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Dhaka doings

The title of the article is shamelessly plagiarised (with apologies) from the now defunct MIRROR monthly, Mrs. Zaibunissa Hamidullah’s photo-heavy chronicle of Pakistan pre-1971. The Second D-8 Summit in Dhaka on 1-2 March 1999 was filled with photo-opportunities and formality but had little substance. Of the 8 leaders meant to attend, it was understandable why the Nigerian Head of State Gen Abubakar Salam could not leave the country during the all-important election week — but why (alphabetically) Presidents Hosni Mobarak of Egypt, Habibie of Indonesia and Khatami did not turn up, except for disinterest one could not well understand? President Suleyman Demirel of Turkey and Prime Ministers Mahathir of Malaysia and Mian Nawaz Sharif of Pakistan more than made up in sheer value and enthusiasm so that the host country Bangladesh was not embarrassed but that particular ingredient that should go into such an association was unfortunately missing.

The idea of having the developing countries of the Muslim world combining their assets and talents to meet the two challenges of modernisation and globalisation was excellent. One must give credit to President Demirel of Turkey for having carried and nurtured this idea along, especially since Turkey has been looking westwards to joining the European Union rather than looking east to the less fortunate members of the Muslim Ummah. It is very true that while the 8 countries have different expertise and varied resources to match than individual skills, they could well learn and gain from each other. Though Iran was represented only by its Vice President Dr. Hassan Habibi, the proposals put forth were workable and achievable, showing a seriousness of purpose that was endorsed by Mahathir enthusiastically. Mian Nawaz Sharif gave some very practical suggestions about cooperation, emphasis being on the private sector participation, this was reflected in the adoption of the 33 point DHAKA DECLARATION that spelt out the agreed agenda till the next summit in Cairo in 2001, a distant two years later. The participating countries pledged to turn the new grouping into an effective trading bloc with greater cooperation and thrust in 13 key sectors. While recognizing trade and business as most important for cooperation and collaboration, the Summit welcomed globalisation but cautioned that the accompanying risks and increased inequality between developing and developed countries must be recognized. A permanent coordinating centre was agreed to with intent to hold meetings and seminars to follow up on the agreed points in the Declaration. Both Mahathir and Mian Nawaz Sharif emphasised and got included their concern about free capital flows contributing to the global financial crisis with each country promising to effectively contribute in one’s principal expertise, a workable platform can be established if there is positive follow up on the issues.

A word about the hosts and the well arranged Summit. No effort was spared to make the guests comfortable but the venue of the meeting in Dhaka Sheraton Hotel (the old Intercontinental) is not logistically equipped to deal with such an event. The lobby is cramped, the two old lifts are overworked and security was stretched beyond such limits that the guests were uncomfortable. Dhaka has to come to terms with its limitations, such events are meant to promote the country’s image, not to tarnish it. While the events were well-conducted, the format could have been made more imaginative to overcome the shortcomings. Even at the best of times Hasina Wajed is rather wooden in her verbal expressions at the international level, it painfully shows through the veneer. To be fair, there was no lack of enthusiasm and hospitality, the Bangladeshis spared no effort. However the conduct of the South Asian Business Summit in January 1998 was much better, even though as respects leaders there was far more star power here.

While there is already good chemistry between Mian Nawaz Sharif and Hasina Wajed, there was certainly a remotely orchestrated knife out to embarrass Pakistan. The print media went berserk about the Pakistani PM not coming to the Savar Memorial to lay flowers, conveniently forgetting that (1) he had been there twice during earlier events and (2) the schedule for the ceremony attended by the leaders was scheduled for several hours before he reached Dhaka. Moreover the Bangladesh TV showed extremely bad taste as well as manners in focussing on 1971 atrocities. You do not call a guest to your home and then proceed to rub his nose in the dust on issues that should have been well buried by now. There was no reason to take the Pakistani PM to the Bangobondhu Museum. However it is quite clear that as far as Pakistan is concerned, The Awami League (AL) Government dances to a different beat than the population in the streets that has generally plenty of love and affection for Pakistan. There is a fine politico-bureaucratic-type sanction that is lacking of grace behind these orchestrated embarrassments, particularly against the leader of a country who is genuinely interested in increasing cooperation and collaboration across the board. For whatever it is worth Ms Benazir Bhutto carries herself far better internationally about inserting the memories about her father out of context into such occasions than does Hasina Wajed. There was a remark passed by another Head of State/Government about “forgiving them as they have yet to grow up as a nation”, unquote. If the attempt was to embarrass Pakistan in front of their Muslim friends it failed horribly. Regretfully the Bangladeshi PM is out of sync with reality and her government uses Pakistan as a favourite whipping boy. There is no doubt atrocities were committed here in 1971, however both the warring sides participated in perpetuating them. Moreover 3 million dead is a far out figure, it is many multiple times less. All this has been well documented in the Hamoodur Rahman Commission Report, it is time to let it see the light of the day. Bhutto kept it under wraps because it skewered the politicians on both sides far more than for the sake of the Pakistan Army. However it is believed to be far more precise about casualties and damage, painful though it may be, it is time to publish the truth so that certain myths may be blown away, particularly about the extent and nature of the atrocities from both the sides. Others who have been bound by the Official Secrets Act, it is time to lift that restriction and see the ugly face of reality under that veil. It may well invite some debate, the end result will be we will be over and done with 1971 once and for all.

A word about the Pakistan High Commission and its staff. The outgoing envoy, Karam Elahi is a fine gentleman supported by excellent people right down the line who were enthusiastic about their duties and responsibilities. Nobody doubts either their intent or purpose but one must question their ability within the parameters given to them by the Foreign Office. Bangladesh is a country with a vast reservoir of goodwill among the populace for Pakistan. The Diplomatic staff cannot function here as they do in New Delhi or other places. True there are visa restriction problems, from the Pakistan side to discourage “Stranded Pakistanis” and intending Bangladeshi immigrants who all make a bee-line for Karachi and from the Bangladeshi side to stop the illegals who are already in Karachi from coming back. However these need to be explained through the media and wonder of wonders, there is no “media section” in the High Commission in a country where it is vitally important to maintain a proper flow of information. The bureaucracy in the Foreign Office is mind-boggling about its priorities, Foreign Secretary Shamshad should get this right without any delay, at least in Bangladesh where a media representative is vital in the face of concerted hostile propaganda. Pakistan cannot afford to lose the hearts and minds of a population that is so vociferous about its feelings that a cricket or hockey match in Pakistan has almost as similar enthusiasm and support in the Stadium as for Pakistan in Pakistan. What we need in Bangladesh is not another diplomat bureaucrat to head the Mission but a knowledgeable political appointee who can make things happen positively for Pakistan by cutting across diplomatic morass. The new envoy is supposedly a fine foreign service officer, he will be straitjacketed by the standard Foreign Office parameters from reaching the people in the street who are genuinely imbued with good feelings about Pakistan.

It is always a pleasure to be in Dhaka, the city may be cramped with traffic that badly needs flyovers and raised expressways but it is visibly brimming with prosperity despite the country’s many travails. We were once a country in name together, now that the spirit seems to be revived we can go forward together as two disparate countries having not only complementary economies but complementary political vision founded on common faith and belief.

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