Dr. Syed Anwar Husain:

The achievement of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was not confined to merely establishing an independent state. Those who led in establishing an independent state e.g. Mazzini, Cavour, and Garibaldi in Italy, George Washington in the USA, Mahatma Gandhi in India were all great heroes of the world. Keeping in mind the contributions of these illustrious leaders, it would be relevant to place the contributions of Bangabandhu in establishing independent Bangladesh and to compare their contributions and leadership qualities. It should be remembered that there are differences characteristically among these liberation struggles e.g. liberation struggle of India ending the subjugation of colonial rule or liberation struggle of Algeria or Vietnam from the French domination. Bangladesh achieved independence in a short Liberation War, but with a heavy sacrifice.

As a humanist of high stature, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was also one of the greatest politicians and statesmen of the twentieth century. He had directed a non-cooperation movement. Despite military junta’s provocations, killings, bloodshed and turmoil orchestrated by non-Bengalis at various places, he never retreated from the peaceful movement known as the non-violent non-cooperation movement of 1971 March. He administered civil administration the right before the independence of the country living within the armed military forces. After the country became independent, the Indian army was withdrawn from Bangladesh territory just within three months at the earnest desire of Bangabandhu. This event reveals the uncommon charisma of his personality. It may be recalled that even after fifty years of the end to the Second World War, the army of the US, the USSR, the UK and the French had been staying on the German territory. In this context, we may also recall that even after fifty years of the Korean War, and even today in Japan, the US army is stationed.

At the Non-Aligned Movement Summit held in Algeria, Bangabandhu said “The world is divided into two halves ‘the exploiters’ and ‘the exploited’. I am on the side of the exploited”. Naturally, he became a victim of conspiracy and intrigue of the Western imperialist forces–the international exploiter group. Without using religion as a tool of political gain, he made ‘secularism’ as one of the fundamental principles of the constitution to keep religion separate from politics. This principle was adopted in the Indian constitution in 1979 through an amendment. And, Pakistan has become, a religion-based state like Israel. The same trend is also manifested in Bangladesh in the post-seventy-five period. It may be recalled that in 1971, Bangalis fought a sanguinary liberation war to make a secular-democratic Bangladesh, not a moderate Muslim state.

In September 1974, at the United Nations (UN), Bangabandhu placed strong arguments in his address to create a new international economic order. It is mentioned in this context, that he was the first statesman to deliver speech in Bangla at the UN. He said, “No greater challenge has been faced by the UN than that of marshalling the forces of reason to bring about a just international economic order. This order must not only ensure sovereignty of each state over its natural resources but should also seek to establish a framework of international cooperation based upon recognition of the overriding common interest of the countries of the world in a stable and just economic system. According to the Universal Declaration, right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of a person and his/her family must be ensured”.

The direction of Bangladesh’s foreign policy was reflected in this speech. A detailed discussion on this theme appears in the relevant chapter on foreign policy of this book.

In the same address at the UN, Bangabandhu mentioned Bangladesh’s strong support to world peace as a newly independent state. He said, “The very struggle of Bangladesh symbolized the universal struggle for peace and justice. It is, therefore, only natural that Bangladesh, from its very inception, should stand firmly by the side of the oppressed people of the world. The experience of quarter of the century since the United Nations was established, has shown how a relentless struggle has had to be waged against daunting odds in pursuit of these ideals. The right to self-determination which the United Nations Charter promised could only be redeemed through the supreme sacrifice of millions of valiant fighters for freedom in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Great victories have been won in Algeria, in Vietnam, in Bangladesh and in Guinea-Bissau. He further intended that such victories prove that history is on the side of the people and that justice ultimately triumphs. However, injustice and oppression still persist in many parts of the world. Our Arab brethren are still fighting for the complete vacation of all illegally occupied territories and the legitimate rights of the people of Palestine have yet to be restored.”

