Bangladesh withdrawal Plan from Chittagong Hill

-By Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal

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On President Obama's instructions, the US led terror forces have begun pulling out the troops from Iraq while keeping major chunks intact there for genoicde reasons. Death toll in Iraq alone has crossed one million innocent Muslims. Neocons are unhappy about the withdrawal process and wants Obama administration to halt the process citing the   future threats of Iraqis, Afghans and Pakistanis, and other Muslims.

For Hindu India Pakistan and Muslims are the "natural" enemies, while for Sunnis - the Shiites are the enemies. The "enemy" concept is deep rooted in national politics in all modern nations, especially in the so-called "democracies" that when the neglected sections seek justice they are also termed as enemies, national enemy, to be more specific, and any one defying the central dictates are targeted by the state for punishment leading even to elimination of the people concerned. Every nation is keen to showcase its military and police prowess to both the neighboring states and their own people.

Bangladesh has been criticized for its human rights record. Political tensions have spilled over into violence; hundreds of people have been killed in recent years. Attacks have targeted opposition rallies and public gatherings. Senior opposition figures have also been targeted. The rebels or the Shanti Bahini were fighting for greater autonomy in the mineral-rich Chittagong Hill Tracts, and to force the expulsion of Bengali-speaking immigrants, who were encouraged by successive governments to settle in tribal areas. The government had given a general amnesty to tribal insurgents in the Chittagong Hill Tracts who surrender their weapons after the peace treaty.

The pullout will be completed by September and is the "biggest" withdrawal of army troops from the Chittagong Hill Tracts since the government signed a peace treaty with the PCJSS in December 1997 when current premier Sheikh Hasina was last in power. A defence ministry statement said the troop withdrawal will start immediately and all the 35 camps under three infantry brigades will be completely wound up by end-September. The army said it would withdraw 2,100 troops from the hills, including three infantry battalions, and would dismantle 35 security camps in the three hill districts, but did not say how many troops would remain. The Bangladeshi media say that over 300 security camps in the area will remain after the first phase of withdrawal - they are expected to be pulled out in phases.

The announcement by the armed forces to remove a large number of troops from the Chittagong Hill Tracts, which borders Myanmar, came after a two-decade uprising for autonomy by tribes ended in 1997. An ex-tribal leader in Bangladesh's southeastern hill region Ushatan Talukder, former chief of the military wing of the Parbattya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity (PCJSS) welcomed the move by the army to withdraw troops from the area, 12 years after a peace deal was signed. He hoped for a complete withdrawal in future, said: "We hope after the implementation of this partial withdrawal, the army will pull out the remaining troops in a bid to restore total peace and normalcy in the hills." In the 1997 peace pact, the government promised regional councils and a complete withdrawal of troops. Although councils were set up, the Samity is unhappy that thousands of troops have not left the region. It does not give sufficient autonomy and unrest in the area has continued. When Hasina's government was ousted in 2001, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party government which took over halted implementation of the agreement.

Bangladesh is one of the world's most densely populated countries, with its people crammed into a delta of rivers that empties into the Bay of Bengal. Poverty is deep and widespread; almost half of the population lives on less than one dollar a day.. The major employer is agriculture, but it is unable to meet the demand for jobs. Thus many Bangladeshis - in common with citizens from other countries in the region - seek work abroad, sometimes illegally. The country is trying to diversify its economy, with industrial development a priority. Overseas investors have pumped money into manufacturing and the energy sector. Some international energy companies are involved in the gas sector. Onshore and offshore gas reserves hold out some chance of future prosperity. There has been a debate about whether the reserves should be kept for domestic use or exported.  Antagonism between the Awami League, which governed until July 2001, and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party reflects personal animosity between their leaders rather than substantial ideological differences.

Formerly East Pakistan, Bangladesh came into being only in 1971, when the two parts of Pakistan split after a bitter civil war which drew in neighboring India. The low-lying country is vulnerable to flooding and cyclones and it stands to be badly affected by predicted rises in sea levels. In exile, Awami League leaders proclaim the independence of the province of East Pakistan on 1971, 26th March. The new country is called Bangladesh. Just fewer than 10 million Bangladeshis flee to India as troops from West Pakistan are defeated with Indian assistance.. In 1975 Sheikh Mujib becomes president of Bangladesh. In 1977 General Zia Rahman assumes the presidency. Islam was adopted in the constitution. Islam becomes state religion in 1988 under President General Ershad.

In 2000 September, Sheikh Hasina criticized military regimes in a UN speech, prompting Pakistani leader General Musharraf to cancel talks with her. Relations strained further by row over leaked Pakistani report on 1971 war of independence and later in 2000 December, Bangladesh expelled Pakistani diplomat for comments on the 1971 war further complicating the bilateral tries. This helped India to strengthen its hold in Bangladesh to control its policies. In 2001 October - Hasina loses at polls to Khaleda Zia's Nationalist Party and its three coalition partners. This led to improved ties with Pakistan. 2002 July - Pakistani President Musharraf visits; expresses regret over excesses carried out by Pakistan during 1971 war of independence. But - The Awami League alliance led by former PM Sheikh Hasina wins a landslide victory in general elections 2008 December, capturing more than 250 of 300 seats in parliament. Once again India gets back its large space Bangladesh power politics and tries to control the Dhaka policies.

One does not now if Obama's action has influenced Hasina also, but her government has announced withdrawal of the troops from the troubled Chittagong Hill. On its positive side, after killing more than 8,500 people during the last 20-year insurgency, Bangladesh has finally also decided to pull out troops from the south-eastern hill region, 12 years after signing a peace deal with tribal insurgents. A brigade of troops comprising of three infantry battalions and 35 security camps would soon be withdrawn from the Chittagong Hill Tracts and this will be the "biggest army withdrawal" from the area ever since the peace deal in 1997. The troop withdrawal would proceed in a step by step manner, if the government really removes all troops.

Bangladesh is les serious about Islamization than Pakistan and as a result there have conflicting scenarios in the country. The decision to withdraw or reduce troops in Chittagong Hill could be seen as a step to overhaul the domestic and foreign policies of Bangladesh. The "biggest" army withdrawal from the Chittagong Hill Tracts has been ordered by the present regime headed by Sheikh Hasina. One does not, however, read too much from the regime's verbal gesture that every thing is normal in Bangladesh now. The decision needs to be implemented in full first. Even as the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and the Bangladesh Jamat e Islami continue to claim that the elections were rigged by the ruling Awami League, Bangladesh continues to be in chaos. The "democratic polls" do not solve all ailments of an Islamic nation if Shari'a, for whatever reaons, is neglected or ignored there.

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Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal

Specialist on State Terrorism

Independent Researcher in International Affairs, The only Indian to have gone through entire India, a fraud and terror nation in South Asia.