How poor are they who have not patience! What wound did ever heal but by degrees.
-William Shakespeare
I grew up in the post-East Pakistan era, and my only exposure to Bangladesh was initially through textbooks that were at best sheepish about the events surrounding its liberation. History was suspended by the school narratives. As a young adult, I was exposed to the injustices once meted out to Pakistan’s largest wing by an outspoken history teacher. Later, when I blurted out those acquired facts in characteristic drawing room discussions, I sensed an unease; silence was advised by a discerning elder.
…The title photo above is of Curzon Hall at Dhaka University…
Such silence, unfortunately, haunted the post-1971 social and cultural milieu of Pakistan. Later in life when I met real Bangladeshis, as opposed to the fictional characters that existed in my mental landscape, I felt a strange affinity despite the fact that we came from contested histories and realities. At college in London I remember long discussions with Bangladeshi friends where we disagreed yet agreed that we had a common future.
Therefore, the recent visit to Dhaka, the very first non fleeting sojourn, was an overpowering experience. Dhaka airport is just another airport. Like home, there are long queues broken by the protocol brigades and immigration officers struggling with the advent of technology. In Dhaka, the warmth of the people overwhelms you.
While there I could not help but think of Faiz‘s only poem written in 1974, hum ke thehre ajnabi, about how close relations become estranged.
After those many encounters, that easy
intimacy, we are strangers now –
After how many meetings will we be that close again?When will we again see a spring of unstained green?
After how many monsoons will the blood be washed from the branches?[Translation by Agha Shahid Ali]
Dhaka is bursting at the seams with a sea of humanity as Bangladesh has one of the highest population densities in the world. Unregulated construction and traffic jams define the urban ethos. There is, however, a buzz and energy; signs of Bangladesh’s recent economic progress are evident. Large billboards and other hallmarks of globalisation greet you. But there are signs of grinding poverty as well. From the hotel’s plush dining area one could see a distant profile of a shanty town. My most interesting experience entailed talking to agile, aware Bengalis.
Most people I met had an understated fondness for Pakistan; the old wounds are gradually healing. I was told by many, “Pakistan-Bangladesh bhai bhai” and that the Bangladeshis support Pakistan cricketers. Given the World Cup euphoria and better than expected performance of the Bangladeshi team, almost everyone empathised with the defeat of the Pakistan team and expressed sorrow over Bob Woolmer’s death.
Old Dhaka, steeped in the Raj mood, is enchanting. Before catching my plane I stopped by Curzon Hall, built in 1905, and the Shaheed Minar. 
…Photo to the left is Shaheed Minar in Dhaka…
The latter was erected in the memory of martyrs who fought for Bangla linguistic and political identity. The area around the Shaheed Minar also displays public art commemorating the march towards Independence. Curzon Hall, now part of Dhaka University campus, is a stunning building that fuses Indian and Western traditions. A student of Dhaka University, Shahin, who was pleased to hear that his name is a prominent symbol in Iqbal’s poetry, took me around. The entire campus, painted red, looked even more charming amidst the blooming spring flowers and the rustling old trees.
Bangladesh’s population profile, like many other countries, is skewed in favour of the youth. There are young men and women everywhere, walking with energy, hope and promise. A photo exhibition I saw at the Shilpa Kala Academy was breathtaking. It had works from various universities across the country. The subject matter and professionalism was striking. As I was only visiting Dhaka, this exhibition enabled me to see various facets of the country such as the magical sunsets over the river Padma.
By chance, I also stopped at the dergah of Shah Ali Boghdadi who ostensibly travelled from Iraq and somehow settled in Dhaka’s outskirts. I owe this visit to the taxi driver who happened to take me there. It was a lovely shrine full of devotees. The two old banyan trees reminded me of all the dergahs in South Asia. The similarities were striking: the underclass begging at the entrance while loads of devotees prayed for spiritual and worldly gains.
Earlier, the taxi driver kept mentioning the achievements of Field Marshal Ayub Khan and development projects that he spearheaded. I politely inquired about his political affiliations and, as expected, he proved an ardent supporter of General Ershad’s Jatiya Party.
