TDS Desk

Retired armed forces officers have urged the government to move away from a ‘knee-jerk foreign policy’ to thwart any internal and international conspiracies against the country. They said that there is no longer a need for a ‘knee-jerk’ foreign policy with India, but rather a foreign policy based on ‘equality’.

The call was made at a protest rally organized by retired members of the armed forces calling for national unity against Indian aggression under the Rawa Complex in the capital on Saturday.

Calling on the government, freedom fighter and retired Colonel Mohammad Ahsanullah, who convened the event, said, “We want a foreign policy based on equality, not a knee-jerk foreign policy. We will not shelter or patronize any kind of knee-jerk policy under any circumstances.”

He said to the people of India, “We have no enmity with you. You are our friends, but we are not willing to give shelter to the ocher-clad Hindu supremacy of India in any way in this country.”

Protests are taking place in India, especially in states bordering Bangladesh, against the arrest and imprisonment of former ISKCON leader Chandan Kumar Dhar, also known as Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari. One such protest on Monday resulted in an attack on the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Agartala, Tripura. They later pulled down the Bangladesh national flag, according to various Indian media reports.

Police and law enforcement officials later removed the protesters. India’s Ministry of External Affairs described the incident as “sad”. However, Bangladesh’s Foreign Ministry reacted angrily, describing the incident as “premeditated”. In a press release, Dhaka called on the Indian government to ensure the security of all diplomatic missions and personnel.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma in Dhaka on Tuesday and formally handed over the protest letter.

Amid the ongoing tension over this, retired Colonel Mohammad Ahsanullah said at a protest rally organized by former members of the armed forces against ‘Indian aggression’, “Bangladesh is the home of Hazrat Shahjalal, Hazrat Shah Makhdum, Atish Dipankar, Sri Chaitanya, Anukul Thakur, Loknath Brahmachari and others. We have been living in harmony in this land for ages. But I notice with great concern that since the escape of Bangladesh’s Lady Pharaoh (Sheikh Hasina), India’s Hindu leadership has been looking down on us. Their recent activities clearly prove this.”

He said, their latest initiative was to attack the Bangladeshi embassies in Agartala and Kolkata and insult our National flag. We consider all these incidents as a threat to our independence and sovereignty. Apart from this, some media and political leaders in India are constantly making fabricated news about Bangladesh. According to the Vienna Convention, an attack on any embassy means an attack on the sovereign territory of that country. In this critical situation of the country, when our sovereignty is attacked, our flag is trampled, then we, the members of the armed forces, cannot remain silent.

Stating that he has not yet ‘deviated’ from the oath he took at the beginning of his career to protect the country’s independence and sovereignty, he said, “At this critical juncture of the country, we want to unite the nation against Indian aggression. Let us forget all kinds of political divisions, rise above religion, opinion and party and protect our independence and sovereignty.”

He said that in this regard, the young students and working people of our country have to play a leading role. I would like to assure you that millions of trained soldiers and thousands of trained officers of the armed forces have always been by the side of the people of this country, and we will be. We are ready to sacrifice our lives for the country in any need. If there is any kind of conspiracy against Bangladesh, including internal and international, we want to stop that conspiracy with all of you.

Highlighting the role of former members of the armed forces on August 5, the day Sheikh Hasina flew, retired Lieutenant Colonel Manish Dewan said, “Today, we have gathered here again to continue our struggle against Indian hegemony.”

He said, “In a ‘message’ to the Narendra Modi government of India, Modiji, Amitji and Rajnathji, the Bangladesh Army that you saw in 1972 is no more. We are now ready to face any enemy. You will no longer boast or show fear. We are not just an armed force. We have 17 crore people with us to stand with you on the border.”

While addressing the rally, retired Colonel Lutful Haque said to the government, “Bring out all our national agreements with India. The Indians who are in Bangladesh should be reconsidered and sent back if not needed. The Indian media outlets that are spreading hatred against the government should be banned in the country.”

After the rally, a procession was held with the participation of over 500 people, including former members of various forces. The procession started from Rawa Club, passed through the crossing adjacent to the Chief Adviser’s office, and ended at Rawa Club.