President Ziaur Rahman, his Nationalist Foreign Policy and Its Enduring Relevance
Md. Atik Shariar Siam
May 30th, marks the death anniversary of President Ziaur Rahman. The name Ziaur Rahman immediately brings to mind the image of a dynamic leader who believed in actions over words. While Bangladesh has reaped numerous benefits from Ziaur Rahman’s brief tenure, a particularly significant aspect of his rule was the shift from previous foreign policies to one rooted in his nationalist ideas. This had far-reaching implications in various aspects of Bangladesh.
In modern liberal democratic state systems, foreign policy is akin to the brain of the human body. Just as a healthy brain is essential for the human body to function, an effective foreign policy is crucial for a nation's survival in the current global political landscape. An effective foreign policy determines how a country will foster cooperation and achieve progress through economic, social, political, and cultural relations with other nations. Factors such as a country's geographical location, internal environment, political situation, the will and foresight of its leaders, public opinion, economic prosperity, and military capability all play a determining role in shaping foreign policy. Since its birth, Bangladesh, as a nation, has pursued different foreign policies under various administrations, adapting to diverse realities.
After the glorious Liberation War of 1971, the nascent state of Bangladesh, under its first head of state Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, adopted a foreign policy of "friendship to all, malice to none." This was intended to maintain balance during the then-Soviet-American Cold War and between the two blocs. However, the Sheikh Mujib government failed to maintain this balance. As a result, Bangladesh became trapped, like a soldier in a 'Chakravyuh' (a complex military formation), within the Indo-Soviet sphere, unable to find a way out.
For Bangladesh, the trapped soldier, President Ziaur Rahman emerged as the savior Arjuna, wielding his Gandiva-like Bangladeshi nationalism. To instill a sense of oneness with Bangladesh among all citizens, regardless of religion or ethnicity, he championed a state-centric Bangladeshi nationalism, integrating culture, language, history, and tradition, instead of the narrow language-based Bengali nationalism. He then founded the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). While many then, and even now, consider BNP a "king's party," the emergence of such a political party was crucial for the country's welfare, filling a political vacuum and responding to the prevailing political realities. There was a reason behind his nationalist philosophy. After coming to power in 1977, he realized that amid the country's chaotic situation, national unity was the only alternative to confront internal and external conspiracies and keep the nation afloat in the international political arena. Thus, for the greater good of the nation, he united all factions, setting aside ideological and political conflicts. He ensured freedom of the press. However, he faced criticism for the strict measures taken during his time as army chief, though his objective was to protect the nation's sovereignty.
Regardless, Ziaur Rahman immediately enforced national cohesion, a prerequisite for a strong foreign policy. He not only allowed religious political parties to re-enter politics but also provided the Awami League, which had been virtually banned in post-1975 Bangladesh, the opportunity to return to the political arena. He facilitated Sheikh Hasina's return to the country.
Let's come to the main point. Zia's foreign policy was a shining example of both realism and liberalism, a rare phenomenon in the subcontinent's diplomatic landscape. He was a realist in safeguarding national interests and a follower of liberal principles in economic diplomacy.
At the core of his foreign policy was the welfare of the nation. Regarding the protection of national interests in foreign policy, former British Prime Minister Lord Palmerston famously said, "Britain has no eternal friends, no eternal enemies; only eternal interests." Ziaur Rahman was a staunch believer in this principle in his foreign policy. Nothing was paramount to him except the national interest of Bangladesh.
Ziaur Rahman’s diplomatic astuteness influenced Banladesh's economy and politics in both national and international arenas in three ways: First, by adding a new dimension to regional diplomacy; second, by achieving the nation's economic liberation; and finally, by establishing a strong international position for the country through the blossoming of Zia's creative genius.
Neighboring states witnessed a new form of Bangladesh in regional diplomacy during Zia's brief rule. After achieving national cohesion internally, Zia became popular across the country through charismatic initiatives like canal digging and his 19-point program. He then applied realism to the regional diplomatic arena. Since independence, Bangladesh has been seen as a mere pawn in the India-Soviet game. Zia shattered this notion. As a torchbearer of nationalist ideology, he traveled to South Asian countries, infecting them with his positive mindset and vision for South Asia's political and economic future. It was in this context that SAARC was launched in 1985. Ziaur Rahman recognized the importance of forming SAARC in 1977-78 to curb India's hegemony in South Asia, establish peace, and ensure the economic liberation of South Asian countries. This demonstrates how far ahead of his time his thoughts were.
