina Wajid has been boasting about the capability of their leadership.
I have seen their capability through the court verdict. Sheikh Mujib
surrendered everything to India. Now his daughter, the power hungry Sheikh
Hasina has demonstrated her capability by sacrificing valuable maritime
resources to India.”
The former Commodore Shafiq-ur-Rehman pointed out, “A great achievement from
India and Myanmar disputes is that we now have a precise maritime border. This
is a step forward. But, the sad part is that we were mysteriously unable to
present strong statements in the court, and lost Talpatti Island.”
Professor
Dr. Emajuddin Ahmed said, Government of Hasina Wajid
has come to power through illegal means, and is now floating on lies. By
spreading propaganda, they are trying to avoid their responsibilities. This is
a matter of great sadness for a free and sovereign nation. We have gained
maritime border, but have lost Talpatti, as we failed to present our case
properly. India knew about the gas reserved in Talpatti, and laid claims on the
island. Bangladesh knowingly handed over this valuable asset to India. This is
betrayal and a case of treason. A lawsuit could be filed against the government.”
Hafiz
Uddin Ahmed sated, “People of Bangladesh are
continuously being befooled. They are being told of triumphs…spreading
propaganda to turn countless losses into victories. This will diplomatically
weaken Bangladesh. News is being
spread that Bangladesh has received more sea area than India, but actually
India received double than Bangladesh.”
He elaborated, “The government has
proved itself as traitor and puppet of India by denying the existence of
Talpatti. Bangladesh made its defeat inevitable by mysteriously denying the
existence of gas enriched Island. One day Sheikh Hasina will have to answer in
court for her betrayal.”
While contending the judgment, a key
speaker Captain M Rejaul Karim
Chowdhury stated, “Bangladesh claimed that verdict regarding maritime
boundary dispute with New Delhi is the ‘Triumph of Friendship’, but as there
has been no verdict regarding South Talpatti, we can see that the result is ‘Friendship Unresolved.”
He explained, “If Bangladesh gives
up Talpatti, then it would be called ‘Sacrifice for Friendship.’ If truly it is
to be called ‘Triumph of Friendship’, then Bangladesh should be able to claim
the 100 trillion cubic feet of natural gas not to be used for corporate
India, but instead, it be used to create an interest-free loaning fund called
‘Green Gas Fund’ for farmers of India and Bangladesh.”
Captain M
Rejaul Karim futher pointed out, “A
weak foreign policy and the ignorance of Bangladesh regime’s agents resulted in
a staged drama in which the country received one-third of the bay. India on the
other hand, received two-third of the area. Bangladesh propagated that the court
verdict was a great success in having maritime borders. Actually, they lost the
vital island of Talpatti which is enriched with natural gas. Government of
Bangladesh denied that any gas enriched island like Talpatti existed, and
therefore easily lost it to India. This has been termed as an act of betrayal
and treason…one day Sheikh Hasina will be made answerable and accountable.”
Nevertheless, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been
following pro-Indian policies at the cost of her own country. Therefore, to
appease New Delhi, and by giving false statement, her government has hidden
facts about the verdict
of maritime border dispute with India.
