Now let us see the immediate "Scholarly Opinion" of a prominent Indian Strategic analyst (better known for promoting Indo-US-Israeli strategic axis.
Short Note on Author:Sunita Paul was born in 1952 in an affluent family in Kochin, India. She obtained her twice Masters in Political Science and journalism. Later she worked with a number of research institutions and started writing for nuemrous newspapers and periodicals in India and overseas. In recent times, her works have appeared in Sunday Ledger, African Times, Global Politician, Jerusalem Post, Women's World, Insight Magazine, Europe Post, The Asian Tribune, Countercurrents, American Thinker, Intelligence Reporteur etc.
[/I]What´s happening in Bangladesh?
Sunita Paul
April 26, 2008
Bangladesh is possibly heading towards the path of becoming the third nuclear nation in South Asia within next couple of years. It is learnt from various sources that the topic came in discussion table during close-door meeting between Chinese foreign minister Yang Jiechi, who visited Bangladesh on four day tour and Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, foreign advisor in Dhaka military backed regime.
On this Friday, the Bangladeshi foreign affairs adviser, Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, said Bangladesh and China could build peaceful nuclear power cooperation on the China-Pakistan model as China wanted to get involved in Rooppur nuclear power plant.
Iftekhar said Bangladesh and China are partners in the new Asian Age and the visit of Chinese foreign minister would further cement this relationship.
´Our friendship is rooted in history, but like all friendship relationships between nations have also to be renewed and reinvigorated from time to time, and this visit was an occasion to do just that,´ the foreign adviser stated.
He added: ´We discussed regional and international politics as well. I´ve explained to him the warmth of our relations with India and Pakistan, and the growing cooperation with all SAARC countries. Very importantly, we´ve talked about going ahead with the idea of a tripartite understanding among Bangladesh, Myanmar and China regarding a road linkage, something that I had raised with him earlier at a bilateral meeting in Manila.´
He concluded: ´We both recognized that in the dawning of this New Asian Age we both have responsibilities. We must bring our peoples a much better quality of life as we are doing. We must provide each other mutual help. A new chapter in the history of the world has begun.´
Meanwhile, the Chinese foreign minister The Chinese foreign minister, Yang Jiechi said military to military cooperation is an important part of overall bilateral relation between Bangladesh and China. Jiechi, who met the army chief, General Moeen U Ahmed, in the morning, made the remark to journalists prior to his departure for Pakistan ending a 2-day official visit.
During the meeting, they discussed exchange of training programs of military personnel of the two countries. Jiechi conveyed greetings of the Chinese defense minister to General Moeen U Ahmed.
Now, let us make a complete review of the just concluded tour of the Chinese foreign minister to Bangladesh. There are a number of points, which many would take into serious consideration for many obvious reasons. Number one is of course, Dhaka-Beijing agreement in beginning nuclear cooperation. Although it was kept secret from the press, it is greatly rumored in Dhaka that the present military emergency government in Dhaka has already signed an Memorandum of Understanding with China for China´s cooperation in nuclear sector. Although the agreement shows the very innocent face of nuclear power station, but it is always understood that Bangladesh surely is now going towards becoming the third nuclear nation in South Asia. And of course, there is no crime for Bangladesh in having that as both India and Pakistan are already having the same power and now possibly non-nuclear nations will live like subordinates within the region. As a sovereign nation Bangladesh can always attain nuclear power. But, there is possibly some problems. First of all, China is one of those countries, which is providing instigations and assistance to almost all the anti-American nations in the world, either with nuclear technology or with other technologies. Take the example of North Korea, a country isolated from the world for years. China is doing everything possible in keeping the economy of North Korea alive and it is known to all that Chinese lands are being used by the North Koreans for business and many other purposes. Although China enjoys maximum benefit from its export trade to United States, this country is possibly one of those beneficiaries from USA, which does everything, which goes against Washington.
Now, understanding Dhaka quick slipping from pro-American stand or rather Bangladesh´s previous stand in favor of war on terror to anti-American stand or pro-Jihadist position, authorities in Beijing are now taking Dhaka as one of their most important play ground for next several years. Moreover, after the recent victory of Maoists in Nepal, which will make Nepal the safe ground for Communists and Al Qaida outfits, Beijing may use the Nepalese land to some how create a potential headache for New Delhi and of course with the same agenda in mind, China will now concentrate on Bangladesh too.
It may be re called that, China had been one of the strongest supporters of the military regime of Hussein Muhammed Ershad in Bangladesh. During those years, Chinese business companies were enjoying virtually monopoly businesses in the country. Now, Beijing is taking aggressive plans in helping Bangladesh in becoming a nuclear nation on the other hand, concentrating in establishing road linkage between Bangladesh, Nepal and Myanmar. A future ´Neo China´? Nepal is already under Communist rule. Myanmar and Bangladesh are under direct and indirect military regime. And Beijing possibly was waiting for such an excellent opportunity.
Global players, including United States and Britain need to through focus on China´s secret game in South Asia. One of the seven members of SAARC are already inside Chinese grip, as the players in Beijing were extremely successful in letting Maoists win the election. Now, their next turn is Bangladesh. Here, possibly China would love to see a dictatorial government or even direct martial law. Bangladeshi authorities are quite sure that they are not going to hold any election within 2008. Chinese foreign minister met Bangladeshi army chief and conveyed him greeting from the Chinese Defense Minister. Look here! A defense minister conveying greetings to the chief of army of another country? And such ´greetings´ are carried by none but by the foreign minister? Isn´t it ridiculous? Or does it show evidently that, Bangladeshi army chief General Moeen U Ahmed in reality is very much a part in the government with the status of below or above the Chief Advisor? When the army chief concluded his India tour and went back to Bangladesh, the foreign advisor Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury held a press conference to brief journalists on the outcome of the trip of the army chief. Is General Moeen foreign advisor´s boss? In fact he is. Although Bangladesh pretends to be under interim government, but, in reality there is hidden martial law in Dhaka.
Human rights violation is very normal. Authorities in Dhaka are behaving no better than any autocrats in the world. The only reason, Dhaka is still not exposing its military dictatorship faces to the world is to get some more breathing time, before the country goes into virtual isolation following economic and otherwise sanctions. Do the global players realize?
