M. Mizanur Rahman :
Bangladeshi people owe much to India on the very starting point of our war of liberation in 1971 against the formidable Pakistani genocide. The people of India came forward and helped us at that crucial crisis almost in all respect. Especially Indian military might thwarted the enemy very successfully with the help of the people of Bangladesh and its liberation fighters. For all those the common Indians did in 1971, we Bangladesh are much indebted to the Indians. However, those days are gone but we gratefully remember those days always.
Anyway it is yet to remorse what the hell happened since long almost in all fronts of Indo-Bangladesh borders the innocent but unfortunate Bangladeshi people, mostly poor cattle traders or farmers or ordinary ignorant people were shot dead or mercilessly beaten to death. One Felani, an innocent young girl is shown shot dead hanging on the barbed wire by the B S F (Indian Border Security Force) appears to have been a glaring example.
What more those unfortunate occurrences against the Bangladeshi border people are yet to have been expected from our good Indian friends in the coming future?
Another formidable havoc for Bangldeah is Indian Farakka Barrage. Since long time passed but the problem is yet to be solved. Nobody knew when? The unfortunate time is dragged on the friendship table while Bangladesh suffers most. Let the Bangladeshi Indian friends suffer as long as they can. Time is fateful. Bangladeshi sweet fishes Hilsha are swimming also across the Bangladesh border-rivers unbarred to India. In the natural game of push-pull factors in price determination Bangladesh suffers, people have to pay a higher tag. The monsoon flood, due to opening Farrakka Barrage by India, gets easy access in friendly country Bangladesh inundating most of its land that caused immense sufferings of the people destroying their living habitats and crops.
According to news media Joint River Commission meetings between the two countries for sharing waters from 54 trans- boundary rivers to mitigate the sufferings of the people of the two countries seldom took place.
The esteemed English Daily of Bangladesh, The New Nation, Dhaka on 31.8.2016 in its editorial column stated that “India has been imposing its unilateral decision on common rivers water sharing. The flow in the Padma was the lowest ever in Bangladesh during the lean season early this year from the upstream India to save Kolkata Port.
Now India with its unilateral decision has opened all the gates of Farakka Barrage to save Bihar from flood inviting disaster to Bangladesh. India is using delaying tactics to solve Teesta water issue.” Now where should Bangladesh cry for its rightful share of water of its International Rivers for mere survival? ‘A friend in deed is a friend in need’ what we always expect from our powerful neighbor India. Both the countries must realize that what is permanent friendship is interest.
Another critical issue that will endanger our eco-system in the bio-diversity is Rampal Indian coal-fired electric power plant near Sundarbon of Bangladesh which was already discarded by the Indians on its own soil. Even Sree Lankans refused to set up such plant on its own soil. Hence for the overall interest of Bangladesh our government shouldn’t allow setting up such harmful plant on our soil to destroy Sundarbon and not to spoil our clean eco-system.
Our independence is earned at the cost of huge blood and tears of Bangladeshi Bangali people. Hence we should have to defend our national interest at any cost.
Our soil is rich with mineral resources that can be explored by our own people provided they are trained to that extent and as such we need not depend on any foreign country at the cost of our national interest. We should be very careful about that. We have to survive no matter how many skies are falling on our head. Let our people prepare themselves to meet the needs of the nation with all earnestness.