There is a lovely mural dedicated to the national poet, Nazrul Islam, on a public roundabout, and indeed Tagore and Nazrul define the high point of Bangla culture. Tagore was the first Indian, or even Asian, to receive a Nobel Prize for Literature while Nazrul is the Bangladesh national poet. His poems articulate intense rebellion against oppression and its various faces such as slavery, division and tradition.
I am the rebel eternal,
I raise my head beyond this world,
High, ever erect and alone![Translation by Kabir Choudhary]
Music and lyricism are deeply enmeshed in Bengali culture and language. One cannot help notice how everyone loves music. Even the rickshaw-wallahs break into song, as I noticed every time I took a stroll outside my hotel.
The Bangaldeshi art scene is equally inspiring. From the immortal compositions of Zainul Abidin and Mohammad Kibria, several contemporary artists have experimented with bold themes and have localized the myriad dimensions of modern art.
..Photo to the left is Raju Memorial Sculpture at Dhaka University..
One such artwork, entitled Andolon or Uprising, struck me at the house of Rafiqul Alam, Professor of Fine Arts at Dhaka University. His abstract in oil narrated the uprisings of the late 1980s and embedded astrological symbols, such as the powers of Saturn and Mars, in an otherwise modern style. The Professor, a self effacing artist of great caliber, was free of pretensions that afflict even lesser artists in my dear homeland. Alam also took me through his fond memories of visiting former West Pakistan as an art student and being inspired by the locale and the historical buildings of Lahore and Peshawar.
Another compelling individual I met in my Dhaka discovery was Ibrahim, a rickshaw puller who spoke fluent English and narrated his life story as we searched for the courier office. Hailing from a village in the north, Ibrahim learned English in Dhaka and worked at the British Council before fate relegated him once again to rickshaw work. He was a cheerful, chatty person who was keen to show me all sites of interest, including the not-so-respectable spots. The other rickshaw-wallahs whose services I hired also chanted “Pakistan bhai hai” perhaps for a generous service fee.
While I did not venture outside the capital and drive through the green vistas and sprawling rice fields, I know there will be a next time. The people of what was once East and West Pakistan are not far from reclaiming a common heritage, transforming the shared history into a positive partnership that builds on a person-to-person bond rather than on diplomatic or official niceties. This is the chance Faiz once longed for.
And so crushed was the heart that though it wished it found no chance –
after the entreaties, after the despair – for us to quarrel once again as old friends.
[Translation by Agha Shahid Ali]
Raza Rumi is an international development professional and an avid literati. He blogs at Jahane Rumi where this was originally posted.
Bangladesh outperforms Pakistan in FY 09
THE performance of Bangladesh economy was better than that of Pakistan in the last fiscal year ending in June 2009. Whereas Pakistan’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth plunged to two per cent from 4.1 per cent a year before, Bangladesh’s economy grew 5.9 per cent, only slightly lower than 6.2 per cent a year ago.
Pakistan’s economic growth came to a near halt in fiscal year (FY) 09 not only as a result of the international financial crisis followed by overall contraction in global economy but also because of some domestic and structural problems. These included a war on terror launched by Pakistan’s law enforcement agencies in North Western Frontier Province, bordering Afghanistan, and the resultant displacement of some three million people from their home towns. Both the war on terror as well as rehabilitation of internally displaced people or IDPs consumed a big chunk of the government’s financial resources, thus widening the fiscal deficit. What else led to overshooting of the fiscal deficit from the targeted 4.3 per cent to 5.2 per cent of GDP included over-sized federal and provincial governments, reckless spending by the ruling class, less-than targeted revenue generation and a 20.8 per cent inflation that increased the cost of everything. The government made desperate borrowings from the State (central) Bank of Pakistan to plug in the gaps between its income and expenses and that further fuelled inflation. The central bank made no big efforts to force the government to keep its borrowings within the targeted limits by downsizing the government and by reducing the non-development expenses.
On the other hand, as Bangladesh’s economy posted a handsome growth of 5.9 per cent it helped in keeping the fiscal deficit at 3.0 per cent of GDP-one percentage point below the target. Naturally then, the element of borrowing from the central bank as a key reason for higher inflation was missing in case of Bangladesh. But as tax revenues of Bangladesh slipped 20 basis points to 8.2 per cent of GDP the country was no better, rather worse, than Pakistan where tax revenue to GDP stood around 9.0 per cent. The tax-to-GDP ratios of both countries are much lower than what they should be to put the South Asian nations on a sustainable growth path and enable them to increase development spending, create enough jobs and contain poverty.
Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation in Pakistan accelerated 20.8 per cent in FY09-almost three times the CPI inflation of 6.66 per cent experienced in Bangladesh. Part of the explanation for a lower inflation in Bangladesh has been offered in the foregoing lines but a full explanation must also include the difference in the incidence of imported inflation in both countries. In most part of the FY09 food prices remained high in the international market and food importing countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh fell victims to imported inflation on this count.
But whereas in Pakistan imports of non-essential items continued albeit at a slower pace, Bangladesh’s imports of such items did not constitute a big part of the country’s overall import bill. And more importantly, since Pakistan ranked some notches below in governance, the inability of the government to ensure a fair inter-play of market forces also fuelled inflation at a pace faster than in Bangladesh. The Competition Commission of Pakistan-the country’s watchdog on corporate inter-market behaviour-and a very vocal media and strong judiciary all played their part in checking malpractices of the business community but a weak political will and strong political links of business tycoons kept stoking inflation through cartel making and hoarding.
Finally, the monetary policy stance of the State Bank of Pakistan and Bangladesh Bank also differed with the former opting for a loose stance in most part of FY09 to spur economic growth and the later sticking to a tight monetary policy to check inflation.
In FY09 Bangladesh also witnessed a relative stability in exchange rates whereas in Pakistan exchange rates remained volatile in most part of the year. Whereas the taka depreciated less than one per cent in the whole of FY09 Pakistani rupee lost more than nineteen per cent of its value against the US dollar. This huge decline in the rupee value increased local currency cost of Pakistan’s foreign debt and liabilities as well as the cost of foreign debt servicing. This further squeezed the already narrow base of domestic financial resources of the country forcing it to borrow heavily from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other multilateral lending agencies as well as from some friendly nations like the USA, China and Saudi Arabia. Bangladesh had no such compulsion.
A massive decline in the rupee value also resulted in a greater share of imported inflation into overall CPI inflation in Pakistan whereas Bangladesh’s inflation remained relatively low also because of the near-absence of imported inflation.
Going forward, Bangladesh’s economy looks set to outperform Pakistan’s also in the current fiscal year. Key indicators show Bangladesh’s real sector as well as external sector would perform far better than those of Pakistan.
If the government and the central bank of Bangladesh undertake a study showing how Bangladesh’s economy has performed in the last few years vis-à-vis Pakistan, it would reveal some strengths of Bangladesh and boost their confidence. At the same time, if the government of Pakistan and its central bank conduct a similar study it would expose some weaknesses of Pakistan economy, which if overcome immediately, would help Islamabad regain some of the lost grounds and prepare it for remaining ahead of Bangladesh in terms of economic progress.
But it seems whereas Bangladesh is still shy of comparing its economy with that of Pakistan, Pakistan is too complacent to compare its performance with a country like Bangladesh. This approach is removed from realities on ground. As a humble student of economics and as an economic journalist, I can say with a degree of certainty that the two countries need to compare their economic performance year after year for a healthy competition. That is in the interest of both.
Consider, for example, the phenomenal growth in workers’ remittances of Bangladesh that has been higher than those of Pakistan for the last four years. And even during the current fiscal year, Bangladeshis living abroad have been sending larger amounts of remittances back home than overseas Pakistanis. Pakistan’s media has not even highlighted this phenomenon so far let alone discuss in detail the reasons that have led to this situation. On the other hand, media in Bangladesh has also not been reporting comparative inflows of foreign exchange back home from overseas Bangladeshis and Pakistanis to boost the morale of Bangladeshis living abroad and increasing the confidence of Bangladeshi citizens in their own economy.
Similarly, the fact that Bangladeshi taka has become stronger than the Pakistani rupee finds no space in Pakistani media and I do not see enough discussions taking place on this subject even in Bangladeshi media. We, the south Asians, have been talking about integrating our economic activities for years but so far we have not even decided which country needs to compare its economic performance against which. India is an economic giant. The entire SAARC region minus India stands no match to it. But at least the economic managers of Pakistan and Bangladesh can initiate the process of comparing their performance to rebuild their confidence in their strengths and to overcome their structural weaknesses.