After gaining independence, Bangabandhu had not only recognized the temporary revolutionary government of South Vietnam but also extended his active support to them to open their embassy in Dhaka. The Vietnamese people won their final victory on 30 April 1975, after protracted sanguinary heroic struggle during the lifetime of Bangabandhu. It would be right to say that through the fall of Saigon and defeat of the US Army, the victory of freedom and peace loving-people was heralded. The government of Bangabandhu was also vocal against the installation of nuclear-powered naval base in Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. Moreover, Bangladesh’s positive stance on the question of UN sponsored Indian Ocean Zone of Peace (IOZP) was well-known.

The imperialist forces and their lackeys created obstacles to Bangabandhu’s policies and actions. His intransigence and steps to create an exploitation free society had created fearsome situation for the imperialist forces. Attaining independence by foiling their conspiracy and following self-determining policy in national and international spheres was a clear sign of confrontation with the imperialist forces. Little wonder that the 1974 famine was a U.S. creation.

Bangabandhu took steps to facilitate socialism through his BKSAL system. Dubbed a ‘second revolution’ by himself, the system had potentialities to effect a revolutionary turn-around of Bangladesh. And, at this very time, he became the target of national and international vested interests.  Before his new system took its complete shape, the imperialist forces, their facilitators and reactionary native forces against freedom killed him along with all his near and dear ones, excepting the two daughters, who had been abroad. Through the killing of Bangabandhu they actually closed the door of this country to graduate to socialism. This was a blatant attack on the independence and sovereignty of Bangladesh.

Bangladesh was made almost a vassal state of the imperialist forces in the post-seventy-five period. The economy was made dependant. The anti-liberation forces including al-badar and al-shams and their mentor Jamaat-i-Islami and agents of the imperialist forces were rehabilitated. Moreover, religious extremism and communalism reared their ugly heads  after 15 August 1975.

To the powers who called the shots in the international scene, Bangabandhu appeared to be a threat. Bangabandhu said, “ We clearly state-whether it is Africa or Latin America or Arab countries where the people are exploited, oppressed and the wretched and where people are repressed by the imperialist forces, we Bangali people are supporting these wretched people and will continue our support”. Bangabandhu matched his word with action by recognizing the revolutionary government of Guinea-Bissau as a first country in that region. When most of the Arab countries had not recognized Bangladesh, he did not hesitate to express support for and solidarity with the freedom struggle of the Palestinian people.

“Let my name be known as a person of your own” –we see the fulfillment of this earnest desire of the world poet Rabindranath Thakur in the life and activities of Bangabandhu. Indeed, the very honorific Bangabandhu, meaning friend of Bengal, was a testimony to this great leader’s people-centric philosophy. He, “Mujib bhai”, was the closest to the people of all ages of Bangladesh. In all corners of Bangladesh, it is reverberated in the heart and soul of the multitude- “we are yours, you are ours”.

The politics of Bangabandhu did not have its initiation in any palace intrigue, nor was nourished by the temptation of power. His politics was founded in the remotest rural area of the deprived Bengal, in the silent lonely village, in the cottage of the deceived and exploited Bangali people. The source of power which was vested in the common resolve, cooperation and support of the people, its revival from latent state is the main theme of his politics. Injustice, exploitation and deprivation can never end by means of appeal and request. This warranted manifestation of people power. Thus, the main objective of the politics of Bangabandhu was to rouse this people-power through the awakening sincere love. Therefore, Bangabandhu’s politics may be termed as love towards people which was vivified in the nectar of selfless love. That Bangabandhu was a world leader comes out vividly in his self-assessment penned on 30 May 1973, barely a week after having received the Julio Curie World Peace Prize (23 May 1973).

He said, “As a man, what concerns mankind concerns me. As a Bengalee, I am deeply involved in all that concerns Bengalees. This abiding involvement is born of and nourished by love, enduring love, which gives meaning to my politics and to my very being.”

Indeed, Ramesh Chandra, Secretary General of the World Peace Council, on Bangabandhu’s prize – receiving day, called Bangabandhu a Viswabandhu (friend of the world) as well. Thus Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was a Bangabandhu as well as Viswabandhu.

The writer is Bangabandhu Chair Professor, Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP)