diplomacy

Revival of Cold War scenario will endanger world peace
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Revival of Cold War scenario will endanger world peace

Published in the Weekly Holiday on April 18, 2018

The Second Cold War began with the Ukraine crisis. During 1989 and 1990, the Berlin Wall came down; borders opened, and free elections ousted Communist regimes everywhere in eastern Europe. In late 1991 the Soviet Union itself dissolved into its component republics. Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union occurred on December 26, 1991 cold war with western countries came to an end. But aggressive policy adopted by former KGB officer turned politician President Vladimir Putin of Russian Federation, to expand territories to the former Soviet Union he has been isolated gradually from western countries. His first attempt was to interfere in Georgia in 2008 in spite of siding by the United States with Georgia while Russia recognized break away South Ossetia and Abkhazia on the pretext of saving Russians.

Putin also annexed Crimea Peninsula of Ukraine in March of 2014 without firing a shot violating international agreement. These are glaring example indeed in violation of agreements by Russian Federation. In spite of strong protest from western countries President Vladimir Putin did not return Crimea Peninsula to Ukraine which caused him to expel from G-8 industrial group. Relations between United States and Russia further deteriorated during Bush presidency when US recognized breakaway province Kosovo of Serbia on 18 February of 2008 but Kremlin was against recognition of Kosovo.

Instead, President Vladimir Putin has shown his muscle encouraging Russian origin Ukraine to declare autonomous eastern part of Ukraine as separate entity bordering with Russian Federation by assisting them with weapons and dispatching soldiers surreptitiously around the border. As a result, Russia’s membership with NATO stands suspended while some countries around Russian Federation included in NATO instead of protest from Russian Federation. Russia considers expansion of NATO in former Eastern Europe is a violation of western commitment. Russia was in fact incensed when Poland, Hungry, the Czech Republic and Baltic states were joined in NATO in mid 1990.

In spite of adverse trend immediate past President Barak Obama had initiated reset relations with Russian Federation following his meeting with former President of Russian Federation Medvedev in July of 2009 in Kremlin but the invasion of Ukraine and interference in civil war in Syria has spoiled the goodwill shown by President Barack Obama toward Russian Federation.

As of now, President Putin did not suffer serious consequences, but reportedly use of Russian made nerve gas known as Novichok against a double agent of Russia Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia Skirpal in London on 4 March of 2018 has caused serious repercussion around the world. Skirpal was arrested in Russia as a double agent in 2004 but settled in London following spy swap in 2010. Kremlin, however, denied the allegation. As a first step Prime Minister of Great Britain Theresa May has expelled 23 Russian diplomats while United States expelled 60 diplomats plus imposed fresh sanctions on 24 Russian firms and individuals to show solidarity with ally of UK. As of now 150 Russian diplomats plus several intelligence officers of Russia were expelled. Being a member of NATO Turkey has refused to follow the footprint of NATO member countries in expelling Russian diplomats. And as many as 23 British diplomats from Russia were expelled as tit for tat tactics.

(Read the Holiday dated March 30, 2018: International page; “Mass expulsion of Russian diplomats from U.S., EU, Canada” by Bill Van Auken).

Similarly, 60 diplomats of the United States faced similar tit for tat tactics by Kremlin. Kremlin also closed down US consulate in St. Petersburg in response to US decision of close down Russian consulate at Seattle. It may be noted that Seattle Russian consulate is near to US major nuclear submarine base and Russian intelligence activities have been noted. A state department spokesperson Heather Nauert is reported to have said on 29 March that we reserve the right to respond because Russia should not be acting like a victim and calling Kremlin’s “move regrettable and unwarranted.”

Having seen the action by Donald Trump administration against Russian Federation it is amazing to note that President Trump himself has made cautious reaction by saying, “the Skripal attack was a very sad situation and said,” it looks like Russians were behind it.” It remains a mystery to notice that President Donald Trump never criticized Vladimir Putin in spite of meddling in presidential election of the United States in 2016 while President Trump appears to have congratulated Vladimir Putin, Russian autocrat on his reelections on 18 March,2018 in spite of objection by his National Security adviser.