The writer is a freelance Pakistani journalist. He can be reached at Mohiuddin.Aazim@Gmail.Com
The writer of this article talks about Bangla martyrs.What about the martyrs of the Pakistan army whose graves are not even marked there.They fought an invading army.They fought for the solidarity of Pakistan.So many of them were slaughtered in cold blood along with their families.It pains me when all of that is ignored by people who are themselves Pakistanis.Ask those who have suffered to keep Pakistan together.Ask the families of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in what was then East Pakistan.Ask those who still bear the scars.
“Advantages of Creation of Bangladesh to Pakistan”.
M.Akram Khan Niazi, Pakistan
Usually smaller Parts of a country having extraordinary resources tries to break away from the mainland to take the maximum advantage of their resources for their advantage, and to protect themselves from the drain of their resources to majority or dominant section of the country, but in case of Pakistan Majority Part on the basis of population, which was also having scare resources, separated from the other part, Generally, it is regarded as an unfortunate event for Pakistan by people of Pakistan, and no Pakistani tries to see other side of the coin of that event for analysis of the benefits achieved to them by this event
The reason of this is that all literature about that event has been written by those who were living in East Pakistan and they suffered personally by this event, due to which they always indicate their miseries and losses and forget to explain the advantages of that event to whole Pakistani Nation. Therefore, it is necessary to see the real results of this event. With the separation of East Pakistan, following advantages were achieved to Pakistan.
1. Economical
•Separation of Bangladesh was as much beneficial for Pakistan as separation of Pakistan from India.
•As the part of world in which East Pakistan was situated, was having limited resources, and many poor areas of subcontinent are situated in that part, such as Bihar , Assam ,West Bengal, Burma and Bhutan. Technically it was not in the interest of Pakistan, to keep itself attached with East Bengal(Historically one of the most poorest area of subcontinent) .In fact Pakistan after separation saved its future from economic burden of poverty ridden Bangladesh,
• Huge Population and scare resources of East Bengal were clear Indicators, that there will be no extraordinary progress in future in that province and no sensible person may think that it was valuable for Pakistan to keep itself attached with most poverty ridden part of this region.
•Being a part of East Pakistan, rulers were forcing to West Pakistani citizens to become a market of East Pakistan’s low quality Products, such as Tea, Pans and jute on artificial high prices on the name of Patriotism, while now such type high quality Products may be purchased from other countries on very low prices.
•After separation of Bangladesh, it was possible for Pakistan to make its economic policies without having any concern of interests of a far situated part.
•Pakistan Economic Managers relieved themselves from the Economic restrictions due to economic interest of East Bengal. That situation was as much harmful, as today Pakistan start to take care of the economic interest of Myanmar or West Bengal; it is certain that such type situation will be disastrous for Pakistan.
•With the analysis of economic situation of present day Pakistan and Bangladesh, shows that Pakistan GDP and Foreign currency reserves are double than that of Bangladesh and Electricity production is also 5 times more. It is obvious, that separation was much more in the interest of Pakistan, Because, the only solution of the Disparity between two parts, was to serve the Bangladesh with the resources of West Pakistan. Otherwise there was no other magic solution to address that disparity.
•It is still obvious that, there is still no charm in having trade links with countries of South Asia, because it is not in the economic interest of Pakistan, instead of that we should focus on rich and developed areas such as China, Middle East, Far East, Europe and USA.
2. Political Advantages.
•Due to extraordinary majority of Bengali Population, it was not possible for any province of West Pakistan to become equivalent to that majority any time in future, and it was certain that representatives of Provinces of West Pakistan will always remain in opposition in assemblies as per modern time democracy principles, this was really a frightening situation and the People of Pakistan were going to be ruled by any ethnocentric Bengali Leader or by any Bengali Military dictator for ever.
•Due to Bengali nationalism and ethnocentrism, on the basis of which People of Bangladesh were victimizing the Urdu Speaking Muslim refugees from India and that is still continue, and their Ethnic Cleansing with aborigines people of CHT, were clearly indicating that people of that area were not sincere and aware of the Ideology of Pakistan, in fact attachment of Pakistan with East Bengal was self deception and nothing else.
•Due to agitation style and different culture, the politicians of East Pakistan were always blaming Pakistan for their problems and exploitations, while people of Pakistan were worried about deteriorating condition of people of East Pakistan due to poverty and natural disasters, and they were too much fed up with that situation as they were seeing no end of all this, as this thing was also harming the Basic Ideology of Pakistan, and therefore to get rid of this situation and to avoid baseless allegations it was necessary to separate that area(East Bengal) from Pakistan, and this was the main reason that West Pakistani Military Personnel, even having capability for defending that part decided very easily and conveniently to end their any relation with that land on the basis of the facts that they were tired of all those messy affairs.
• Due to separation of East Pakistan, Pakistan saved itself and its ideology from baseless criticism of Bengalese Politicians, and now on real grounds they are blaming each other for their problems.
•With the separation of Bangladesh, Pakistan Islamic Ideology became more prominent with the introduction of Islamic laws and future scenario of Pakistan became much more firmed with the conversion of population ratio to 98 % Muslims, while with Bangladesh, presence of Huge Hindu minority was having adverse effects on the ideological progress of the country.
3. Security Advantages:
As East Pakistan was situated in the abdomen and inside the body of India and thousand miles away from West Pakistan, India was using this factor for blackmailing and pressurizing Pakistan from the beginning, In fact burden of huge population of East Bengal was loaded on West Pakistan to make Pakistan a crippled and failed state by Indian National Congress. India used that part as a button for keeping under pressure to Pakistan in 1947, in war of 1965 and again in 1970 with policy to occupy large chunk of land in East Pakistan. Due to 1000 miles distance between both parts and that also filled by enemy land, in such worst scenario even maintaining contacts between security forces and their mobility was in fact a difficult, expensive and life taking task, accompanied with wastage of huge resources, ultimately resulting in weakening of Defense forces and economy of the country. By separation of East Bengal, Pakistan was able to get rid of its weak point which was a most easy and favorite target of India. Due to that now Pakistan Defense is more strong and protected as compared to vulnerable and weak position before 1971.
4. Social Advantages:
•With the separation of Bengal flow of population from densely populated Bangladesh to parts of West Pakistan stopped, which was a good development for the culture and social set up of West Pakistan.
•Due to two national languages, Cultural evolution of the people of West Pakistan was stopped and their local languages were dying, with the separation of Bangladesh, that process was stopped.
•After separation of Bangladesh huge jobs opportunities were raised for people of different provinces of West Pakistan in both Federal and Provincial Governments. Due to elimination of share of people of Bengalese in civilian Jobs, which resulted in an increase in participation of local population in the affairs of country, by this their sense of depriving was minimized.
•People of Bengal are usually dark skinned, while people of West Pakistan were of Fair Skinned, due to continuous flow of Bengalese from East Bengal was creating racial discomfort and fears in the mind of local populations, that by this they will become minority in their own provinces, specially in the case when Federal Government was encouraging Bengalese to rehabilitate in West Pakistan, By separation of East Bengal this process of migration was also stopped.
This is the reason that after separation of East Pakistan, Mr. Mujibur Rehman was immediately released by President Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, and he never expressed any regret about creation of Bangladesh.
Similarly once Prersident Zia-ul-Haq commented that freedom fighters of Bangladesh were in fact the freedom fighters of Pakistan, Now Bangladesh is a free country and Pakistan is also a free country.
It is crystal clear from all above mentioned facts that separation from Problematic East Bengal created new life and new freedom in Pakistan.
Written By M.Akram Khan Niazi.
Karachi,Pakistan
E.Mail :akrumniazi@hotmail.com
omer i like your sober programes
naseem khan
addpk7@hotmail.com please omer congratulation upon stone foundation on a new hospital for poor class in karachi, mention bank account for fund raising
warm regards
First of all I would like to thank Mr. Raza Rumi for writing such a divine article.
I was wondering around the WWW and suddenly my eye fell on this topic.
Both My Father and mother fought at the 1971 war and my brother-in-law is a Pakistani.
I won’t go for giving any full details but would just like to say as a Bangladeshi ” Let’s forgive and forget all our problems and move forward”.
Hope everyone didn’t mind my post.