Nobody now refutes the proposition that India in engineering dismemberment of Pakistan in 1971, had really aimed at taking a step forward to re-establish united India. In view of her said goal, India ensured right from 1971 that Bangladesh does not become a strong country. India wants that Bangladesh should remain a nominally independent country like Bhutan and Sikkini which could be occupied later by India when she desires. In furtherance of the said aim India had forced the 1971 Interim Government of Bangladesh to sign a treaty of subservience. One of the clauses of the treaty was that Bangladesh will not raise any Armed Forces of its own. Indians had told the then Interim Government in exile that Bangladesh does not need an 'Army' because she is surrounded on three sides by India and the other side by natural sea. Since India was a friendly country, therefore, there will be ne danger of an aggression by her. If any other power resorts to an aggression against Bangladesh, Indian Army would defend Bangladesh, they advised that for internal security Bangladesh should raise a militia force.
That is why Rakhi Bahini was formed after creation of Bangladesh. When Sheikh Mujib still decided to raise national Army it was opposed by India. However, he decided to go ahead with the raising of the Army despite India's opposition. Thus a small Army was raised comprising of soldiers of Pakistan Army who had taken part in freedom struggle.
Later most of the army personnel repatriated from Pakistan in 1973 were also enrolled in Bangladesh Army.
RAW apprehended that if Bangladesh succeeds in building powerful Armed Forces, it will become difficult for India to realize her dream about merger of the new country into India. The Indians knew well about the courage and skill of the Bengali army men. The experience gained during -the liberation war was an additional asset for Bangladesh Army. Indian policy planners concluded that even small Bangladesh Army might in future pose a threat to their aggressive designs.
Indian designs against Bangladesh Army were evident from the very beginning. They did not leave any military equipment captured from Pakistan Army in the then East Pakistan.
In this regard the Daily Meillat reported, "The Indians took away the abandoned military hardwares(tanks, artillery, guns etc.) worth Taka 80,000 million of the Pakistan Army's Eastern Command in order for materialization of their goal i.e. not to permit Bangladesh Army to grow strong(Daily Meillat : May 26, 1993).When Indians realized that Sheikh Mujib is determined to raise an Army in defiance of the treaty signed by Interim Bangladesh Government and India, they encouraged a dissident party to take up the issue of raising a people's Army or 'Gano Bahini'. The dissident leaders started propagating that Bangladesh does not require a regular professional Army. They labeled the Army as God's Khasi (castrated of God). They organised so-called 'Revolutionary Soldier's Council' to realise the goal of 'Scientific Socialism'. It was actually formed to create division and disunity among the rank and file of the Armed Services.
Soon after the change over of 1975 some cadres of Gono Bahini attempted to create chaos and lawlessness in the country. RAW also stage-managed fake kidnapping in Dhaka of Mr Samor Sen, the then Indian High 90mmissioner in Bangladesh. The aim was to create plausible excuse for India to move in Indian Army into Bangladesh. However, the 'kidnapping' drama did not go too far and thus Bangladesh was saved from direct Indian aggression. After coming to power the late President Ziaur Rahman re-organized the Armed Forces. He gave them an honourable position in the society. But RAW did its best to obstruct him. That is the reason for so many coups staged against Ziaur Rahman.
He was killed in the 19th coup attempt. Although apparently the coups were aimed at ousting Zia but the ultimate goal was to weaken or liquidate the Armed Forces.
RAW engineered conspiracies to divide rank and file of the Bangladesh Army in various groups. The division between 'Freedom Fighters' and 'Repatriated' was fuelled to pave way for internal strife and disintegration. RAW has also been endeavoring to project Bangladesh Army as'anti-people'. During the peak period of anti-Ershad movement, RAW spread a rumour that the Army was supporting Ershad. The rumor was aimed at damaging the popularity of the Armed Forces of Bangladesh.In order to protect country's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity there is no substitute to adequately strong Armed Forces. If Sikkim had an effective and strong Army she would not have been occupied and annexed by India.On the other hand Srilanka could withstand Indian pressure because she has her own effective Army .The Maldives, on the contrary, had to seek Indian Army's help to drive out Indian henchmen from Maldives, because she had no Armed Forces of her own.
Bangladesh must have its own Army not only to thwart aggression from abroad but also to quell internal troubles and rebellions. The credit goes to valiant Bangladesh Army for checking nefarious designs of Shanti Bahini. If Bangladesh did not have an effective Army, Indian supported Chakma insurgents might well have succeeded in dividing the country. Similarly Indian Army would have marched into Bangladesh on any flimsy pretext. The need for strong Army is further highlighted by growing internal threats supported by- India in form of secessionist movements in Bangladesh in the name and style of Jhumland, Hinduland (Bangabhumi) and Garoland etc.
However, the RAW sponsored henchmen have been unleashing constant propaganda against the Armed Forces primarily on financial grounds. Every year before the presentation of budget, discussion starts in newspapers calling for reduction of military expenditure. While need for increasing budgetary provisions for education and health is acknowledged, such increase cannot be made at the cost of Armed forces. Appropriate military expenditure is necessary if country's existence and sovereignty are to be safeguarded. Everything else comes after the safety of the state.
Let us now have a look at comparisons between defence expenditures ofJndia and Bangladesh published in Daily Sangram. "India's population size and economy are both seven and a half times larger than that of Bangladesh. But her defence spending is 23 times higher than that of Bangladesh. It is, therefore, a matter of simple arithmetic that our military expeJ1r1iture should be increased three-fold to match the Indian expenditure.
The defence expenditute of Bangladesh in 1995-96 was increased only 2.5% over the previous year. India in contrast increased her defence expenditure by 18% in 1995--:96 over the last year's expenditure"(Daily Sangram : June. 23, 1995).
India is one of the poorest countries of the world. 30% of Indian people live in slums or bastees.50% dwellers of Bombay, 45% of Delhi and 65% of Calcutta live in the slum areas. 90% of Indian children live in malnutrition. 50% of Indian youth suffer from energy deficiency due to malnutrition. 216 million Indians do not have access to clean drinking water. 55 million children in India are engaged in child labour. 75% of the primary school going chilldern cannot afford to attend primary school due to extreme poverty. A World Bank report says "By the year 2000 A. D. the largest number of illiterates will live in India".
This poor country (India) has been building her military might and creating tension, rivalry and scare in the region. But RAW's stooges in Bangladesh are totally mum about it. If India agrees to cut her military expenditure, other regional countries will be too willing to reduce their military expenditure.Our defence forces are the protector and guardian of our independence. Despite RAW's. efforts, the Armed Forces are possibly the only institution in Bangladesh which have still remained relatively free of RAW's influence. ,But it does not mean that RAW has given up her designs against our Armed Forces.RAW has organised an elaborate espionage apparatus through its agents who are relentlessly trying to collect classified information and documents about our national defence. In the past many such RAW agents were arrested by police and our intelligence agencies. Here are a few examples. "Some RAW agents who were engaged in collecting maps and other secret documents of restricted area at Rajshahi have been arrested at Rajshahi. They include Sanjib Roy, Gaynath MandaI, Balram Mehata, Rampada Sardar and Ayazuddin. Most of them were hired to work for RAW man in the Indian Deputy High Commission at Rajshahi"(Daily Sangram : Decemebr 26, 1992).
"The police has arrested 5 persons for smuggling of valuabel state documents. Indian intelligence Agency RAW is believed to be involved"(Daily Sangram : December 11, 1992)."The law enforcing agencies have detained 10 persons including a former cabinet member of the deposed President Ershad in connection with a spy ring allegedly run by RAW. The agencies are looking for ,a number of other persons for their involvement in the smuggling of confidential documents of the country"(Daily New Nation: August 15, 1993)."A former Indian diplomat, M.r.GR Makashi was expelled from Bangladesh on June 6, 1993. Mr. Makashi, who earlier was First Secretary in Indian High Commission in Dhaka was reportedly expelled on the charge of espionage. and anti-state activities. A local newspaper reported that Mr. Makashi had returned to Dhaka after resigning from service. He set up a garment factory in Dhaka's posh Dhanmondi residential area in partnership with others. He was being kept under watch by police due to his suspicious activities"(The Hindu International: June 19, 1993).
Indian High Commission at Dhaka and Deputy High Commissions at Rajshahi and Chittagong serve as hubs for espionage activities against Bangladesh Armed Forces.
Besides, large scale trans-border espionage is also carried out by agents of Indian
Military Intelligence, Border Security Force Intelligence, Intelligence Bureau and.
notorious RAW as well. RAW's evil designs against Bangladesh Armed Forces are still continuing. We pray that this vital institution remains safe from RAW's menacing onslaught.
CHAPTER-28