Time to bring 'boundary violation'before UN

No sooner had the ink of our editorial [Transit issue vis-୶is the
Constitution] urging for good sense and amity dried up than the rude
shock came about the killing of two BDR soldiers by BSF men over a
kilometre inside Bangladesh territory. This ghastly act was done on a
day when Bangladesh foreign secretary sat in Delhi with his Indian
counterpart to discus bilateral issues. What could be the motive of
the Delhi policy makers? Was it to terrorise Dhaka again or to remind
once more of India's overwhelming mighty presence? Is she not defying
the UN Charter and international law that stipulate respect for
territorial integrity and the inviolability of internationally
recognised borders?
To look back, our big neighbour seldom bothered about diplomatic
niceties, and hence Dhaka's relations -- which were more than warm for
valid historical factors of 1971 ? began to be cool within four years
of independence, during the Mujib regime. Emergence of Bangladesh as
an independent entity could offer India two most significant gains: a
grateful friend on the east with whom to build close, lasting bond of
friendship on the basis of give and take; and weakening of Pakistan on
the west ? thereby saving billions of Rupees from Delhi's defence
budget.
The bereaved survivors of lance nayek Shri Krishna Pada Das, have
cremated his body and havildar Hannan Sarker buried in a graveyard,
but the bruise will remain until appropriate action is taken by the
Indian authority. Bullying and big-brotherly jingoistic attitude of
India has long been viewed by Bangladeshis as a tactic to induce fear.
Is this called friendship? Among others 251 teachers of the Dhaka
University in a joint press statement decried the dastardly act of
India on a sovereign country to subdue Bangladesh ignoring bilateral
agreement between the two countries and criticised Dhaka's submissive
foreign policy.
But the nation is surprised and shocked to see that the former
valiant sector commanders of the Liberation War, the great patriots,
are quite mute over repeated horrid slaughters. It will be indeed
saddening if the people here feel frustrated. We believe peoples of
both the countries will abhor a repeat performance Indian brutality.
Not long after the emergence of Bangladesh a section of the Indian
press began printing fabricated stories about Bangladesh which
continues unabated. What is appalling is that even a very senior
columnist of octogenarian Kamath's stature gave us a jarring dither
when he wrote in the Organiser in 2005: "Bangladesh is rift-ridden
country which, in the first place, has no right to exist." On rare
occasions some unbiased journalists also revealed the truth. For
instance, a few years ago Bangla literary magazine Desh headlined its
cover-story thus: Protibeshider shathay Bharater dadagiri [India's
domineering attitude towards its neighbours]
The Indian High Commission has categorically denied the involvement
of India's BSF in the killing of two members of the BDR on Thursday
night, and distorted the fact claiming that the incident occurred
along the border and that it was a sequel to firing by smugglers on
the BSF personnel. And the state-run Press Trust of India
demonstrated, to say the least, the height of inaccuracy in
journalism.
Territorial integrity and sovereignty are the corner stones of a
nation; no independent country can allow any interference in these
matters. Bagladesh has consistently pursued an independent, non-
aligned foreign policy to promote friendship with all countries of the
world on the basis of mutual respect for sovereignty, equality,
territorial integrity and non-interference in the internal affairs of
other countries. We hope Indian policy makers will see reason and take
decision to remove all irritants in the bilateral relations of the two
closest neighbours.
As we observed previously, a good neighbour is a great blessing
while the reverse of it is a misfortune. There is no doubt that as a
neighbour Bangladesh certainly and definitely cherishes lasting
friendly relations with India based on understanding and cooperation
for mutual benefit.



http://www.weeklyho liday.net/

M. J.
Iqbal
.

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