It was due to Zia's foreign policy that the India-Bangladesh relationship moved beyond dominance and subordination, evolving into one of equality, respect, and interdependence. Many diplomatic analysts criticize Zia's India policy as a neighbor. However, during Zia's tenure, relations between the two countries were characterized by mutual respect and self-esteem. Several state-level visits between the two countries took place during his time. Ziaur Rahman himself visited India and received a warm reception. When India abruptly halted the flow of Ganges water during Zia's rule, Ziaur Rahman raised the issue at the Non-Aligned Movement conference and the 31st session of the United Nations General Assembly, successfully putting international pressure on India. Consequently, the five-year India-Bangladesh Ganges Water Sharing Agreement was signed in Dhaka in 1977 in the presence of then-Indian Prime Minister Morarji Desai. Furthermore, Ziaur Rahman's government successfully repatriated Rohingya refugees from Myanmar. Another success of his foreign policy was establishing good relations with socialist China, alongside the capitalist Western bloc.
Alongside regional stability, paving the way for the nation's economic liberation was another feather in President Ziaur Rahman's foreign policy cap. Ziaur Rahman fostered strong relationships with the capitalist Western world and wealthy Muslim countries for the overall economic development of the nation. In the eyes of the international community, Bangladesh transformed from a "bottomless basket" caught in the India-Soviet sphere into a friendly nation to economic powerhouses like Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries, Western nations, and China. This benefited the people of the country.
Under Ziaur Rahman, the Bangladeshi economy broke free from the old shackles of the socialist economic system and entered a dynamic liberal democratic economic system. The Ziaur Rahman government encouraged domestic and foreign investors at both public and private levels and ensured an environment conducive to investment. America, its Western allies, and China lined up to invest in Bangladesh. It was during this period that the country's garment industry began its journey. To attract the attention of wealthy Muslim countries and achieve economic victory diplomatically, a new clause was added to the foreign policy in Article 25 of the Constitution, declaring brotherhood with Muslim countries, and Bangladesh emerged as an important state in the Muslim world at that time.
The establishment of good relations with the Middle East opened the door for manpower export to these countries. Even today, the garment industry, manpower export, and expatriate remittances are the main driving forces of the country's economy. And in this, the far-sighted foreign policy of President Ziaur Rahman is undeniable.
Muslim countries poured in aid at that time. The amount of aid received from 1971-75 was 764 million taka, which rose to almost 4,000 million in the early 1980s. Almost all Arab countries provided financial assistance to Bangladesh at that time. Saudi Arabia's aid amounted to $10 million in 1971-75, which surged to $5,541.8 million in 1976-82. Therefore, it is clear that Ziaur Rahman's Middle East diplomacy was successful.
Ziaur Rahman keenly understood that for a developing nation like Bangladesh, economic liberation couldn't solely rely on support from Muslim countries. Assistance from capitalist economies was essential. Thus, he initiated efforts to improve relations with Western nations and achieved remarkable success. While the previous Sheikh Mujib government might have considered this, they couldn't break free from the Soviet-India bloc—a bold move Zia dared to make. Between 1976 and 1978, Bangladesh received approximately $735 million in financial aid from the United States alone. Under Ziaur Rahman's leadership, Bangladesh's economy expanded several times over its previous size. Through liberal economic policies, Zia ushered in a new era for the nation's economy. The populace, ravaged by the 1974 famine, witnessed their fortunes change under his visionary leadership.
Finally, let's look at President Ziaur Rahman's successes in foreign policy on the international stage.
The blend of a liberal democratic environment and Zia's far-sighted leadership propelled Bangladesh's image to global prominence. Thanks to strong ties with Muslim countries, Bangladesh secured its support at the 1978 OIC Foreign Ministers' Conference for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council. Competing against Japan, Bangladesh was successfully elected, an unprecedented diplomatic achievement for a Third World country. The crucial role played by Bangladesh's brave soldiers in peacekeeping missions today finds its genesis in this very accomplishment.
Bangladesh also became a member of the Al-Quds Committee, formed to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in the Middle East. Furthermore, it joined the OIC delegation formed to mediate an end to the Iran-Iraq war. These were extraordinary successes for the nation's diplomatic corps. To this day, Bangladesh has not found a representative of Zia's caliber on the international stage.
Ziaur Rahman was a common man, and thus, he was naturally not above making mistakes. However, he possessed a clear vision: to prioritize national interest and the welfare of his people at any cost. This is why Zia remains relevant even today, as does his concept of Bangladeshi nationalism. He resonates with the aspirations of hopeful farmers, laborers, and daily wage earners of the Third World, commanding the respect of politically aware Gen-Z, and standing tall as a consummate statesman.
The writer is a student, Department of International Relations, University of Rajshahi