There was a popular uprising against Vladimir Putin throughout Russian Federation of his corruption and nepotism before presidential election, apart from jailing opposition leader Alexe Navalny and 15 others in January of this year. Protest rallies in one hundred cities of Russia took place in January. Some journalist and activists are reportedly lost their lives as a result of protests against the administration of Vladimir Putin. Many columnists in the United States reportedly described Putin’s phony election.

Although it is diplomatic successful maneuver by the British administration of Prime Minister Theresa May, but the expulsion of so many Russian diplomats by thirty countries Russia is increasingly isolated. The present scenario against Russian Federation does not speak well for global stability and peace.

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Humayun Kabir, a consummate diplomat

Published in the Weekly Holiday – August 4, 2017

Distinguished diplomat Ambassador Humayun Kabir, scion of the renowned Syed Mohallah of Fakirhat in Bagerhat district, has had a distinguished career as a student of Dacca University in its heyday.

During his student career in English department of Dacca University fellow students from different colleges and faculties of Dacca University flocked to English department to listen to debates participated by Humayun Kabir. His presentation and intonation in the debate was charming and illuminating indeed, apart from his handsome manly figure.
According to Ambassador Arshad-Uz Zaman, who served as first Director-General of External Publicity Division in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Assistant Secretary General of OIC in Jeddah,Humayun Kabir entered competitive examination in 1961 and came out with flying colour and completing his training in Fletcher School of Diplomacy in the United States, he joined Pakistan Foreign Service and was posted at Paris and London.

Ambassador Humayun Kabir also obtained post-graduation from Harvard University in 1962. Although this writer has had privilege to serve under him about two years in the External Publicity Division of Bangladesh Foreign Ministry as Assistant Director, but I met him in Pakistan Foreign office in Islamabad in December of 1970 in examination hall where I was among the thirty examinees for a post of Information officer in CENTO. Humayun Kabir’s assignment there was as invigilator. At that time he was serving as Deputy Chief of Protocol.

Having arrived in Bangladesh from Pakistan Humayun Kabir replaced Ambassador Faruk Ahmed Chowdhury as Chief of Protocol in 1972.Shortly Humayun Kabir replaced Arshad-Uz Zaman as Director General of External Publicity Division. During the period of 1972-1973 Bangladesh was humming with hectic days as many foreign dignitaries and foreign journalists were arriving to see charismatic leader Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and problems being faced following massive destruction of the country during the Liberation War. Ambassador Humayun Kabir turned out to be the best public relations personality in handling the international media personalities.

War ravaged country and unfounded rumour
Apart from reconstruction of the war ravaged country Bangladesh was faced with canards of killing Bihari on massive scale and famine in Bangladesh as a result of food crisis. Editor V.G Verghese of the Hindustan Times did not spare us from this canard. Both Ambassador Arshad-Uz Zaman and Ambassador Humayun Kabir in collaboration with Chief of Army Staff Maj-General K.M. Shafiullah briefed foreign journalists and took them to Bihari camps at Mohammadpur in Dhaka city. This writer undertook writings on the problem of Biharis which the Morning News carried out on 30 June of 1972, apart from briefing foreign journalists. Having published his impression V.G Verghese returned my article. His article which appeared on 8 July of 1972 mentioned that “Mujib government’s approach to it was a sad departure from the high idealism and humanitarianism that surrounded the birth of this new nation.”

This writer was assigned by Director-General Humayun Kabir to meet the needs of visiting foreign journalists, apart from organizing appointments with hierarchy, including Prime Minister Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Vice-Chairman of Planning commission, Food secretary and Home secretary.

Andre Malraux and Robert Payne
I would like to narrate briefly visits of three important personalities to Bangladesh. One was an intellectual giant and humanist of the century Andre Malraux of French philosopher, Novelist, warrior and Cultural Minister , another celebrated writer and novelist Robert Payne and Deputy Foreign Editor of London Times Richard Harris .
I was assigned to accompany Andre Malraux to Chittagong where he was given civic reception following according honorary citizenship by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman for his contribution towards Bangladesh Liberation War. Industrialist A.K. Khan entertained Andre Malraux at Kaptai Lake at his Yacht while Foreign Minister Dr.Kamal Hossain threw a gala dinner party in his honour at his official residence.

I spent two weeks with Robert Payne who interviewed Prime Minister Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Robert Payne also interviewed Professor Nurullah of Dacca Engineering and Technology University which was previously named after Nawab Ahsan Ullah. Nurullah recorded on film the massacres of students and teachers at Jaganath Hall of Dacca University.

This writer accompanied Robert Payne in his meeting with eminent nuclear scientist Dr. Anwar Hossain, who later on became Chairman of the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, and Deputy Chief of army Major General Ziaur Rahman.

I also accompanied with Robert Payne to meetings with different personalities, apart from visiting Kushtia which was described as thousand My Lai by World Bank and prison cell of Dhaka central Jail where Sheikh Mujibur Rahman spent most of his time during Pakistan regime. Major-General Ziaur Rahman, however, met Robert Payne at the office of Director-General Humayun Kabir in the Ministry of Foreign affairs. As directed by Foreign Secretary Enayet Karim I handed over book: Massacres by Robert Payne to Deputy Chief of Bangladesh army Major-General Ziaur Rahman two days ahead of meeting. Deputy Foreign Editor of London Times has had meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Mujibur Rahman while he was travelling to Gopalganj by helicopter and Professor Abdur Razzak of Dhaka University, an intellectual giant and Foreign Secretary Enayet Karim and Director-General Humayun Kabir as well. On his return to London Richard Harris wrote a letter to Director-General Humayun Kabir in which he praised my assistance in organizing meetings and trips.

My assigned booklets
I was assigned to prepare two important booklets, “Bangabandhu Speaks” and “Operation: Death and Destruction” to handle war crime trial. The last booklet was withdrawn following tripartite agreement which was signed in New Delhi on 9 April of 1974 among Bangladesh, India and Pakistan. Two more books, each on Road to Freedom and Geography of Bangladesh in collaboration of Geography department of Dacca University were published during the tenure of Director-General Humayun Kabir. Incidentally, Mr. Humayun Kabir became speech-writer of Foreign Minister Abdus Samad Azad.

During the visit of Dr. Henry Kissinger, Secretary of State under President Ford, to Bangladesh from 31 October to 1 November of 1974 a large number of journalists arrived to cover his visit. Director General Humayun Kabir hosted a dinner for the visiting news media at Hotel Intercontinental. As host officer I had to check preparation and receiving journalists. And for Humayun Kabir it was a grim situation for he lost his father on the same night while the party was still in progress.

Prime Minister of Pakistan Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto visited Bangladesh in 1974 at the invitation of Prime Minister of Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.Prime Minister hosted dinner in honour of Pakistan’s Prime Minister at Bangabhavan.And Humayun Kabir had the opportunity to demonstrate his brilliancy when he was asked by the Prime Minister to translate his after dinner speech. Humayun Kabir did it instantly. The audience including the visiting Prime Minister was spell bound at the way Humayun Kabir rendered the Bengali version of the speech in eloquent and articulate English. In 1974 Director-General Humayun Kabir possibly did not sleep well at night.

On many occasion this writer received telephone calls at midnight from Director-General Humayun Kabir about arrangement made for foreign correspondents to fly to North Bengal to see famine situation. On one occasion this writer joined them on helicopter flight to Khulna.

He presented credentials wearing Lungi, Panjabee and cane hat
Ambassador Humayun Kabir had established stunt in diplomatic arena by presenting credential to Imam Khomeini, supreme leader of Islamic Republic of Iran, as Bangladesh Ambassador. Instead of wearing western suit Humayun Kabir presented credential in 1979 wearing Lungi, Panjabee and cane hat to Imam Khomeini while presetting his credential to UN Secretary-General Perez de Culler in that dress in 1993. Ambassador Humayun Kabir drew the attention of western media widely while he faced criticism at home.

It may be worthwhile to mention that Bangladesh became non-permanent member of the UN Security Council by defeating Japan during the period of Bangladesh Nationalist Party under President Ziaur Rahman and as Deputy Permanent representative of Bangladesh Humayun Kabir covered Latin America to seek support for Bangladesh while Ambassador Arshad-Uz Zaman visited African states because both of them were linguist.
During the reign of Jatiya Party of Gen.Ershad, Humayun Kabir was made ineffective on personal grudge, so to say. Principal Humayun Kabir of Foreign Service Academy was made officer on special duty and academy was merged with Bangladesh Civil Service Academy at Shahbag in 1985. Humayun Kabir was made Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to UN in 1993 during the period of Bangladesh Nationalist Party. His last assignment was Ambassador to the United States of America during the rule of President Bill Clinton. He had a mark in projecting favourable image of Bangladesh and in the process developed friendly relations with President Bill Clinton.

Ambassador Humayun Kabir was an amiable personality and friendly who was a brilliant linguist. He used to speak French and Spanish. Possibly he was the only diplomat who was decorated with Order of Civil Merit by the Government of Spain.
Since his retirement Ambassador Humayun Kabir dedicated himself to the alleviation of poverty of the tribal people at Bandarban and involved himself in the programme of afforestation and self-reliance project for them. This writer understands he was planning to establish a cottage at Cox’s Bazar. Ambassador Humayun Kabir died of cerebral malaria on 16 June in 2001 at Chittagong Medical college hospital. May Allah grant eternal peace unto him in heaven.

[Mohammad Amjad Hossain, retired diplomat from Bangladesh and former President of Nova chapter of Toastmaster International Club of America, writes from Virginia. Email: amjad.21@gmail.com]

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Down the memory lane: Remembering Ambassador Nazrul Islam

A brilliant officer of Pakistan foreign service cadre joined Bangladesh foreign ministry on repatriation from Pakistan as Chief of Protocol in 1973 to replace Arshaduzzaman who was appointed Ambassador to Algeria. During his tenure as Chief of Protocol large number foreign dignitaries visited Bangladesh to see the newly emerged independent country following a bloody war of liberation.

The most important of those visitors was President Josef Broz Tito of Yugoslavia, who was one of the founder members of Non-Aligned Movement along with Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru of India, Soekarano of Indonesia and Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt. Yugoslav president was accompanied by a 90 member delegation, including foreign minister, defence minister and political secretary to the president. Josef Broz Tito and his personal staff members stayed in Bangabhavan while his ministers and other members of the delegation stayed in the state guest houses. The visit took place from 24-29 January 1973. This writer was in the foreign ministry’s external publicity division as an Assistant Director and his services used to be requisitioned by the Chief of Protocol when such dignitaries visited Bangladesh. During the visit I was located at Padma guest house as host officer to look after the delegation’s needs. I came to know from the Yugoslav defence minister that Tito’s birth day was on 26 January. To give him a surprise I arranged with guest house caretaker Harris to send a bouquet of flowers through the Yugoslav President’s political secretary Alexander Sarkorak next morning while he left for the Bangabhavan to say to the Yugoslav a happy birth day. For a few second he kept quiet and thanked me profoundly and invited me to visit Belgrade as his guest.

This event was reported to Chief of Protocol Nazrul Islam by Yugoslav President’s political secretary. After the departure of Yugoslav delegation Nazrul Islam gave briefings on the conduct of officers and arrangement made by the government. Nazrul Islam praised me eloquently for my initiative to give the bouquet of flowers to the most powerful man in Tito’s administration.

During the visit Tito invited Prime Minister Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to attend Non-Aligned summit in Algeria from 5-9 September of 1973.

The second important visitor was Pakistan’s prime minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, who came at the invitation of Bangladesh Prime Minister. During his visit I was again requisitioned by the Chief of Protocol and was posted at Bangabhavan. At one time the Chief of Protocol rushed to my allotted room and instructed to book a call to Sylhet Deputy Commissioner and ask him to find Kaiser Rashid Chowdhury, former foreign service officer who served as Private Secretary to Mr. Zulfiqar Bhutto when he was the foreign minister and send him to Dacca to participate in the talks with Bangladesh as instructed by Prime Minister Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Kaiser Rashid Chowdhury was attending the Kul Khani of his mother in Sylhet.

However, Kaiser Rashid Chowdhury flew to Dacca by next available Biman flight. Talks between Bangladesh and Pakistan were not successful on the question of asset sharing and taking back the Biharis from Bangladesh who opted for Pakistan.
Another important visitor was President Leopold Senghor of Senegal, a well known poet and statesman, from May 26—29 of 1974. I was placed as Protocol officer at Banghabavan as I spoke French. In his speech President Senghor praised Sheikh Mujibur Rahman for his steadfast courageous role for Bangladesh which had made him an institution. During state banquet I was assisting Madam Senghor. At the end of the visit President Leopold Senghor presented me a copy of his book: Nocturnes.

Chief of Protocol Nazrul Islam initiated letter of appreciation by Foreign Minister Dr. Kamal Hossain for working as protocol officers during the visit of a number of foreign dignitaries. I was one of the officers received appreciation letter from Foreign Minister Dr.Kamal Hossain. Nazrul Islam was in the habit of inviting me to accompany for lunch at his residence. On reaching the house his first duty was to enquire about his ailing mother if she was given medicine on time.

Incidentally, Nazrul Islam was a very good chess player. A chess board always remained on his desk in the office and whenever he managed some free time he tried to concentrate on a game of chess.

While serving as Ambassador in Kuwait, he was called back to headquarters to serve as Foreign Secretary in place of Mr. Fakhruddin Ahmad, who was in disagreement with President Gen. Ershad. Nazrul Islam joined on 9 May of 1987 as Foreign Secretary. During his tenure I was posted as First Secretary to Bangladesh embassy in Bucharest, Romania in July of 1987. In 1987 I was assigned to work in West Asia desk of Foreign Ministry because President Ershad decided to merge external publicity division of the foreign ministry with the ministry of information. That was another ill advised decision by President Ershad and it was reversed after he was deosed.

While I was serving as Deputy Director in Civil Service cum Foreign Service academy in Shahbagh in 1992, Nazrul Islam retired from foreign office. Actually, President Ershad had merged Foreign Service Academy with Civil Service Academy because of his personal grudge against then Principal of the Foreign Service Academy.

I decided to invite Ambassador Nazrul Islam for a talk on foreign policy for the benefit of the newly recruited foreign service officers. Nazrul Islam accepted my invitation and the officers who attended had appreciated his style of discussions. There was an evaluation system of guest lecturers by the newly recruited officers in the academy. This was strictly followed during the administration of Dr. Sadat Hossain, Director –General of Academy who retired as Chairman, Public Service Commission of Bangladesh.

While at the academy, I organized a seminar on climate change for the benefit of newly recruited foreign service officers in consultation with Dr. Fazlul Hasan Yusuf, Diector-Gerneral of the Academy who incidentally worked in Foreign Ministry at initial stage of the Ministry. Professor M. Aminul Islam of Geography Department of Dacca University presented the key note paper while Professor Dr. Ainun Nishat of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology and Dr. Atiq Rahman, Director, Bangladesh center for advanced studies were the discussants. Ambassador Nazrul Islam, former Foreign Secretary, presided.

While serving as Director in Europe desk in 1994 Ambassador Nazrul Islam used to drop in my office to have a chit chat over a cup of tea. Possibly in his mind he was thinking of serving as the country’s foreign minister which may have prompted him to join the Bangladesh Nationalist Party like Ambassador Rezaul Karim. Nazrul Islam had been maintaining a close liaison with his constituency when he was the foreign secretary. Similarly, Ambassador Rezaul Karim also maintained close touch with his Kushtia District after retirement.

Unfortunately, neither Ambassador Rezaul Karim, nor Ambassador Nazrul Islam succeeded in getting nominations from the BNP to contest election. Ambassador Nazrul Islam expired on 23 April of 1999. Although some of his colleagues in the Ministry called him an eccentric but he was humane and in fact was a humorous person. May Allah bless him in heaven.